• Registered: 2013-02-03
  • Posts: 123

Topic: Often change tuning key?

Hi guys,

I use to play with the standard tuning (EADGBE), but as a Neil Young fans, there are some songs played in a DADGBD tuning (double drop d).

Is it a problem to often change the tuning? (Doing it once per day?)
Do the strings gonna break more often?

I was also wondering if there was a capo who was able to change the chords to DADGBD from a guitar tuned in DGCFAD (tuned down one step). Because my guitar is always tuned in DGCFAD, I really like to play "Ambulance Blues" and "Sit Down I Think I Love You" (this one is half step down)

Thanks!

[url]https://soundcloud.com/curtis-k-music[/url]
  • From: Scott County, Virginia, U.S.A.
  • Registered: 2008-03-19
  • Posts: 794

Re: Often change tuning key?

Hi Curt, I like to noodle around with alternate tunings and it has never caused strings to break. If I am playing a lot I will change strings more often. Of course the best solution is to buy more guitars and tune them all different. You might have to put labels on them to avoid confusion.

Live in the "now" - a contentment of the moment - the past is gone - the future doesn't exist - all we ever really have is now and it's always "now".
  • From: Perth
  • Registered: 2017-09-27
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: Often change tuning key?

Depending on your guitar, look up Tronical tuners ...

https://www.tronicaltune.com/tuners?front=1

Cheers

-[ Musician, writer, guitarist, singer ]-
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  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: Often change tuning key?

Like BlueJeep, I haven't had any problems with string breakage due to tuning. However (being somewhat lazy) I keep my Norman tuned in DADGAD, and the Cordoba in standard EADGBE. This covers off most of the music I play, and saves those extra few precious seconds. lol

  • Registered: 2013-02-03
  • Posts: 123

Re: Often change tuning key?

Well if it seriously doesn't damaged the strings I won't bother, and try doing it.
It's just that I'm changing it for only one song and I do it every day.

Anyway it's true it's not a drastic change from E to D and vice versa.

[url]https://soundcloud.com/curtis-k-music[/url]
  • Tyson7
  • Senior Member
  • Offline
  • From: Wisconsin
  • Registered: 2011-04-25
  • Posts: 493

Re: Often change tuning key?

I agree with Bluejeep . You will find when you change tuning a lot the string tone will change. Strings won't have the bright tone they do when they are new. So you will probably want to change strings for that reason. That's why most performers keep one guitar for special tunings.  Not a big deal to retune though. And it won't hurt your guitar.

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  • From: Nottingham England
  • Registered: 2014-01-13
  • Posts: 621

Re: Often change tuning key?

I keep one (acoustic) in standard tuning, another for experiment.

Thick as two short planks
  • From: Probably Somewhere
  • Registered: 2010-12-09
  • Posts: 2,446

Re: Often change tuning key?

What songs of his are in double drop d?

9 Reply by beamer (edited by beamer 2017-12-01 04:38:40)

  • beamer
  • beamer
  • THE METALIZER. Naughty Rocker Boy.
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  • From: WASHINGTON ST
  • Registered: 2006-07-29
  • Posts: 2,811

Re: Often change tuning key?

Baldguitardude wrote:

What songs of his are in double drop d?

Cinnamon Girl, Ohio can be,,, honestly most people don't notice the difference but when you're playing in electric it really rings out and it keeps that hi E from ping ping ping.
Look up Marty Schwartz on guitar Jamz YouTube and his lesson for cinnamon girl and that's where I also learned about the double drop d while granted most of us have always played in standard tuning it just adds a little more meat to it when you're playing it on an electric guitar same thing for playing Ohio there's probably a few more but cinnamon girl is really the main one.

“Find your own sound.  Dont be a second rateYngwie Malmsteen be a first rate you”

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  • From: West Georgia
  • Registered: 2006-10-14
  • Posts: 2,557

Re: Often change tuning key?

neophytte wrote:

Depending on your guitar, look up Tronical tuners ...

https://www.tronicaltune.com/tuners?front=1

Cheers

I went to the site, neo and it looks cool, but is the site supposed to let you hear the tunings  as they change?

Thanks

Bill

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  • From: Perth
  • Registered: 2017-09-27
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: Often change tuning key?

Strummerboy Bill wrote:
neophytte wrote:

Depending on your guitar, look up Tronical tuners ...

https://www.tronicaltune.com/tuners?front=1

Cheers

I went to the site, neo and it looks cool, but is the site supposed to let you hear the tunings  as they change?

I don't think so  - TBH I usually browse with my speakers off, as the pop-up videos on random site really annoy me ... especially when a few open at once ...

-[ Musician, writer, guitarist, singer ]-
Bandcamp     https://richardmortimer.bandcamp.com/follow_me
Discogs          https://www.discogs.com/release/29065579
YouTube         https://www.youtube.com/@RichardMortimerMusic
  • From: Ukraine\UK
  • Registered: 2017-12-14
  • Posts: 3

Re: Often change tuning key?

Tronical are really good.