Once, DADGAD... ever have a guitar hit the sweet spot?

[AH Acoustic]

I'd like to know how your experiences on tuning a guitar to DADGAD (or any alternate tuning).

Today, I tuned one of my guitars to DADGAD, and... well, it was exceptional. The usual reasons -- amazing open string sustain, in a pleasing positive vibe.

Only problem: I don't want to put it back -- and I liked the sound of the guitar, in D-standard.

How many of you tuned a guitar to DADGAD or similar, only to find that it didn't want to go back?

What did you do?

-a.h.

[LakewoodM32Fan]

There is only one answer: more guitars.

I keep one of my guitars in dropped D, another in half step down, another in full step down, one in "The Rain Song" tuning (DGCGCD).

The crazy thing is I'm thinking of custom ordering individual strings for one guitar to keep it in one of Soundgarden's whacked-out tunings for several songs of theirs that I love: EEBBBB. So two low E strings, two D strings tuned down to B, and two plain B strings.

[guitarisrshevy]

My guitars live in one of two C tunings normally.

CGCGCD or CGCFCD

Sometimes DADGAD.

It's been so long since i played in Standard tuning that it feels odd when i tune back for the odd number, and i have to work harder to remember chords up and down the fret board.

I have friends who have brought a second guitar, sometimes identical to their current guitar, so they can have one just for altered tunings.

Enjoy the new sound and the new tone too

[shufflebeat]

I'm sensing a theme.

I bought a guitar for DADGAD but then found all my guitars sound good in standard (least fave), drop D (most practical) and DADGAD (chime-y, fave) so back to square one really.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by LakewoodM32Fan

There is only one answer: more guitars.

I keep one of my guitars in dropped D, another in half step down, another in full step down, one in "The Rain Song" tuning (DGCGCD).

The crazy thing is I'm thinking of custom ordering individual strings for one guitar to keep it in one of Soundgarden's whacked-out tunings for several songs of theirs that I love: EEBBBB. So two low E strings, two D strings tuned down to B, and two plain B strings.

What he said. My Lowden is an open D tuning and my McIlroy stays in dadgad.

[coopman]

Originally Posted by AH Acoustic

I'd like to know how your experiences on tuning a guitar to DADGAD (or any alternate tuning)...

I don't want to put it back

Hey AH. This is definitely how someone ends up with multiple instruments ;-)
... DADGAD was my first open tuning, and like you I became very enamored with it. Then I went back to standard ... and few weeks later ... back to DADGAD ... but then I discovered I had forgotten all the cool stuff I played around with ... forgotten, gone forever. That would never do! Sooo ... you'll need to follow my 3 step program:

1. New guitar for every tuning (oh yeah, there are several more tunings just as exciting as dadgad)

2. Record new stuff you discover and create, so that you'll remember it.

3. Make some notes on the tuning, chord shapes, tab, etc. Once you start playing in multiple tunings, recordings along may not be sufficient to remember what tuning you used, etc.

Eventually, you'll cover the cost of additional guitars - saving money on strings, but not having them die prematurely going back and forth between tunings. I'm not going to say how long payback will take (*) ... hahaha

Or like Pierre Bensusan, you could just stay in DADGAD ... forever and get to know your one guitar REALLY, REALLY well. That works pretty well for him, and he can seemingly play ANYTHING he wants in just one tuning!

Note (*) - not every guitar sounds great in a given tuning ... so you'll have to factor the cost of perhaps needing to purchase multiple instruments to find the one that sounds great in the target tuning (minimally, a setup may be necessary) For example try CGCDCD on your current guitar ... let us know how that works out ;-)

Happy exploring!

[pjmacd]

Originally Posted by coopman

Or like Pierre Bensusan, you could just stay in DADGAD ... forever and get to know your one guitar REALLY, REALLY well. That works pretty well for him, and he can seemingly play ANYTHING he wants in just one tuning!

Happy exploring!

Laurence Juber is also no slouch in DADGAD.

[Glennwillow]

I have a Santa Cruz FS model that is in DADGAD all the time. That way I don't have to tune any of my other guitars to DADGAD.

They all sound good in DADGAD. I have never played any guitar in DADGAD that didn't sound great. I just don't want to play all my songs in DADGAD. Or, open D for that matter. These tunings sound great, but for me, at least, they are limiting. I like standard tuning too much to not use it.

- Glenn

[stringbound]

I tuned my guitars to DADGAD and never went back to standard tuning. Other tunings I use are CGDGAD, DGDGAD, CADGAD and EADGAD. Meanwhile I'm down to two guitars, a Taylor 914ce and a Furch LJ10 travel guitar.

[JTFoote]

I ran into a similar situation, and decided the only option was another guitar. One for alternate tunings, and another with different bracing and sound that stays in standard. (Or sometimes, in drop D). Problem solved, case closed, everybody is happy.

... JT

[Jimi2]

Originally Posted by JTFoote

I ran into a similar situation, and decided the only option was another guitar. One for alternate tunings, and another with different bracing and sound that stays in standard. (Or sometimes, in drop D). Problem solved, case closed, everybody is happy.

... JT

Am I the only that tunes up and down with alternate tunings with no ill effects? I go back and forth between standard and open tunings, sometimes more than once per day, and never break strings.

[AH Acoustic]

Edited by member.

[s2y]

I will always have a guitar dedicated to DADGAD.

[Don W]

My Larrivee is almost always in CGCGCE or DADGAD or other alternate tunings. I use this guitar for fingerstyle almost exclusively. I have an Old Ovation Legend that I always keep in standard tuning or drop D and use this guitar mainly for flat picking and strumming chords. I use my classical guitar in standard tuning and drop D tuning and play fingerstyle on this. If I had the resources I would get another good acoustic and keep it in DADGAD most of the time...the Larrivee requires medium gauge B and E strings to sound its best in DADGAD tuning. One of those Lowden Bensusan models would be nice!!!

[M19]

My McIlroy was born to be in DADGAD, and that's where it stays!