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Post by borborygmus on Jul 25, 2024 17:53:10 GMT
"((Joni Mitchell's)) left hand was weakened from having polio, and that's the hand that you're usually fretting a guitar with. Because of that, she learns how to play open chords. She has a beautiful phrase for this. She's called them chords of inquiry. She wants songs that sound like a question mark and sort of hover in this uncertainty. I think it was Chuck ((Mitchell)) that called them her weird chords, and then she started using that as a positive thing. She's trying to find a style of guitar playing that just better expresses life." Music critic Lindsay Zoladz explains how Joni found herself “twisting the tuning knobs until she finds the chord that sounds like what she hears in her head.” - From the BBC Radio 4 series Legend. A segue from the thread about capos. Dispensing with barre chords, which are limiting your ambition. Exploring keys and scales. Using what tools you can to produce the sounds you want - and why not? There is adventure and creativity and bravery in this. Chords of inquiry - ones that have a question mark in them. I love this idea. Chords which sustain, perhaps with a lack of resolution. Which better express life. The idea that capos are cheating, and alternative tunings are weird... sheeshPeter |
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Post by lavaman on Jul 25, 2024 21:22:13 GMT
I love different tunings, they introduce new sounds and new chord 'flavours'. If you you like Joni Mitchell's 'weird / unusual' tunings, check out www.tomdoughty.com/ Iain |
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Welshruss
C.O.G. 
Posts: 500
My main instrument is: Turnstone, Wandering Boy & Santa Cruz
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Post by Welshruss on Jul 26, 2024 8:56:26 GMT
Back in the early 2000s I attended a few acoustic guitar masterclasses with the late great Eric Roche at Bath Uni. One was on Joni Mitchell and another on Nick Drake. My mind was opened to the world of open tunings and I dived in to become big fans of both artists. I think they were organised through Guitarist magazine.
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cesspit
Busker
Posts: 99
My main instrument is: Martin D10
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Post by cesspit on Jul 26, 2024 9:29:15 GMT
I've dabbled with different tunings, trouble is I can never remember where my fingers are supposed to go. Does sound nice when you do get it right though.
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jul 26, 2024 10:54:19 GMT
I've dabbled with different tunings, trouble is I can never remember where my fingers are supposed to go. Does sound nice when you do get it right though. This is where Tab is your friend; you don't need to worry what key you're in or what note you're playing. Just follow the numbers. |
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cesspit
Busker
Posts: 99
My main instrument is: Martin D10
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Post by cesspit on Jul 26, 2024 11:33:55 GMT
I have occasionally used TAB for reference but I believe some folk can almost sight read it. I've always been jealous of those who have any sort of technical theory to call on.
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brianr2
C.O.G.
Posts: 3,188 
My main instrument is: Fylde Goodfellow
Member is Online
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Post by brianr2 on Jul 26, 2024 12:45:17 GMT
I almost never play in standard tuning. I very much enjoy torturing a couple of Will Ackerman pieces and he certainly favours the esoteric. To repeat my comment in the capo thread: “if it sounds good, it is good”.
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Post by delb0y on Jul 26, 2024 13:38:15 GMT
I play a few tunes in open D, but that's about it. I learned a Fahey tune in C but as it's the only song I know in that key I rarely take the time to change tunings. Have fooled about with some bottleneck blues in open G, and did work up a few pieces in DADGAD, but in the main I prefer regular tuning. There's so much to learn that I just confuse myself if I go too deeply into other tunings, especially if I don't play them daily.
I do think that using unfamiliar shapes is a possible gateway to new tunes though; a way to break out of ruts and habits.
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Welshruss
C.O.G.
Posts: 500
My main instrument is: Turnstone, Wandering Boy & Santa Cruz
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Post by Welshruss on Jul 26, 2024 22:04:29 GMT
I got into Open C through Fahey, Jack Rose and William Tyler. I usually keep one guitar tuned to Open C.
Check out Kensington Blues by Jack Rose or Missionary Ridge by William Tyler.
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Post by vikingblues on Jul 29, 2024 8:14:18 GMT
Once upon a time I thought I could have my little collection of acoustic guitars in different tunings. No bother then with having to retune and no continual changing on the strings tension due to adjusting tuning. So I now have 4 acoustics and 3 are in DADGAD. So much for the original plan!  To be fair that's also partly due to playing much less, and losing momentum on the tunings I'm less sure of. Dabbling in altered tunings is fun though, as is dabbling in the various modes in each tuning. Adds variation to tones, resonances and chord voicing.  Mark |
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Post by Vinny on Jul 29, 2024 10:04:52 GMT
I set out every now and again to leave different guitars in various tunings, but then decide to see what open D guitar sounds like in open G, and what open G guitar sounds like in standard, and so on. I can’t seem to leave any guitar in its “assigned “ tuning. I love Joni Mitchell but the voice pitching can be problematic! Need tighter trousers.
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Jo whoever he is.
