Alt Tunings & Fun Chord Time

[trace]

I don't know what the hell ya'll just said

I don't know how to play guitar.

[gunslinger_burrito]

I like tuning my bass in fifths sometimes (usually CGDA, although I did try GDAE once), it makes chord work interesting because the chord shapes are upside down from the normal chords you're used to when you're tuned in fourths.

Yeah!

I tune my baritone in a lowered version of Fripps' New Standard, which is all fifths from the low string, then the high string is just a third, because otherwise the tension tends to be too great. So it's tuned to FCGDAC, low to high. I've been playing this one more and more often than my "regular" tuned guitars, which are in Drop Bb (sometimes double-dropped B flat <<< Is that like the name of a future hip hop project ) and my nine string which is tuned also in drop Bb, but with the extra strings tuned to fifths.

I love the fifths tuning because you spread the tone out more; you can get low, bassy tones, as well as high and less muddy tones. So far, chord shapes for me have been much simpler than in standard, which makes me go back to my...."standard" guitars a bit more.

[Ancient Astronaught]

I think I typed 5th's instead of 4ths in my post..... derp...

[skullservant]

I'm a big fan of AADGBE

[gunslinger_burrito]

I'm a big fan of AADGBE

Aaron Turner from Isis and such likes to tune to a lowered version of that: F#F#BEG#B

[skullservant]

ITS SO MUCH FUN. Now I want to try that

[Ghost Hip]

I'm a big fan of AADGBE

Do you use a thicker string when you tune down that low? And is there any unique and fun things to do other than ballsy low A shaped chords (which I really want to try and hear now!)

Thanks for all the replies guys, appreciate the input.

[skullservant]

I usually use .12's regardless of tuning, so they are beefy enough for the droping of the E string. A little bit of flop with the Jaguar, but not with the Jazzmaster.
I like to drone on the A's and then play below both A's with things that harmonize. Also, it's really great for death metal

[theavondon]

I tend to use DADAAD a lot. I really love the double A.

[benjuro]

I like tuning my bass in fifths sometimes (usually CGDA, although I did try GDAE once), it makes chord work interesting because the chord shapes are upside down from the normal chords you're used to when you're tuned in fourths.

Yeah!

I tune my baritone in a lowered version of Fripps' New Standard, which is all fifths from the low string, then the high string is just a third, because otherwise the tension tends to be too great. So it's tuned to FCGDAC, low to high. I've been playing this one more and more often than my "regular" tuned guitars, which are in Drop Bb (sometimes double-dropped B flat <<< Is that like the name of a future hip hop project ) and my nine string which is tuned also in drop Bb, but with the extra strings tuned to fifths.

I love the fifths tuning because you spread the tone out more; you can get low, bassy tones, as well as high and less muddy tones. So far, chord shapes for me have been much simpler than in standard, which makes me go back to my...."standard" guitars a bit more.

I'm dying to try this now...what are you using for gauges? I've read that all fifths can wreak havoc on guitar necks...

[Nostradoomus]

I tune down to F#C#F#C#F#A. I took the Devin Townsend tuning to doom city because I ain't never scared.

When my guitar was built it was set up to AEAEAC so I slapped some thicker strings on it, tuned it down some and the set up was still perfect. Strings are a custom 12-70 gauge.

Honestly I get sort of lost on standard tuned guitars because I've used this tuning for so long.

[gunslinger_burrito]

I like tuning my bass in fifths sometimes (usually CGDA, although I did try GDAE once), it makes chord work interesting because the chord shapes are upside down from the normal chords you're used to when you're tuned in fourths.

Yeah!

I tune my baritone in a lowered version of Fripps' New Standard, which is all fifths from the low string, then the high string is just a third, because otherwise the tension tends to be too great. So it's tuned to FCGDAC, low to high. I've been playing this one more and more often than my "regular" tuned guitars, which are in Drop Bb (sometimes double-dropped B flat <<< Is that like the name of a future hip hop project ) and my nine string which is tuned also in drop Bb, but with the extra strings tuned to fifths.

I love the fifths tuning because you spread the tone out more; you can get low, bassy tones, as well as high and less muddy tones. So far, chord shapes for me have been much simpler than in standard, which makes me go back to my...."standard" guitars a bit more.

I'm dying to try this now...what are you using for gauges? I've read that all fifths can wreak havoc on guitar necks...

You have to use extra heavy gauges for the low strings, and extra light strings for the high strings.

[ChetMagongalo]

I need to get into alt tunings, never tried

[AxAxSxS]

Get a 12 string, use weird string combos and get crazy!

[kbit]

I played a left handed guitar like a right handed one the other day. It was trippy.