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Thread: Open Tuning

  1. #1
    Registered User Roger Moss's Avatar
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    Default Open Tuning

    I'm looking for some information and maybe even some chord diagrams for open g tuning and gdgd tuning. So far the information has been surprisingly scarce (at least free information). Does anybody here either know where I can find some, or alternately can get me started with some chord forms?
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  2. #2
    Registered User sblock's Avatar
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    Default Re: Open Tuning

    GDGD tuning is basically the same thing as AEAE tuning -- it's just tuned one whole step lower. AEAE tuning is usually called 'cross tuning' on the fiddle, rather than 'open tuning.' You can find many, many web resources out there on cross tuning: just Google it. There are also hundreds of YouTube videos out there that use cross tuning. And the advantage of AEAE over GDGD is that there are many more fiddle tunes for the former.

    Oh, and this style of tuning is called 'scordatura' in the classical world. So, you can even find classical pieces that use open tunings.

  3. #3
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Open Tuning

    Roger, I use some open tunings on guitar but not on mandolin, so I can't say what tools are out there, except for tools like the following: If I were in your position, I'd go to this site, http://chordfind.com/4-string/ and alter the tuning on that app, then plug in the chords I need.
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  4. #4
    String-Bending Heretic mandocrucian's Avatar
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    Default Re: Open Tuning

    Some alternate tuning stuff in this. Should be back in stock since I shipped Elderly more copies on 9/24/18.

    https://www.elderly.com/the-mandola-sampler.htm

  5. #5
    Registered User Roger Moss's Avatar
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    Default Re: Open Tuning

    Quote Originally Posted by mandocrucian View Post
    Some alternate tuning stuff in this. Should be back in stock since I shipped Elderly more copies on 9/24/18.

    https://www.elderly.com/the-mandola-sampler.htm
    Not yet, but I'll keep an eye out for it.
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  6. #6
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Open Tuning

    I've been meaning to try Sawmill Tuning now for years.
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  7. #7
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Open Tuning

    Here is a trick. Keep one mandolin tuned in the cross tuning of your choice. I keep one in dead mans tuning DDAD.

    Saves on strings.

    Also helps me with my thinking. I play this one mandolin and I know its a different instrument, so I have to do this and this.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

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  8. #8
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    Default Re: Open Tuning

    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Moss View Post
    I'm looking for some information and maybe even some chord diagrams for open g tuning and gdgd tuning. So far the information has been surprisingly scarce (at least free information). Does anybody here either know where I can find some, or alternately can get me started with some chord forms?
    What you need to know is how chords are constructed and where the notes are on the fingerboard -- that's how I learned (i.e., worked out) chords in standard tuning. But I suppose the point of this tuning is the use of open strings as drones on songs with very little harmonic motion.

  9. #9
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Open Tuning

    Quote Originally Posted by JeffD View Post
    Here is a trick. Keep one mandolin tuned in the cross tuning of your choice. I keep one in dead mans tuning DDAD.

    Saves on strings.

    Also helps me with my thinking. I play this one mandolin and I know its a different instrument, so I have to do this and this.
    I used to do this with Guitars. One in standard, one in open G, and one in either open D or E. It works. When my hands would hold of the different three instruments my mind found it easier to play the right tuning.

    Plus, it justifies owning more Guitars or Mandolins!

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