Alternate Tunings Challenge
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@scubed Feb 2022
If you play an instrument with strings, chances are you generally play in standard tuning (EADGBE for guitar, gDGBD for 5-string banjo, GDAE for mandolin & fiddle, gCEA or GCEA for ukulele, etc.). This challenge invites you to shake things up a bit by creating a song using an alternate tuning for your instrument.* I’ve listed a few ideas below, or you can create your own.**
Tag your songs #alternatetuning and post them in this thread so we can find them.
GUITAR:
DADGBE (Drop D)
DADGBD (Double Drop D)
DADGAD
DADF#AD (Open D)
DGDGBD (Open G)
BANJO:
gDGBbD (G minor)
gDGAD (Gsus2)
MANDO & FIDDLE:
GDGD (G cross tuning)
DDAD (D cross tuning a/k/a Dead Man’s Tuning)
UKULELE:
gCEG (Open C)
gCDG (Csus2)
gBDG (Open G)
*Pianists and harpsichordists, feel free to sit this one out. :D
** IMPORTANT NOTE: Some established alternate tunings involve raising string pitches a half step or even a whole step. However, unless you’re certain your strings and your instrument can handle the added stress, don’t raise any string pitches. That might lead to broken strings or worse. -
@dragondreams Feb 2022
I'm in for this one. I'll be using:
F#AC#G#BE (F#minor/Emajor) on a six string guitar. -
@mhorning Feb 2022
I did one in DADGAD earlier. I really want to try to figure out Drop D sometime though.
https://fawm.org/songs/127898/ -
@elesimo Feb 2022
I did a double drop D during the weekend (https://fawm.org/songs/128502/), it's amazing how using a different tuning opens new possibilities.
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@mikeskliar Feb 2022
here's an alternate tuning thing I did last night, DADGAD, i think.
https://fawm.org/songs/130847/ -
@mhorning Feb 2022
Is it cheating to use a partial capo to effectively be in Drop C?
https://fawm.org/songs/131081/ -
@clioem Feb 2022
I'm in, I have a viola-tuned violin, a scordatura violin, and I retune everything ad libitum anyway so my uke might find its way in there ;) If I get the right idea, that is!
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@clioem Feb 2022
Btw, most soprano ukuleles and better larger ones (like my tenor) can fully take a D tuning; it used to be the old soprano standard and then got changed for practical purposes. Most soprano ukes actually sound better and intone lovelier on D than on C as the ratios are meant for that to be the optimal sound. Just a thought! Also, disclaimer, I do not know your instrument or its fragility, and I take no responsibility if you snap something on your instrument!
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@max Feb 2022
I did a DADGAD song in week 1
https://fawm.org/songs/126199/
I will try another tuning for the challenge.
I'm in. -
@owl Feb 2022
I did this one earlier with a tuning I made up (though I’m sure it’s been used before):
https://fawm.org/songs/128555/
E Ab Db Ab B Db
And check out this site that I
@frenchcricket made me aware of:
https://gtdb.org/ -
@tomslatter Feb 2022
I'm working on a set with this tuning (I was going for an open C minor, got halfway there and decided to stick):
C G D G B Eb
Finally getting used to it. Very odd feeling not being able to play lead lines without stopping to think about it! -
@andygriff Feb 2022
Here's my effort: https://fawm.org/songs/131733/
It's in DGDGBD with the capo on 2. -
@thomasfred Feb 2022
I have one here in DADF#AD: https://fawm.org/songs/129238/
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@thomasfred Feb 2022
I have one here in DADF#AD: https://fawm.org/songs/129238/
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@scubed Feb 2022
Here’s a song using fingerstyle DADGAD:
https://fawm.org/songs/131842/ -
@andygetch Feb 2022
I use a lot of odd open tunings where I usually reduce overall tension. This was open Gm tuned G A# D G A# D and I used a slide on a resonator which can take the increased tension.
https://fawm.org/songs/130650/
To reduce tension I could have used D G D G A# D -
@johnpeekstok Feb 2022
The guitar is tuned DADADA.
https://fawm.org/songs/132318/ -
@max Feb 2022
An improv about the storm Eunice currently going through parts of Europe. Tuned CGCFCE. We are past the peak right now here in Amsterdam. The city has completely changed. Many trees did not survive. https://fawm.org/songs/133197/
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@outinpublicdrummer Feb 2022
My guitar and bass have been tuned down a half-step all month. Does that count?
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@sunnymae Feb 2022
Here's one for you! @vickigenfan turned me on to this tuning.
https://fawm.org/songs/133729/
Guitar EBDGAD -
@regis Feb 2022
I put the 4-string CBanjoG in g minor (dGBbD) strictly for convenience: https://fawm.org/songs/134117/
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@majordanby Feb 2022
I use open D tuning a lot! Most of my songs end up being in open D recently as I don’t know what I’m doing which I find freeing. Knowing all the chords in normal tuning can sometimes be so uninspiring.
My process is: pick up open D guitar. Place my fingers on the frets until something makes me go, ooh! See where it takes me. -
@dwarvenlover Feb 2022
This year i have sticked to basic tuning and Drop D. Usually i use Open D, DADGAD, Open Dm and the one used on MurrayStreet/Psychic Hearts
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@improvyssey Feb 2022
I've just done a piece with my harp tuned randomly. I can't tell you what the tuning is because I basically just closed my eyes and flipped whatever levers I touched. The tuning isn't consistent between octaves. I do this when I want the piece to sound creepy and/or ominous.
https://fawm.org/songs/134475/ -
@fourzeroes Feb 2022
Ukulele in "middle four strings of the guitar but re-entrant" tuning (gCFA) for this one:
https://fawm.org/songs/126285/ -
@dwarvenlover Feb 2022
https://fawm.org/songs/134532/
Had to make one with Dm -
@sapient Feb 2022
I just finished one in open C (C-G-C-G-C-E) and it kinda made my brain ache working out how to play with it. But I've ended up loving the sound of it...
https://fawm.org/songs/134702/
Different tunings are rather new to me so I'm looking forward to hearing what you have all done with yours! :D -
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@corinnecurcio Feb 2022
Thanks - Here's my Dropped D instrumental https://fawm.org/songs/135499/
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@davidtaro Feb 2022
Sorry I’m so not on the ball with these things. Posted this song in the first weekend of the month, and only now do I find the relevant home for it in the forum! It’s open G (I never use alt tunings so this was fun) :)
https://fawm.org/songs/127895/ -
@robynmackenzie Feb 2022
Smashed this one up with the d20 challenge and wrote in DADGAF for the first time. https://fawm.org/songs/135564/
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@anthonykapfer666 Feb 2022
i wrote these two songs in drop d tuning
https://fawm.org/songs/128577/
https://fawm.org/songs/132537/ -
@thomasfred Feb 2022
https://fawm.org/songs/133235/
https://fawm.org/songs/133232/
These two songs were written and performed in CGCGGC on my resonator guitar. -
@lmr Feb 2022
This first song, "Better Days" is done in what I think is a D-banjo tuning:
F#, D, F#, A, D
https://fawm.org/songs/135628/
The second is an instrumental done in Double C tuning
G, C, G, C, D
used in the Haunted Banjo Challenge
https://fawm.org/songs/134847/
This last one is a blues tune done in a G tuning on a guitar
EGDGBD
https://fawm.org/songs/130258/ -
@mikeb Feb 2022
Used a simple drop-D (low E string) on one guitar in this song: https://fawm.org/songs/136208/
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@debrandio Feb 2022
CGDGGA all tuned down, A string is about slack.
https://fawm.org/songs/125525/
All 3 songs so far this year are alt. tuning. Could not find inspiration (hard to come by) in standard? -
@thomasfred Feb 2022
Here's likely my last FAWM tune of 2022 "Book Of Martha" originally written in standard but the voicings proved troublesome in that tuning form me so I tuned to DADF#AD and played this song (hilariously, it's in A flat!) Both the rhythm and overdubbed slide guitars in the bridge ar in open D. https://fawm.org/songs/136427/
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@nahlej381 Feb 2022
Not sure if it’s been mentioned yet but I’m gonna do 432 tuning song before the end. If you haven’t gone down the rabbit hole of 432, take an hour it’s hilarious
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@wylddandelyon Feb 2022
This one is in Drop D. https://fawm.org/songs/135963/
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@mikeb Feb 2022
I wrote this song for the Ukraine Challenge, tuning is D minor (D A D F A D)
A Wish For You (My Dear Sophia) https://fawm.org/songs/136961/ -
@thomasfred Feb 2022
One more from me: this time it’s CADGBD
https://fawm.org/songs/137605/ -
@thomasfred Feb 2022
But it’s capoed at the 5th fret so I guess: FDGCEG!
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@richaaaay Mar 2022
Used a wacky tuning for this one: E, Ab, Db, Ab, B, Db. I had zero idea what I was playing on guitar. Really liked how it came out though.
https://fawm.org/songs/137445/ -
@jlampson Mar 2022
I tried something really quick with D Standard (whole guitar down a full step). It has a great growl to it but my usual string gauge didn't support it. I might try to set up a guitar with 11s and then try it again after intonation.
Here's the unfinished demo: https://fawm.org/songs/137775/
