Altered Tunings

Laurence Juber

Around last year I tried playing some Laurence Juber and one of Tommy Emmanuel songs.
Tommy's song "Those Who Wait" features the Drop-D tuning, which essentially means dropping the low E of the standard tuning on a guitar to a low-D. And the result is an extended lower range on the guitar of two notes, and a really nice droning quality because of the D low note, especially for songs in D key.

Laurence Juber is an advocate of the DADGAD tuning (read DAD-GAD). Probably his most famous cd is LJ Plays the Beatles, which has some really nice DADGAD work. I would say that Laurence Juber's tone is more towards the mellow side, while Tommy is slightly more aggressive.

Did you know that Goo Goo Dolls's Iris was played in DDDDB tuning?

I urge fellow brothers-in-guitar to try altered tunings with your guitar. You'll be surprised how such a small change makes it sound like a new instrument.

That's why I love the guitar. Whoever heard of altering the tunings on a piano. Hmm.. anyway on piano all the keys are laid out anyway.

Tommy Emmanuel - Those Who Wait