Songs for open tuning???

[stormin1155]

I love the voicing of open tunings, and keep one of my guitars tuned to open D (DADF#AD). So far I only know a couple songs, Little Martha and Talks to Angels. What are some other not-too-difficult songs in open tunings?

[Mycroft]

Most of the songs on dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" are in Open D. A lot of mid-period Stones are in Open G, but Keith also used Open D for "Prodigal son" and Open C for "You Got To Move," Open E for "Gimmie Shelter."

[rick-slo]

An easy instrumental in open tuning (midi from tab):
http://dcoombsguitar.com/Guitar%20Mu...umbPlayAGF.mp3
On my tabs page if interested.

[macmanmatty]

"leave the light on"- Chris Smither
"what they say "- Chris Smither
yellow rose of texas works out nicely in open d as does the wabash cannonball

[PHJim]

Try Wake Up Little Suzie using all straight barre chords.

[JonPR]

Dylan's Blood on the Tracks is a great example.

Joni Mitchell used open D quite a lot (among dozens of her own tunings). Scroll about half way down this page to the list of songs under x75435 (their code for DADF#AD and its equivalents such as CGCEGC):
http://jonimitchell.com/music/top3list.cfm

There are plenty of slide blues tunes in open D, of course. A nice easy fingerpicked one is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-p214l5QLI

A slightly trickier one is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiP0ZdalwU8

[Gcunplugged]

One of my favorites; South City Midnight Lady, by the Doobie Brothers, in Open G.

As done here by forum member Maplebaby

https://youtu.be/FRAFiC_EUxs

Good Luck,
Gary

[Silly Moustache]

How about these :



and

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by stormin1155

I love the voicing of open tunings, and keep one of my guitars tuned to open D (DADF#AD). So far I only know a couple songs, Little Martha and Talks to Angels. What are some other not-too-difficult songs in open tunings?

Hi s-1155

Clouds (Judy Collins) in Open G.

I worked up an arrangement years ago, and hear others doing their arrangements of it as well. Never saw (or needed) a chart. Pretty easy to noodle and figure out.

[Johnny K]

Water Song - Jorma Kaukonen (Hot Tuna)

Open G.

He teaches it himself on a Homespun Tapes lesson that's on YouTube, but I really got the nuances from downloading the free tab from Totally Guitars website. Neal on TGA gives a video lesson too.

And the Rain Song...

Open Jimmy Page Weird Tuning. (DGCGCD)

Best lesson got removed (Shut Up And Play...) , but UG Tabs to the rescue.

[jgmaute]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Hi s-1155

Clouds (Judy Collins) in Open G.

I worked up an arrangement years ago, and hear others doing their arrangements of it as well. Never saw (or needed) a chart. Pretty easy to noodle and figure out.

Do you mean Judy’s recording of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now?

[stormin1155]

Some great suggestions! Thanks guys!

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by jgmaute

Do you mean Judy’s recording of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now?

Thanks - old brains sometimes jumble people. That was the song I meant - and in Open G.

[PHJim]

Originally Posted by JonPR

Dylan's Blood on the Tracks is a great example.

Joni Mitchell used open D quite a lot (among dozens of her own tunings). Scroll about half way down this page to the list of songs under x75435 (their code for DADF#AD and its equivalents such as CGCEGC):
http://jonimitchell.com/music/top3list.cfm

There are plenty of slide blues tunes in open D, of course. A nice easy fingerpicked one is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-p214l5QLI

A slightly trickier one is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiP0ZdalwU8

I don't understand how x75435 relates to DADF#AD. I would think it should be 151351 or R5R35R.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by PHJim

I don't understand how x75435 relates to DADF#AD. I would think it should be 151351 or R5R35R.

It's the number of semitones (half-steps) each string is higher than the one below.
So "x" means any note you like on 6th string. "7" means the 5th string is 7 semitones (frets) higher than the 6th. So if the 6th is D, that makes the 5th A. And if the 4th string is D, that's 5 semitones above A. And so on.

D-A = 7 half-steps
A-D = 5
D-F# = 4
F#-A = 3
A-D = 5

IMO, it's a neat formula to refer to the interval relationship between strings, without any superfluous reference to notes, keys or scale degrees. It refers to open D whatever fret you put a capo on, and it refers to open D tuned down as well.

It's the same idea as describing a major scale formula as 221221. Or rather x221221, to make it clear you're starting from an "x" note.
I.e., the jonimitchell site formula could just as easily have been 75435 (gaps between each string note): the "x" is superfluous.

151351 or R5R35R is fine too , of course, if you can be sure of a root note. I might often choose that system myself, certainly where the tuning forms an obvious chord.
But what about DADGAD? Is D really the root of that? If you call it R5R45R you're suggesting it's supposed to be used in key of D, while key of G - or maybe A or Am - is an option.
With open G (DGDGBD), that would normally be 5R5R35, but Mark Knopfler used it in key of D (Romeo & Juliet, capo 3), which would make it R4R46R . The jm system makes it 57543 either way.
How about BEBEBE (Nick Drake favourite) - 5R5R5R, or R4R4R4? Could be either, but 45454 is unambiguous and allows both.

Also, just using chord tones or scale degrees doesn't take account of octaves. With BEBEBE, how would you know that the B's and E's are in three different octaves? You could guess, of course, that's it's likely, but with different string gauges it wouldn't have to be.