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Topic: Beginner Confused by Tunings |
Charlie Campney
From:
The Villages, FL
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Posted 9 Oct 2004 2:36 pm |
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It's been 45 years since I studied music theory in high school, and I forgot most of that.
Can some one recommend a book that will refresh me. I found a lot on the web but I am still confused.
Another thing that puzzles me is the number of tunings that are in use. A friend tried to explain about different tunings but I guess I am just too thick. I have a Mel Bey book that describes an E7 tuning as B D E G# B E and another that shows it as E D E G# B E ?
What is there about this tuning that makes it E7 ?
Brad's Page of Steel shows three different tunings that are labeled C6. What makes them C6 ?
What would be a good tuning for a beginner on a six string lap ? I hope to progress someday to a more versitile instrument. But just a 6 string for now as a place to start.
I am currently tuned for no particular reason to G B D G B D and I have found a lot of tabs out there for that tuning, so it works for now while I am learning, but probably a little limited.
Thanks |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 9 Oct 2004 4:28 pm
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| Quote: |
| What is there about this tuning that makes it E7 ? |
Charlie, in the key of E major, the 7th note of the scale is D# and if it's flatted to D, then it becomes a dominant scale and the E chord, instead of E maj 7 is now E7, so the notes in an E7 chord are: B D E G# B E. For the E9, chromatic, the E9 implies a dominant 7. So that would be: B D E F# ( the 9th and 2nd note of the E scale) G# B E G#. The chromatic notes: D# and F#, again, are called that because D and D# don't belong in the same scale, and they have a chromatic relationship.
| Quote: |
| Brad's Page of Steel shows three different tunings that are labeled C6. What makes them C6 ? |
The A in the tuning, which is the 6th and 13th note of the C scale.
Another possible 6 string tuning could be:
C# E G A C E
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Tony Davis
From:
Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Posted 10 Oct 2004 2:02 am
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Charlie !...if you are going from bass to treble with that tuning......well it looks like a standard Dobro Bluegrass tuning.....just poke around with that for a while...see how many tunes you can find and maybe play bass notes or chords to them..........open is G chord.....5th fret is C chord 7th fret is D chord...try playing chord and tune to these.........dont be mystified by them..........just play for fun
Tony |
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John Pelz
From:
Kettering, Ohio, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2004 10:20 am
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| Quote: |
| Can some one recommend a book that will refresh me. |
I like Forumite Mike Perlowin's Music Theory in the Real World. It does a good job explaining chord-theory & construction, etc., in nice, bite-sized portions, without overwhelming the reader. (I know -- I bought a copy. The price is right, too!)
If you haven't already, you might also want to check out John Ely's Tunings for Steel Guitar at the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association's website. It goes into the strengths and weakenesses of many popular tunings, and is very informative.[This message was edited by John Pelz on 10 October 2004 at 11:22 AM.] |
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