Please recommend some singer-songwriters that use open tunings

[wrig_]

Greetings everyone! Newbie/lurker writing:

 

I'm sorry if this has been asked to death already. I tried searching but couldn't quite come up with what I was exactly looking for.

 

So as the topic suggests I'm looking for some interesting acoustic guitar players/songwriters that use open tunings in their music. So far I've been into DADGAD, but I'm looking to expand.

 

Also if you think some of your own songs fit into my description - feel free to post!

 

I'd like to add that I'm not really looking for the super flashy stuff such as Andy McKee. My current favourites include Nick Drake and Jose Gonzalez. In case you don't know him yet, check this out

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4_4abCWw-w

 

Lately I've been getting into some Richard Thompson too.

 

I'm in the process of writing some songs with a friend and looking for some inspiration from the greats.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Queequeg]

Joni Mitchell

Stephen Stills

David Crosby

Judy Collins

Led Zeppelin

oh gee, its a very long list. I dont know what kind of music you like or listen to.

[Freeman Keller]

I am really not up to speed on contemporary players using open tunings, but many of the ones I grew up with do. Since you mention Richard Thompson, for 1952 Vincent he lowers the 6th to C and the 5th to G and capos at 3 (I think). While this isn't a true open tuning, it lets him play C forms with tonics on the bass strings. Another Vincent (Chet's version of Starry Starry night) is some sort of open G flat or minor.

 

But for people who have used open tunings - almost all of the old bluesmen (and everyone who has been influnced by them such as EC, Bonnie Raitte, Rory Block, and so many more). Cooder, Fahey and Kottke, of course, and everyone who has been influenced by them. too Many of the folkies and folk-rock players during the 60's - Joni Mitchell, Richie Havens, Steven Stills, Duane Allman... Davie Graham and everyone that followed with DADGAD. Almost every player who has ever layed a broken bottle neck on steel strings. Our own Terry Allan Hall. Fingerbone Bill on that wonderful lap steel, and of course Kelly Joe Phelps. The list gones on and on and on...

[wrig_]

Thank's for your reply Queequeg! I tried to post the names of some artists that I've been into lately but I'm really open to all suggestions. I think(?) I'm mainly looking for folkish stuff that doesn't necessarily have to stick to most basic I IV V (add relative minors) -progressions. But I must add that I'm not searching for anykind of "showoff" stuff but music with emotion.

 

But thank's again. I'll check some of the names you posted.

[wrig_]

Freeman Keller: I think I used the wrong term. "Alternate tuning" would have been more suitable than "open tuning". I'm just interested in alternatives to standard tuning that I use when playing electric with band. Sorry for the confusion.

 

To specify a little further I'm not that interested in slide or blues. While I do enjoy listening to both every now and then, I'm more into celtic and folk in my own playing.

 

Currently checking out Davie Graham. Thanks!

[missedmyexit]

Keb Mo'

[Freeman Keller]

This book by Mark Hanson has about every altered tuning ever used, and a list of players and songs in each tuning (plus chord forms and all kinds of esoteric stuff). It is worthwhile to have in your library

 

Complete Book of Alternate Tunings

[Terry Allan Hall]

Check out how David Wilcox uses open-tunings (Open "G", Open "D", Open "C" and DADGAD, particularily)...great stuff!

[Hudman]

The Goo Goo Dolls Name is a cool open tuning song.

 

Led Zeppelin's the Rain Song is a great open tuning song.

 

Steven Stills Tree Top Flyer is a nice DADGAD tune.

 

Don Ross is big on open tunings, but his stuff is very advanced. He influenced many of the young players like Andy McKee. In fact, he is on the same label as McKee (Candyrat.com).

[riffmeister]

Joni Mitchell, Jonatha Brooke are both awesome singers, songwriters, alt tuning guitarists.

 

 

 

.

[jd-drafter]

richie havens is great source as well- his version of 'freedom' at wood stock is what set me looking for more info... lot's of good info on his page....

 

http://www.richiehavens.com/HM3365.htm

[Kerouac]

Ani {censored}ing DiFranco!!!!!!

[Hudman]

 

Ani {censored}ing DiFranco!!!!!!

 

 

Interesting middle name.

[Freeman Keller]

Here is an open tuning and song for you. EEEEBE - Suite:Judy Blue Eyes

[missedmyexit]

Black Crows "She Talks to Angels" is in open tuning and a kick ass tune.

[bjorn-fjord]

I think the entire Blood on the Tracks (Dylan) album is played in open D.

[Terry Allan Hall]

richie havens is great source as well- his version of 'freedom' at wood stock is what set me looking for more info... lot's of good info on his page.... http://www.richiehavens.com/HM3365.htm

 

Havens has made an absolute artform out of the simplest of left-hand techniques...97% of what he does is done with his thumb simply being laid across all 6 strings, tuned to Open "D"!

 

OTOH, his right hand creates some amazing beats!

 

And he has the good taste to play a Guild...

 

 

...and occasionally a sitar

 

[jd-drafter]

of course it helps to have a thumb that is as wide as the neck of the guitar 8^)

 

yes he does amazing work with such a simple techique... ah yes... here we go... the very clip that got me going... amazing energy... and soul...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=padFWnVac8Y

[BigRed51]

I'm looking for some interesting acoustic guitar players/songwriters that use open tunings in their music.

 

The absolute queen of open tunings is Mary McCaslin. You can hear two of her CD's (one alone, one with Jim Ringer) on Napster, or you can go here:

 

http://www.rhapsody.com/marymccaslin/prairieinthesky

 

and get a wider selection ... free and legal. Her arrangement of Ghost Riders in the Sky" is absolutely haunting. Another of her classic arrangements is "You Keep Me Hanging On" from the lbum "A Life and Time."

 

There are also lots of sound clips, and information on the tunings that she uses on her website, www.marymccaslin.com

[martingibson70]

Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley

[bigou]

you have to listen to :

 

John Martyn

Bert Jansch

John Renbourn

[garthman]

For open chords I suppose Open D (DADF#AD) and Open G (GCDGBD) are the most popular because you can produce some quite resonable chords as well as some good sounding riffs with the open strings. You can, of course, also use a capo with both these tunings to get Open, E, F, G A with Open D and Open A, C, D with Open G.

 

For alternate tunings, both Standard Eb (std E down 1 semitone) and Std D (std E down 2 semitones) are popular. Also very useful are drop D and drop C (6th string lowered in each case). A great favourite of mine is double-drop D with both 6th and 1st strings lowered to D (DADGBD). Lastly CGDGCD tuning gives some interesting chords and riffs.

[wrig_]

Thanks alot to everyone!

 

Some artists were already familiar. Some were checked out, but didn't get me too excited. But some were really close to what I was looking for!

 

So far I've been listening to:

 

Pentangle (Renbourn and Jansch together. Some really great songs)

Ani DiFranco (sounds very promising)

David Wilcox (didn't find much online yet. Will keep looking for more.)

[min7b5]

Joni Mitchell

Ani DiFranco

Shawn Colvin

May Moore

[captain average]

i believe taj mahal uses open tunings.

someone mentioned bob dylan's blood on the tracks being recorded in open d or e. he recorded the whole album in open tuning, but then he redid a few of them with a band in standard because his brother told him that the whole album sounded like one song. a lot of people prefer the original versions, and you can find them on the bootleg series.