Any o’ y’uns flat pick tunes on the guitar in tunings other than standard? I’ve used DADGAD for a couple of tunes – one I got off a Touchstone album (can’t remember the name, but it goes like this – da diddly da didit da didit da dee – y’know the one?) and another one from Gerald Trimble (hmmm, can’t remember that name either). Anyway, it worked better than standard. Anybody else flatpick DADGAD? or other tuning?
I use drop-D for flatpicking in sessions. I guess this really isn't that big a deal though as it is essentially standard. I tend to think that in general, DADGAD is more suited to fingerstyle stuff. DADGAD also seems to be somewhat of a key-centric tuning. Although you can play in any key out of it, I think it's advantages are somewhat lost for keys like G and A. Just as speculation, I think I don't like dropping the treble strings because that really limits your range and is going to require you to make many more fingerboard jumps if you want to play the melody in the higher register while staying in first position. Also, many D tunes involve permutations and combinations of the notes E F# A B in the higher register (1st string on a guitar) particularly in rolls and cuts that the fiddler will do and these will be somewhat problematic if your 1st string is down to D.
I like Drop D for playing tunes because it adds a bit of D resonance to the overall sound. I don't often use the 6th string, but having it tuned to D means that it will sound better if I hit it by mistake.
i'm de-lurking to say that i've had quite a bit of success flat-picking tunes (the melodies) on a guitar tuned DGDGAE. you get the same GDAE as on a zouk/octave mando, an extra G in the middle to keep you from having to stretch up to the fifth fret quite so much, and a low D, which is nice for hitting big drone chords should you feel like it (020200 for D, 000053 for G, etc.) and also you can move D-string bits of melodies down an octave.
There are some specific tunes that are best flat picked in DADGAD - can't think of names right now, but overall I would have to agree that Dropped D is the easiest especially when you are well acquainted with where the notes are for that.
I will try the DGDGAE tonight and see how it works on a few tunes.
Several good ideas here. Kool! One of my problems with non-standard tunings is that you can wind up with some very slack strings and that messes with my flatpicking. I don't even like to flatpick light gauge strings.
Make that..."I don't even like to flatpick light gauge strings in standard tuning." Even mediums can get annoying in DADGAD. Some people aren't bothered by it, but I need all the help I can get.
Yeah, I don't know much of John Doyle's music but Tony McManus told me that both he and John flatpick in drop D primarily. Fingerstyle is a different story altogether for both players I believe.
Hi, guys.
I use both drop D and DADGAD tuning. For accompaniment, I prefer DADGAD, but to flatpick the melody, I mainly use drop D which is easier for most of the tunes.
However, some melodies can be beautifully played on DADGAD tuning. The higher open strings have good effect especially for the D modal tunes like Rakish Paddy and Banish Misfortune, I think.
I know a very good guitarist who uses DADGAD tuning exclusively for both melody and accompaniment. He told me that he is too lazy to change the tuning all the time and that is why he decided to use only DADGAD. But he also admitted that he has to select the right tune for melody play on DADGAD tuning.
Bobhimself, I think you can use thicker strings if necessary. It is true that if the strings are too slacked, it becomes hard to play triplet.
I don’t know about the other tuning.
Have a good day!!
I use a heavier gauge for flatpicking when I can, but right now I don't have a guitar dedicated to it. So maybe I need just one more guitar. No, wait, one for standard and one for lower tunings. Yeah, that's the ticket!
I use DADGAE all the time for flat picking on guitar. Great tuning for mandolin/tenor banjo players, you just learn to either skip or use the G string.
De-lurking here as well Loftus, I was going to throw my card in the hat also and suggest DADGAE but Michael beat me to it. That's the guitar tuning I use and for the same reasons. Play or ignore the G, or the occasional unintended nick, won't hurt a thing, plus a great boomy, chordy thing on the lower end. buy a capo. maybe a heavier 2nd string. going to have to try that DGDGAE though.
I back and play melody in DADGAD. I agree that many tunes are a lot trickier on DADGAD, simply because you need to move up higher on the fret. But to be honest, I just got used to that and dont bother retuning the guitar. Though, I'd tend to say that you're better of flatpicking in standard or dropped D tuning, but for backing there's nothing like DADGAD for irish stuff. There's a nice sample of two tunes flatpicked and backed in DADGAD on my website...take a listen.
Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
Any o’ y’uns flat pick tunes on the guitar in tunings other than standard? I’ve used DADGAD for a couple of tunes – one I got off a Touchstone album (can’t remember the name, but it goes like this – da diddly da didit da didit da dee – y’know the one?) and another one from Gerald Trimble (hmmm, can’t remember that name either). Anyway, it worked better than standard. Anybody else flatpick DADGAD? or other tuning?
# Posted on February 8th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
I use drop-D for flatpicking in sessions. I guess this really isn't that big a deal though as it is essentially standard. I tend to think that in general, DADGAD is more suited to fingerstyle stuff. DADGAD also seems to be somewhat of a key-centric tuning. Although you can play in any key out of it, I think it's advantages are somewhat lost for keys like G and A. Just as speculation, I think I don't like dropping the treble strings because that really limits your range and is going to require you to make many more fingerboard jumps if you want to play the melody in the higher register while staying in first position. Also, many D tunes involve permutations and combinations of the notes E F# A B in the higher register (1st string on a guitar) particularly in rolls and cuts that the fiddler will do and these will be somewhat problematic if your 1st string is down to D.
Just my thoughts on the subject
# Posted on February 8th 2005 by glennP
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
I flatpick a bit in Open D, but not much Irish music.
KFG
# Posted on February 8th 2005 by KFG
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
I like Drop D for playing tunes because it adds a bit of D resonance to the overall sound. I don't often use the 6th string, but having it tuned to D means that it will sound better if I hit it by mistake.
# Posted on February 8th 2005 by granama
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
i'm de-lurking to say that i've had quite a bit of success flat-picking tunes (the melodies) on a guitar tuned DGDGAE. you get the same GDAE as on a zouk/octave mando, an extra G in the middle to keep you from having to stretch up to the fifth fret quite so much, and a low D, which is nice for hitting big drone chords should you feel like it (020200 for D, 000053 for G, etc.) and also you can move D-string bits of melodies down an octave.
# Posted on February 8th 2005 by Loftus Loveness
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
There are some specific tunes that are best flat picked in DADGAD - can't think of names right now, but overall I would have to agree that Dropped D is the easiest especially when you are well acquainted with where the notes are for that.
I will try the DGDGAE tonight and see how it works on a few tunes.
# Posted on February 8th 2005 by Donough
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
John Hicks,who was with Lia Luachra was quite exeptional at dadgad flat pickn.
John Doyle also...
# Posted on February 8th 2005 by P.browne
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
I get on great flatpicking in DADGAD,but I mostly accompany anyway.By the way P.browne you'll find that John Doyle plays dropped D
# Posted on February 8th 2005 by meri-lawes
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
Several good ideas here. Kool! One of my problems with non-standard tunings is that you can wind up with some very slack strings and that messes with my flatpicking. I don't even like to flatpick light gauge strings.
# Posted on February 8th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
Make that..."I don't even like to flatpick light gauge strings in standard tuning." Even mediums can get annoying in DADGAD. Some people aren't bothered by it, but I need all the help I can get.
# Posted on February 8th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
Yeah, I don't know much of John Doyle's music but Tony McManus told me that both he and John flatpick in drop D primarily. Fingerstyle is a different story altogether for both players I believe.
# Posted on February 8th 2005 by glennP
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
Hi, guys.
I use both drop D and DADGAD tuning. For accompaniment, I prefer DADGAD, but to flatpick the melody, I mainly use drop D which is easier for most of the tunes.
However, some melodies can be beautifully played on DADGAD tuning. The higher open strings have good effect especially for the D modal tunes like Rakish Paddy and Banish Misfortune, I think.
I know a very good guitarist who uses DADGAD tuning exclusively for both melody and accompaniment. He told me that he is too lazy to change the tuning all the time and that is why he decided to use only DADGAD. But he also admitted that he has to select the right tune for melody play on DADGAD tuning.
Bobhimself, I think you can use thicker strings if necessary. It is true that if the strings are too slacked, it becomes hard to play triplet.
I don’t know about the other tuning.
Have a good day!!
# Posted on February 9th 2005 by lowdens
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
I use a heavier gauge for flatpicking when I can, but right now I don't have a guitar dedicated to it. So maybe I need just one more guitar. No, wait, one for standard and one for lower tunings. Yeah, that's the ticket!
# Posted on February 9th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
Hi!
Try EADEAE. It´s good in backing and really good in melodyplaying. I´ve tried DADGAD but I think EADEAE is even better. Try it!
# Posted on February 9th 2005 by Bender
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
I use DADGAE all the time for flat picking on guitar. Great tuning for mandolin/tenor banjo players, you just learn to either skip or use the G string.
# Posted on February 10th 2005 by Michael Eskin
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
De-lurking here as well Loftus, I was going to throw my card in the hat also and suggest DADGAE but Michael beat me to it. That's the guitar tuning I use and for the same reasons. Play or ignore the G, or the occasional unintended nick, won't hurt a thing, plus a great boomy, chordy thing on the lower end. buy a capo. maybe a heavier 2nd string. going to have to try that DGDGAE though.
# Posted on February 10th 2005 by yonder
Re: Flatpick guitar in non-standard tunings?
I back and play melody in DADGAD. I agree that many tunes are a lot trickier on DADGAD, simply because you need to move up higher on the fret. But to be honest, I just got used to that and dont bother retuning the guitar. Though, I'd tend to say that you're better of flatpicking in standard or dropped D tuning, but for backing there's nothing like DADGAD for irish stuff. There's a nice sample of two tunes flatpicked and backed in DADGAD on my website...take a listen.
# Posted on February 11th 2005 by AlFonso