Why would you use the guitar tuning CGDGDD?

Question

I just started playing guitar and I ran across this song on youtube that I want to play (BoyceAvenue's version of Umbrella by Rhianna). After a lot of searching for the tab, I found out his guitar is tuned CGDCDD. Then after some more searching, I found out this is a really wierd, unique tuning.

Why would you tune your guitar this way? Would it make it easier to play certain chords? Is is just to create a trademark, stylistic sound? Would it make any chords any harder to play? Is it just to show off his knowledge of music theory? Someone online alluded to it being "basically Open D with the 6th string lowered a whole step" but when I googled "Open D tuning", it looked nothing like it.

There are other tabs for this song online that use standard tuning and sound just fine but I'm really curious about why this particular tuning would be used.

Answer 1

One of the greatest things about the guitar is it's ability to be quickly and easily tuned to whatever you need it to be tuned to to make the song you're singing sound amazing! (DGdgbe for slide DAdgad for celtic CGdgbd slack key for Hawaiian slide... pretty close to the one he's using.) I think the guitarist in the video did a great job of matching the tuning and the song.



In answer to your questions...



Why would you tune your guitar this way?...to make the song sound awesome on guitar.



Would it make it easier to play certain chords?... Yes in the case of slide tunings all you have to do is barr the chord. In the case of celtic it gives you the ability to have awesome drone sounds.



Is is just to create a trademark, stylistic sound?... No you'd be pretty limited if that were the goal. Case in point goo goo dolls, sonic youth, Leo Kottke...it's a part of the sound, but not THE sound.



Would it make any chords any harder to play?... Yes in modal tunings thing get offset and shuffled around quite a bit.



Is it just to show off his knowledge of music theory? I'd be willing to bet that it's just a tuning the artist likes to play around in.



Someone online alluded to it being "basically Open D with the 6th string lowered a whole step" but when I googled "Open D tuning", it looked nothing like it... I'm thinking it's more of a modified slide tuning.



Alternate tunings are just one of the many parts of the guitar as an instrument that makes it such a perfect animal for expressing your creativity.



If you want to learn more about alternate tuning in general, check out Mark Hanson's book...The complete book of Alternate tunings.



Peace

Answer 2

"Really weird" is really appropriate in this case.



I don't know why anyone would expect to achieve greatness using this tuning. As you discovered, standard chords work just fine.



Perhaps some chords are easier to play, perhaps it's the sound... but it certainly is NOT any "knowledge of music theory." Nor is it even remotely related to an open D tuning.



The point is, guitars were not meant to be tuned to these notes and in my opinion, sound sloppy when they are.



In my entire career in music, which spans nearly 50 years, I have utilized only two *other* tunings. Those are an open D (DADF#AD) and a no-name tuning that provides some fabulous harmonics (EAEGBE) and allows for nice fingerpicking without stressing the fretting hand.



This is an excellent question and I can't wait to hear from others as to its validity.



Strum on!



Kabum

Answer 3

I won't take the time to look into the links you've provided, but I believe those who purposely create unusual tunings for an instrument that is meant to be played in its standard tuning enjoy out-of-the realm of musicianship. Perhaps these people believe that irregular tunings will make them unique in their field.



With this said, I play music in the standard tuning of E A D G B E and feel quite comfortable in doing so. I would not like the prospect of tuning my guitar in such an aberrant method and then try to play from sheet music.

Answer 4

sometimes these tunings are just for a song or two, and it makes it easier to play certain songs. To some people, playing guitar, or any instrument is about experimentation, which is probably what the guitar player did in this case. The first 3 strings are tuned to the "new standard tuning" or C pentatonic tuning, which is CGDAEG, which is taught by Robert Fripp.

Answer 5

well it all depends on what type of music you play. I tune mine in standard too but its because I have no intrest in extreme music. If you play metal you can have anything from like drop F to C. rock can be from drop D to standard tho some in C it all depends. also there is tunnings where in old blues people would tune there guitars to an actually chord like open E. all the open strings make an E and they used capos so maybe thats ur problem with the capo thing. but usually standard is the standard.

Answer 6

Umbrella Chords Boyce Avenue