Guitar tuning tips chords etc.

DADGAD Alternative tunings are not only for experts !

Here is an example of DADGAD tuning in practice - (In Windows .wma might be slow to download.)

Tuning Guitar

• Start by tuning your sixth string down a tone to D. Check the tuning with the fourth (D) string.
• Then tune your second string down a tone to A. Check the tuning with the fifth (A) string.
• Lastly, tune your first string down a tone to D. Check the tuning with the fourth (D) string.

DADGAD video clip on how your guitar should sound after tuning.

I have my guitar permanently tuned to DADGAD using "in my opinion" the best free tuner on the net AP Guitar tuner.

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Here are what the chord charts look like, together with a short explanation how to use them.

This is the easiest usable D, it sounds better than it looks

If you want you can strum all the strings as the little open boxes above the Chart shows.

In this instance there are X’s which indicate do not play these strings

Here there is a number three by the side of the chart indicating the position or the fret number on the neck, then place your fingers as shown.

DADGAD video clip showing how easy it is to use DADGAD tuning.

There are no hard and fast rules in DADGAD and often if you move one finger, usually the little one, you can make various sevenths etc.

Lots of times there will be open strings “droning” which can be used to great advantage when playing Celtic music. Experimentation is required to open up your repertoire of chords. I know several other DADGAD players and I notice we play in different places on the neck to achieve the same results!

Pick an easy song you are familiar with then download the pdf file to find suitable chords for accompaniment. Practice the three or four chords as a song and record your results after the first day, continue to do this for several days and re- record your work (to mini disc, cassette or PC Sound recorder) and you will be happily surprised how far you have come in only a few days.

I would then try to find a song I knew the melody of which contained one more chord than the first. I learned to play in the key of D first as you can then use your CAPO to change key by placing it say the third fret, if you play the D chords you have learned at this position on the neck, you are actually in the key F i.e. three frets up from D.

I have only been dabbling in DADGAD two years …previously being a lead singer, bass player in a club circuit act, don't be afraid to try to convert a song you already play, you will be pleasantly surprised. OK where are the chord charts?  I remember the problems I had finding useful places to find chords and general info,  this chart I found invaluable and I often refer to it I as I grow and learn.

To open the document below you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.

     The DADGAD guitar chord chart.  

C Tuning for Folk/Celtic music

The C tuning is a full sounding resonant tuning which can be used for many styles of music including Celtic/folk. Many people are put off by the apparent slackness of the detuned bass string, and to be fair it does (flap in the breeze a little). This can partially be overcome by using say a 56-58 C (thickest string) and perhaps one guage heavier than normal on the thinner two strings. I use standard string sets like D’Addario Guitar strings EJ17 Phosphor Bronze/Medium: .013, .017, .026, .035, .045, and .056.

The choice of strings will always be a mixture of common sense and playability, no point in having strings so heavy or light that it causes your guitar to buzz or fingers discomfort, Usually, you lower a string to reach the desired pitch. In a few cases, you raise a string higher (B string up to C for example), the heavier strings can partly make up for the loss of tension.

I like the sound of C tuned guitars when used with a capo, say at the second fret as it retains a lot of sparkle. I often play using the capo on fret four or five, a long scale guitar has a slight advantage for all dropped tunings as the string length is somewhat increased and can handle the heavier strings that little bit better. Careful thought should be given to string guage choice for any alternative tuning.

Tuning Tips

• Start by tuning your sixth string down two full tones to C.
• Then tune your fifth string down a tone to G. Check the tuning with the third (G) string.
• Next, tune your fourth string down a tone to C. Check the tuning with the sixth (C) string.
• Lastly, tune your second string UP a semitone to C. Check the tuning with the fourth (C) string.  

One way to become familiar with using these alternate tunings is just to memorize a couple of simple songs. Then after a while you start to experiment in the tuning and find new songs that require you to play one extra (new) chord, and so your chord library and knowledge will grow. I’ve always found it has been a song that inspired me to learn new chords, one of those songs you just must learn at any cost.

So relax and enjoy the learning process, don’t waste time worrying about how many chords you don’t know and utilise wisely the ones you do.

Credit must go to Han Speek for the tuning information ~ why re-invent the wheel!