Home › Forums › Showcase Your Playing › Open D tuning blues original
- This topic has 19 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 3 months ago by bwade913.
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January 19, 2020 at 1:28 pm #157820
I started messing with Open D tuning today, I am comparing strings and acoustics thought to showplay a few of my favorite acoustics.. D35 HAS 13S ELIXIR Alarez has 10s elixirs 000-15 m i put on 11s ( probably will go with 12s recommended next time anyway this is an original I coughed up today in open D tuning hope you get some ideas wouldn’t mind opinions for strings and guitar tones
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January 19, 2020 at 1:41 pm #157832
John, that sounds cool. Unfortunately, I don’t have any ideas. I would have to spend some time doing it and creating something. Lately it has been my main time to put ideas together and then make something sound good in context. I wonder how Brian always does it all so quickly. Anyway, your beginning is there; it is worth building on. Stay tuned buddy.
Play guitar just like you live; don't get bogged down in theory, it's just a tool without feeling.
Wilfried
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January 19, 2020 at 2:04 pm #157839
I like open D – great performance.
Dieter
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January 19, 2020 at 3:44 pm #157844
Difficult to assess those string gauges John as you played them on different guitars so the instrument’s own characteristics influenced the finished sound. So an ‘exact’ comparison was not possible.
After using many different string gauges on my D35, I now prefer custom 11’s. which seem to give the best compromise between tone and flexibility for bends.Richard
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January 19, 2020 at 4:25 pm #157846
Difficult to assess those string gauges John as you played them on different guitars so the instrument’s own characteristics influenced the finished sound. So an ‘exact’ comparison was not possible.
After using many different string gauges on my D35, I now prefer custom 11’s. which seem to give the best compromise between tone and flexibility for bends.Richard
Thanks Richard, I tend to agree. I honestly thought the newest strings elixirs sounded more sterile than the previous strings which were I believe silk wound Martin 12s and they were not coated strings but lasted like 9 months.. these are okay on the mahogany 000-15m for now.. but going to order the same set.. I have the old ones so I have to inquiry about them or just order a pack to see if I can match the old strings I thought were incredible..
The D35 I was told to try 13s for flatpicking country classic tunes I am getting back into country guitar flatpicking lately have the urge.. I have at least a dozen old fiddle country tunes I learned some time ago to rehearse.. also learning both versions of church street blues ..Tony Rice version and the original Norman Blake,, I have been on and off them on weekends.. quite a feat to master either of them .. maybe I’ll try singing too ..but for practice..i know I have to stay low key at least a john cash kinda voice lol
anyway, so many lessons fun to learn and play but the fingers get fatigued, I payed over 12 hrs today! lol
lastly spruce tops are bright louder but the mahogany is a great warm tone for blues finger stlyle .. the d35 can handle 12s and 13s .. the litlle buzzy Alvarez has new 10s and it plays louder but buzzy frets imho.. both Martins are much better in comparison .. better action better tuners and better intonation.. the Alvarez is a good little camping guitar obviously substantially less expensive mid range instrument.
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January 19, 2020 at 9:47 pm #157861
John, that sounds cool. Unfortunately, I don’t have any ideas. I would have to spend some time doing it and creating something. Lately it has been my main time to put ideas together and then make something sound good in context. I wonder how Brian always does it all so quickly. Anyway, your beginning is there; it is worth building on. Stay tuned buddy.
Thanks much Wilfried, yeah .I guess some of the concepts here are from learning and practicing Brian’s lessons .. but in open D tuning.. I like to try open G and other open tunings there are many open tunings Dadgad is a cool tuning for like celtic music.. did you know there are guitar strings call memphis strings?.. i was gifted a set once but i suppose they are suited for slide memphis blues players? .. i just like learning how to drop tune open tune strings for different keys every once in a while .. Keith Richards tunes mostly in open G .. many cool artists like Duane Allman, Jimmy Page many famous artists made use of a lot of open tunings.. enjoy create and have fun!
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January 19, 2020 at 9:54 pm #157862
thanks Dieter, many the ideas come from daily practice,, much came from the recent lessons introduced here! I try creating something from favorite lessons ,having fun enjoy!
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January 20, 2020 at 1:11 am #157871
Yes, there are some stories about the Memphis strings; I remember darkly, but did not pursue the subject any further. Our role models tried a lot back then. The open moods, regardless of the key, are always very cool for me. I think I once played and posted wild horses. I remembered that I used a little too much reverb. Anyway, open mood? COOL!
Play guitar just like you live; don't get bogged down in theory, it's just a tool without feeling.
Wilfried
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January 20, 2020 at 2:24 am #157873
Great finger style, man, and very nice tune! Now, I think your Alvarez sounded the best of all the other guitars, but I’m very biased because I have an Alvarez too 🙂
Israel
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January 20, 2020 at 11:43 am #157888
Cool sounding, Sunburst, with a nice catchy tune. I liked the second guitar best, was that the one with the 10s strings? Looks like it would be fun to play.
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January 20, 2020 at 2:27 pm #157893
Great finger style, man, and very nice tune! Now, I think your Alvarez sounded the best of all the other guitars, but I’m very biased because I have an Alvarez too 🙂
I think you have a good ear israel.. the Alvarez AP 70 is loud for a little parlor spruce top .. yes AP 70 strung with elixir 10s I strung up new not too long ago.. agree surprisingly much louder.. .. I like the tones on all of them but for country flatpicking I do favor the spruce tops.. I like the mahogany soft mellower for blues fingerstyle and think will eventually put steel silkk wounds on it for the soft mellow tones and the plus is they are easier on the fingers too.. but wanted to try the bronze at least once..
I always have more difficultly fine tuning the Alvarez compared to both Martins.. the strings on the D35 Martin are old 13s from early summer so it is due for fresh new strings.. the 11s on the 000-15M Martin are elixir phosphorus bronze nanoweb coated too ..think I’ll leave them on till they are spent… both Martins tune easier and much better action as .. tone wise too but it’s hard to prove over a android phone recording.. .. I will eventually mic the acoustics through the focusrite interface. anyway keep on picking ..plenty fun lessons! -
January 20, 2020 at 2:28 pm #157894
thanks Larry, yes the AP Alvarez has new 10s elixirs nanoweb phosphorus bronze
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January 20, 2020 at 2:33 pm #157895
Wilfried I been using the acoustics more last couple days.. practicing all the keys country run licks in standard first position all weekend!
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January 20, 2020 at 3:19 pm #157900
John You made them all sound great. Great playing
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January 20, 2020 at 3:26 pm #157901
Some down home blues pickin’, John. Real cool open D blues playing. This kind of music is probably why we have front porches (or maybe we have this music because of front porches?). Loved it!
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January 20, 2020 at 9:01 pm #157910
Thanks JohnB, I been real busy trying to learn both about my gear and practicing a bit of everything, cool we share what we enjoy too!
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January 20, 2020 at 9:07 pm #157911
Thanks Dave, these lessons are helping get better.. btw, still got a ways to go with DAW but finally have something i recorded through my scarlett 2i2 3rd generation studio kit .. i can’t sing for shet but i like trying lol anyway trying now how to send the files here think it’s wav format ..do i use audacity or whatever, i have to now research this too i guess,. ty again enjoy
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January 20, 2020 at 9:47 pm #157913
Some nifty pick’n John – really liked this.
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January 21, 2020 at 6:30 pm #157947
ty clarke, hope all is fun by you!
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January 23, 2020 at 10:36 pm #158020
They all sound good and have their own character. It’s up to you to choose your own voice. You’re on the right track. Open D is my favorite.
– Bret
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