Just interested to know, as I play mainly tuned to a chord like E, Em and also use Drop D.... if other surf guitar types are tuning differnt to standard ? Or anyone tuning down ?
adam
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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Musician »
Alternate Tunings...
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Joined: Aug 24, 2006 Posts: 204 Newcastle... Australia 
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Posted on Dec 15 2006 06:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 10, 2000 Posts: -180 |
Posted on Dec 15 2006 09:26 PM
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3545 mojave desert, california 
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Posted on Dec 15 2006 09:48 PM
the electric mandolin I play is tuned kind of weird G D A E ...backwards to guitar. i play standard tuning on guitar...but, occasionally drop D tuning on the bass... -dp |
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Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 290 Shwa City |
Posted on Dec 16 2006 02:07 AM
I've kinda wondered about this too. I have tuned a whole step down to get the whole spaghetti western feel. Also songs like Bullwinkle are a whole step down as well. —www.myspace.com/vondrats |
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Joined: Aug 24, 2006 Posts: 204 Newcastle... Australia
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Posted on Dec 16 2006 07:46 AM
strange tuning....if it had 6 strings you could pretend you were the king of surf guitar!! i got into ukelele during a trip to fiji, its tuned G C A E but i forgot that by the time i went home...
although i am yet to start learning a lot of the standards, i suspected |
Joined: Sep 07, 2006 Posts: 1472 Redlands, CA
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Posted on Dec 17 2006 12:49 AM
dp |
Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 852 Connersville, Indiana, USA 
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Posted on Dec 21 2006 06:10 PM
If ya can already play guitar and/or bass, the only thing you'd have to do is to figure out how to get the bow back and forth across the strings, without scaring dogs bad enough they'd climb trees (my shortcoming, so far). There's always playing it a la pizacato (sp?), but then ya might as well just play guitar. Matt —Fast Cars & Loud Guitars! |
Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1054 Chicago IL.
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Posted on Dec 21 2006 06:45 PM
I do the drop D but I consider that alternate only by definition. We used it on our Travelin' Man cut for the Beyond the Sea compilation, and we have a new song, which will be recorded some day that uses it. "as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there" https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/ |
Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25309 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Dec 21 2006 07:12 PM
did the Fender IV use drop D tunning, or tune all the strings down a whole step? Jeff(bigtikidude) —Jeff(bigtikidude) |
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Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1054 Chicago IL.
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Posted on Dec 21 2006 07:23 PM
jeff, If you were to play along with the Fender IV recordings you'd find you would have to tune up a half to a whole step. But that could just mean the recordings were sped up at some point. Margaya has the drop D tuning meaning just the bass E string is tuned down to D. —"as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there" https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/ |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 1313 Escondido, CA
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Posted on Dec 21 2006 07:24 PM
I have all* my guitars tuned down one step. Makes more sense than drop D, to me at least. Ran *all= 3 guitars out of which I only use 1... —Last edited: Dec 22, 2006 08:36:27 |
Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19194 Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Dec 21 2006 08:53 PM
In our "interview" with Randy Holden he indicated he tuned down, but it wasn't clear from that if he meant drop D or all strings. Maybe it is mentioned in another source. Site dude - S3 Agent #202 "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea |
Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 1778 Star, Idaho. Formerly lived in Surf City USA.
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Posted on Dec 24 2006 11:23 PM
Whatever Ivan does........ |
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Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3832 netherlands
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Posted on Dec 25 2006 04:41 AM
I drop the low E to D for Intoxica, but that's all (and then I tune back up to E for Margaya. WR —Rules to live by #314: |
Joined: Sep 02, 2006 Posts: 3166 Denver, CO
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Posted on Jan 22 2007 08:59 PM
The slight problem with this theory is that violins et al. are fretless. It's a bit more important than usual where you put your fingers. When I was young I used to think that was the problem with my playing, but now I realize it was a more or less genuine lack of talent, reinforced with a minimum of practice. Alas, I've also discovered by various paths since that even with frets (and valves) it can matter exactly where you put the fingers. And how you bow (or blow) (or pluck). Re spelling, pizzicato, I think. From the Italian for "played like a pizza." |
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Joined: Dec 28, 2006 Posts: 20 |
Posted on Jan 31 2007 12:45 AM
This is site I use all the tune for alt tunnings. For me learning Slack key was a great way learn alt tunnings. Also the fun part about alt tunnings is just banging away and see what come out. Rick |
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Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 60 southern ontario |
Posted on Feb 02 2007 08:02 PM
I'm trying to fumble my way through a classical guitar book and have come across a few interesting alt tunings: 6=F, 5=G 6=D, 5=G and of course 6=D. |
Joined: Dec 24, 2015 Posts: 407 México 
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Posted on Oct 04 2017 11:19 AM
I tune in D, so E A D G B E become D G C F A D. I like it becouse it is more heavy and darker sound. Also it is more comfortable for me —My latest LP Unknown Creatures by Otitis Media Records is available now on all digital platforms and colored vinyl. Listen and buy here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sysmalakian/unknown-creatures |
Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan 
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Posted on Oct 05 2017 12:33 AM
Mandolin, violin, viola and cello are all tuned in 5ths because the instrument scale length is so short. Double bass and guitar scale lengths don't work so well with such wide tunings. The Spanish guitar tuning is the result of centuries' refinement. Which is not to say that other tunings are not good. But western harmonic music demanded that tuning. Last edited: Oct 05, 2017 00:34:24 |
hey australia!! i don't tune down or different for surf--never thought todo it. however--for bluesi have several open tuings i use and i have a weird tuning i use for some of my own weird stuff. peace
) so, mostly standard tuning.
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