Using alternate tunings

Using an unfamiliar tuning can open up new ways of expressing yourself on the guitar.  All your familiar patterns and shapes will probably sound very different.  You must play in a different mindset to take advantage of the new tuning.

There are two different kinds of alternate tunings in my mind.  First there are the tunings that are just a transposition of standard tuning.  For example, a band might play in standard tuning a whole step down.  The second kind is unrelated to standard tuning in terms of the intervals between the strings.  These are generally considered open tunings, meaning the strings produce a chord.

Reasons to use alternate tunings:

Heaviness – Some bands feel that tuning lower produces a heavier sound.  This is most typically seen in the genre of metal.

Different chords – A different tuning can make it easier to play certain chords.

Extended range – By increasing the intervals between the strings, a standard 6 string guitar can have a larger range.

Extending usage of open strings – Alternate tunings make the open strings more useful harmonically and melodically than standard tuning.

Ideas to make use of alternate tunings:

You can create your own tunings just by intuition.  Standard guitar strings can usually go up or down it pitch a whole step without any significant tension problems.  Just follow your ear and create a brand new tuning that sounds great to you.

Play familiar patterns and chords and see if you like how they sound in the new tuning.  If they sound off, try moving a few notes up or down a half step.

Use open strings.  This is one of the main advantages of alternate tunings.  The open strings can be used as bass notes, or as higher notes to add color to chords and playing that is lower in pitch.

Use a chord and scale generator to learn the new patterns and shapes to play proficiently in the new tuning.  This requires much more dedication, but can have huge benefits to your musicality and technique.

Keep a few guitars in different nonstandard tunings.  You will be much more likely to play in alternate tunings if you aren’t constantly retuning a single guitar.

Listen to and study the music of artists who play in alternate tunings.
Tunings that I regularly use:

Written from the lowest string to the highest

F# tuning         F# B E A C# F#
B tuning          B E A D F# B
D sus2             D A D E A D
Drop D            D A D G B E
Drop A            A E A D F# B

Of course, the choice in tunings is nearly infinite and I would suggest looking up the many other tunings that are possible.

One very interesting possibility is using alternate 12 string tunings.  Meaning that the octave pairs aren’t tuned in octaves, but other intervals.  This creates a very complex instrument with many possibilities.  It also becomes difficult to play because instead of playing single note at a time, you are by default playing two at a time.

Copyright Dave Cardwell 2007