So openG tuning is amazing.. but chords?

Scuzzo · #1 01-11-2022, 03:24 PM

After. Many years I decided to try open G tuning . And it kinda twists you up when you try to throw a chord in. Excep for the barre and sus Stones stuff.. but it really is nice for seein the different melodic drone kinda ideas.. it seems like it relies on shapes rather than barre A or Em or D7 or D7m.. so all that stuff goes out the window.. and all those comfy open chords go too.. it's like trying to learn a new language.. so.. any tips? Seems like there is a lot to uncover.

SCVJ · #2 01-11-2022, 03:48 PM

Years ago I learned a few chord shapes to finger in first position to make simple chords in open G (the IV and V, at least, maybe the relative minor also). I forgot them, of course, and tried an internet search to find them and had no luck.

Someone here can help I'm sure, just a matter of time before the right person notices this thread.

rick-slo · #3 01-11-2022, 03:56 PM

Plenty of online chord charts for different tunings (including open C) For example:
https://dazwatsonmusic.weebly.com/op...ord-chart.html

elephony · #4 01-11-2022, 04:08 PM

I've been playing a lot out of open G for a while, and have found that the biggest thing is finding the movable chord shapes. The two shapes I use variations of, by and large, are the G shape (so barring all the way across, but you can make it a minor chord by dropping the second string, which is the third of the chord, one fret to make it a minor chord, or fretting the top string three frets above the barre to make a 7 chord) and the C shape, which is movable if you barre behind it. With those two, you can work out most of what you need. I found it much easier to internalize this when playing songs, not just trying to memorize the chord shapes, but you may well be on top of that. Here is the chart for open G like was referenced above, but I'd try less to memorize this chart and more to think about the base chord shapes you can use and adjust all over the neck.

Another aha moment for me was this video, which laid out a thing I'd noticed, that Ry Cooder often plays open G tuning when playing songs in the key of D, which is a lot of fun:

Tahitijack · #5 01-11-2022, 04:12 PM

Open G is also known as Taro Patch tuning in Hawaii. If you want to wander down a white sandy beach learn a few songs from slack key masters from the land of the aloha spirit.

SCVJ · #6 01-11-2022, 04:20 PM

That was quick! Thanks Derek.

Scuzzo, is that what you werre looking for?

elephony · #7 01-11-2022, 04:27 PM

Derek's link is for open C; I added the link in my post for open G chords. (I have been meaning to try open C for a while, perhaps this will be the nudge it takes...)

tbeltrans · #8 01-11-2022, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Plenty of online chord charts for different tunings (including open C) For example:
https://dazwatsonmusic.weebly.com/op...ord-chart.html

This appears to be a good site. Since the OP asked about open G:

https://dazwatsonmusic.weebly.com/op...ord-chart.html

Tony

JonPR · #9 01-11-2022, 05:44 PM

A few songs in open G to inspire you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJmER493F4U (capo 3)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdgrQoZHnNY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQfubxNVljw

rick-slo · #10 01-11-2022, 06:08 PM

One nice thing is that the use of harmonic notes tends to be pretty handy when playing things in open tunings.

Scuzzo · #11 01-11-2022, 06:16 PM

Hey! This great just the kinda stuff I was searching for,, will keep at it,, heck might buy a slide! Lol. Thanks for the cool information all,, and the son house vid was awesome...

hatamoto · #12 01-11-2022, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuzzo

After. Many years I decided to try open G tuning . And it kinda twists you up when you try to throw a chord in. Excep for the barre and sus Stones stuff.. but it really is nice for seein the different melodic drone kinda ideas.. it seems like it relies on shapes rather than barre A or Em or D7 or D7m.. so all that stuff goes out the window.. and all those comfy open chords go too.. it's like trying to learn a new language.. so.. any tips? Seems like there is a lot to uncover.

If you're an iphone user, download the app GuitarToolkit

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guitar...es/id284962368

you can set it to any tuning you want and it will show you all the chords in all positions.

Howard Emerson · #13 01-12-2022, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuzzo

After. Many years I decided to try open G tuning . And it kinda twists you up when you try to throw a chord in. Excep for the barre and sus Stones stuff.. but it really is nice for seein the different melodic drone kinda ideas.. it seems like it relies on shapes rather than barre A or Em or D7 or D7m.. so all that stuff goes out the window.. and all those comfy open chords go too.. it's like trying to learn a new language.. so.. any tips? Seems like there is a lot to uncover.

Playing in open tuning IS like speaking a different language, in many ways. Some have a few similarities to standard tunings, but the sooner you drop your reliance on familiarities, and just embrace the tuning for what it is, the sooner you'll open up worlds of possibilities.

I've been playing in open tunings since the 1970's. Here's a few video examples pieces I've composed in open G.

And for good measure here's a CD cut with both guitar parts (fingerstyle & bottleneck tracks) in open G. I wrote this about my daughter when she was about 2-3 years old. It's called Water Off A Duck's Back. There isn't a bass on the cut. That's my thumb part in the basic track.

Best,
Howard Emerson

ljguitar · #14 01-12-2022, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuzzo

After. Many years I decided to try open G tuning . And it kinda twists you up when you try to throw a chord in. Excep for the barre and sus Stones stuff.. but it really is nice for seein the different melodic drone kinda ideas.. it seems like it relies on shapes rather than barre A or Em or D7 or D7m.. so all that stuff goes out the window.. and all those comfy open chords go too.. it's like trying to learn a new language.. so.. any tips? Seems like there is a lot to uncover.

Hi Scuzzo
Yeah - learn the shapes for open tunings. And they will transfer to Open D and Open Dm etc (just on different string combinations).

And there's Open C, and a lot of other tunings where the open strings are tuned to an open chord.

Scuzzo · #15 01-12-2022, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard Emerson

Playing in open tuning IS like speaking a different language, in many ways. Some have a few similarities to standard tunings, but the sooner you drop your reliance on familiarities, and just embrace the tuning for what it is, the sooner you'll open up worlds of possibilities.

I've been playing in open tunings since the 1970's. Here's a few video examples pieces I've composed in open G.

And for good measure here's a CD cut with both guitar parts (fingerstyle & bottleneck tracks) in open G. I wrote this about my daughter when she was about 2-3 years old. It's called Water Off A Duck's Back. There isn't a bass on the cut. That's my thumb part in the basic track.

Best,
Howard Emerson

Hey, so I guess if I don't get the hang of t in the first 4 days all is not lost. Lol
Yep it amazes me how much reward there is in just some simple linear ideas, there really is a lot of colors to explore,, very nice playing by the way that tune in the middle kinda reminded me of Ry Cooder. Good stuff!