What are your favorite alternate tunings?

[PureAeternus]

i like Open D, Open G, CGDFCE,


i dont really count Eb or Drop D seeing as how common they are

[HarleySpirit]

I'm the guy that sells the chord charts for so many of these alternate tunings.
My first and foremost favorite alternate tuning is Open D, which I use on my Breedlove Retro
and my Washburn (converted to lap steel). I sometimes use Drop D on my Breedlove for a change.
I like Open C (CGCGCE) for my go-to guitar, Guild Gad 125. and banjo.
Plus I like Open G (DGDGBD) for my Gibson C5 Nylon Classical.

[AndrewG]

I play some slide and I prefer open D or G.

[geordie]

hi, I dont want to sound picky here but I find the 'choose a tuning and play your stuff' approach the same as 'this is how you tune the guitar (standard) you just have to find a way to play your tune with it tuned this way', approach.

I come up with the occasional tune (very occasional) and work out the best relationship between the strings to allow me to easily concentrate on the melody whilst supporting that with my idea of what good accompanying notes (harmonies / bass) so I can EASILY play the piece, in other words I'm lazy, this method sounds complicated to some but it allows me to concentrate on conveying the feeling of the piece (if I'm successful in creating the right tuning).
Put simply, create the tuning for (around) the piece - not 'fit the piece to a fixed (ridged) tuning. system.
Sometimes straight 'open' tunings are all that's required, be prepared to be surprised, it's very satisfying when everything 'falls into place' as it were, the process may sound complicated but the more you do it the easier ti becomes.

[Clydeslide]

Open D and Open G for some slide.

CGCFCD and CGCGCD for copying Martin Simpson and also my own slide stuff. CGCFCD seems to work best for slide, the sound of sliding up the fourth and third string together is magical.

I've dabbled in DADGAD, need to spend more time with it though.

[Grenade]

Standard, Open D, Open G, Drop D, and Double Drop D. I can't pick a favorite, I like them all.

[Clydeslide]

Originally Posted by geordie

hi, I dont want to sound picky here but I find the 'choose a tuning and play your stuff' approach the same as 'this is how you tune the guitar (standard) you just have to find a way to play your tune with it tuned this way', approach.

I come up with the occasional tune (very occasional) and work out the best relationship between the strings to allow me to easily concentrate on the melody whilst supporting that with my idea of what good accompanying notes (harmonies / bass) so I can EASILY play the piece, in other words I'm lazy, this method sounds complicated to some but it allows me to concentrate on conveying the feeling of the piece (if I'm successful in creating the right tuning).
Put simply, create the tuning for (around) the piece - not 'fit the piece to a fixed (ridged) tuning. system.
Sometimes straight 'open' tunings are all that's required, be prepared to be surprised, it's very satisfying when everything 'falls into place' as it were, the process may sound complicated but the more you do it the easier ti becomes.

Great advice, I just don't have the creative talent to do it

[Fngrstyl]

[RodB]

I too usually choose a tuning to suit what I am playing, rather than set out to play in a certain tuning and this often leads to Drop D or Drop G (DGDGBE) or just staying in 'standard' tuning. I like these because the intervals between the top strings are unchanged but it can make it easier for certain bass lines.

I also like to use a partial capo at the 2nd fret to emulate these tunings, with the advantage that I don't have to re-tune, can use the open bass strings, but am in 'standard' tuning as soon as I move up the neck.

I also use Open G and DADGAD but more for the reason that I knew the piece of music originated in these.

[Mooh]

Open G, dadgad, plus those intervals tuned down 2 or 3 semi-tones on a 27" scale guitar. Sometimes cfcfcf, or bebebe.

[JohnnyDes]

Open D, DADGAD, and drop D. Anything else just seems to require too much retuning.

JD

[Mbroady]

Do mostly original stuff and opening tunning is a great way to inspire a fresh melodic approach

been getting in to D (DADF#BD)
Also been playing with (FADGCF)

[StringFive]

I'm a big "Double Drop D" fan. Also called D Modal.

[Doctor Jug]

I commend Geordie's approach.
On the other hand, I've been trying some Nick Drake tunings. The simplest is B (2nd) down to A. Another is E (6th) down to B, A (5th) up to B.

[Dru Edwards]

I enjoy DADGAD but my favorite is open Dm.