Do you alternate tune?

[hippietim]

I play in Drop-D, Open-G and DADGAD a lot. My bands tune down a half step for the singers so add that to the mix (I don't really count that as alternate tuning though).

 

[alexanderraimo]

Out of my PRSs (which are the ones I use the most often)
S2 singlecut semi-hollow - Standard Tuning
Trampas Green ZM SE - Drop C#
Sunburst ZM SE - Drop D
Royal Blue ZM SE - Drop C
Silver Sparkle ZM SE - Drop B

Then, out of the others,
Fender Aerodyne Strat - Standard
Fender JagStang - Drop C#
Fender 60th Ann. Strat - 1/2 Step Down
Ibanez GAX - 1 Step Down

The two starter guitars and my schecter aren't exactly set up for anything.

 

[guitarman001]

My take.

Alternate tunings sound GREAT.
However it's a bit like a monkey learning how to do something? What do I mean? In normal tuning I know my scales over the fretboard. Detune a few strings and its like learning over again, but I bet those that open tune (and I may be wrong) don't learn all those scales again - they must just rote learn tunes for given key.

I find it a bit. Even just drop D on a Cu24 with trem - takes too long to tune to drop D then back again. Does sound good but what a pain.

 

[mmarshburn]

The tunings I play in mainly just depend on my mood at the time and what I want to play. Usually, my 24 SE is in Drop-D (whole step down) and my Tremonti SE is in Open D5 (DADADD) but is set 1/2 step down.

 

[Parralax view]

Out here, you just kind of drift into open tunings due to slack key guitar. I keep an acoustic in Open G, which in reality is open F as I tune my acoustics a full step down to D at all times and capo if I play with someone. I Don't play slack key, I know the riffs and positions, but I lack the feel of it, just like they lack the feel of Texas guitar. What I have done is explore both the slide side, and more important to me the breathtaking Chords that can be made in open G that will sound in no other tuning. I use a variety of others here, Keola's C, Gabby's C, etc. named after the slack key artist that found the tunings.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Do they have string sets oriented towards open tunings, or does one have to put together their own set from individual strings, and is there a way to figure out the optimal string gauges for a particular tuning?

I'm not even going to ask about intonating, I'll have a professional do that.

 

[CVS]

I never use open tunings. I keep guitars in Eb and D. I'll also use drop tunings when needed.

I SUCK at slide guitar.

I am with you on slide guitar, especially since my heroes of the slide guitar are people like Duane Allman and Derek Trucks who use open turnings extensively (and I do not)
I keep one guitar tuned to Eb because I sit in with a band from time to time that plays all songs in Eb tuning. I have occasionally used open G and D tunings, but I have found that unless you want to spend 5 minutes tuning your guitar before and after the song that requires alternate tunings, it is a big pain the a***, especially at a gig. If I had or could afford a "guitar tech" things might be different (and was willing to bring a number of different guitars to each gig, rehearsal etc)

 

[aristotle]

The only tunes we play that require alternate tunings are some country stuff, a Neil Young song and a Theory of a Deadman tune...all of which are drop D. Takes less than three seconds to do that by ear. We do a few Stones tunes on occasion, which require open G. I can do that by ear pretty quickly between songs but it's hardly worth the time for those, and I've managed to do a credible job with interesting fingering.

Regarding tuning down a half-step, we used to do that exclusively. It never really bothered me, but we swapped out our late 40s singer with a mid 20s singer so we don't have to do that any more. I was surprised at the fact that things really do sound better in standard tuning. The only down side is that I was a better guitarist than our previous singer, so I did most of the leads. New guy is better than me, so not so much anymore

 

[drdoom8793]

I use drop D and drop C# all the time. Probably more than standard tuning. The only time I really use standard tuning is for songs at my church.

 

[CVS]

I use drop D and drop C# all the time. Probably more than standard tuning. The only time I really use standard tuning is for songs at my church.

What kind of songs / music are you playing using the tuning you mention above?

 

[drdoom8793]

What kind of songs / music are you playing using the tuning you mention above?

I would describe it as hard rock (bordering on metal) with southern rock, blues, and jazz influences. It'd be kind of hard to explain, but it's similar to a band called He Is Legend.

 

[CVS]

Now I understand - enjoy