We all have our favorite tunings. I think for a beginner, no guitar playing experience, just learning, that the 4 string tuned GDAd is excellent. It gives the ability to play the 3 higher strings in DAd for example. You can also use mandolin or other music written for GDAe tuning and only need to figure out the E string.
As we all know there is a famine on the web for really good tabs, notation, even sheet music. This hopefully will be a place GDAd players can share tabs, vids, and such - especially suited for the learner.
I like blues, delta blues, blue eyed blues, country blues, Cajun blues, you name the type blues and most of it I like. Others may like something different. Learning includes finding your preferences, so the better the examples and more varied the more the newbie novice has with which to find out his or her style, preference, and learn skills.
Have fun and see who out there can be the most innovative and offer the best ideas, tabs, vids, an such.
Replies
Frank,
GDAd sounds interesting. What guitar strings do you use for each string? I have been using open D ...DADF#. I know half of one song in that tuning. Dust My Broom by Elmore James. Can anyone suggest other open D songs? Oh yeah, I also know most of Big Boss Man.
Anyway, maybe I should experiment with other tunings. I am pretty new to this stuff. I have been building for 3 or 4 months, but no time to play much. Suggestions?
Gary
Buy from Gitty.
Found trying first with Gitty's 4-string set helps you get the ear, Or buy a 6 string set and use the middle or top four - depending on preference. I'm thinking of using the lowest strings from a 6 string set and omitting the two highest treble strings for a lower more thumpy sound. I often find it easier when starting to try a new song to sing closer to high bass or middle baritone so it works better for me to have lower notes than I can get on a three stringer.
There are some mandolin and banjo tabs out there for GDAd tuning (and chord charts). Just use the melody notes, forget chords, and then, having got the melody, rhythm, and beat you can expand and get as fancy, complicated, and funky as you want (or have the skill to do). I still struggle just figuring out the melody and beat as I am just learning. Haven't mastered one fingered chord yet. That's why I love NightOwl's vids for beginners - she keeps it basic and simple.
Not pushing gospel, but songs like "Wayfaring Stranger" or "Amazing Grace" with lots of tabs and notation available, and a very basic and simple set of melody notes are great songs to learn with.