How to choose the right open tuning? Should i go with which i'm comfortable with?

Question

When should we decide to use DADGAD, D Tuning, G Tuning etc to work on certain songs without depending on the actual tuning/Key?
Is G tuning an appropriate tuning to play Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton? Since Eric plays it in the key of G.

Answer 1

Eric Clapton plays Wonderful Tonight in the key of G but uses a standard EADGBE tuning. All the notes are there to play in ANY key with standard EADGBE tuning. Generally speaking, you would only use an open tuning if you're playing a song that relies on open strings. Open strings have a different sustain and tone than fretted strings. Also with an open tuning, the open strings can be used as a drone to play melodies around. In that case, you'd use an open tuning in the key of the song.



You don't just decide to use a particular open tuning....the song will have been written that way. I agree with the other answers: I've been playing for 46 years and almost never used an open tuning of any sort. My advice is to understand that alternate tunings exist, but don't get too wrapped up in them until you're fully conversant with standard tuning.

Answer 2

I kind of agree with Tony. I've played for 40+ years and almost always use standard tuning, but I can see some uses for alternate tunings. I really like DADGAD and use it for a lot of Irish folk songs and hymns where that droning D in the background with the melody played on the treble strings sounds really nice. I've also played a bit of slide guitar and open tunings work well for that kind of stuff. And of course there's the popular drop D tuning (which I fake by putting my capo on the 2nd fret across the first 5 strings so I don't have to detune my D string - of course that's really making everything a step higher but it works if you're just practicing).



I wouldn't necessarily just put my guitar in open tuning to match the key of the song. You could try that and see whether it makes it easier to play. That would really be the only reason for selecting any alternate tuning. Personally, I know where all the notes are when my guitar is in standard tuning and I've been playing that way for years. To change the tuning of the strings just makes me have to think too much about what note is on what fret now.

Answer 3

I've played for well over thirty years and have never really used anything other than standard tuning. I have used Drop D for a few traditional tunes and experimented with open tunings for slide. Frankly though, I just find other tunings too confusing. I would certainly use an alternative tuning if I wanted to learn something that needed that tuning but I wouldn't use it otherwise. Some payers, though, use different tunings and produce marvellous work beyond anything I could even dream of.



Some tunes need a different tuning - I've been listening to Leo Kottke lately and most of his tunes couldn't be played in standard tuning. Here, the tune would dictate the tuning. If Kottke played it in Open G, then use Open G.



Some players have an alternative tuning that they favour for just about everything (Richie Havens, Keith Richard etc.). These people treat that tuning as their "standard".



A few players change tuning for almost every song. These people seem to do it naturally, and I don't know how they decide on which tuning to use.



With the example you give, I'd just use standard tuning (like EC). Using an open major tuning can make it difficult to find minor chords and I wouldn't want the main chord (the G) to consist of all open strings, it would just feel wrong to me.