Learning Open D

[slidemad]

Hello,

I am trying to learn Open D tuning.

Can anyone recommend some good songs/artists to listen to?

Michael, I am watching your great DVD. You mention North Mississippi players, can you give me some names?

Thanks.

[steverino]

You might like Ry Cooder's version of "Vigilante Man." I sure do.

[melp]

Hi,

I am also learning more in Open D.

Try Mike Dowling, several tracks from the Bottomlands album, including Swamp Dog Blues.

Also, some foxy stuff from Seasick Steve like Things go up from Dog House Music.

Happy Vastopoling

Mel

[blueshome]

Tampa Red, Kokomo Arnold, Fred McDowell, B.Willie Johnson. Those should give you several hundred tunes to try before getting on the derivatives.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Slidemad,

Welcome to our friendly forum.

I am pleased you are enjoying the DVD. Open D is possibly the oldest guitar tuning we know of. It goes way back before the blues and probably before America was discovered. Open D, often referred to as 'Vastapol' can be in other keys both above and below D. Tuning or capo-ing up to E is very common.

You have been given some good examples of open D. I would listen to Mississippi Fred McDowell, Blind Willie Johnson, Elmore James.....in fact most of the blues slide players recorded tunes D tuning. Really, to get a proper understanding of this music you need to study all the 'classic' players and focus in on the songs that feature what you are looking for. Charlie Patton, Son House, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Fred McDowell, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, Kokomo Arnold, Robert Nighthawk, etc... These are some of the definitive players that everyone has been influenced by.

I hope we have helped and not confused you!

Shine On
Michael.

[percythewonderant]

Hi ,
That is really interesting. I knew that open D was an old tuning but I didn't realise it was that old. I am aware that standard tuning is a relatively recent construct, as is modern standard tuning for fiddles but hadn't really given much thought to what went before.

I guess I just had a simplistic 'primatives in the fogs of time' idea that A 440 Concert pitch wasn't around and the rules concerning tunings were not so formal for non professional musicians.

Where can I learn more?

Cheers Percy

[fibrebundle]

Good to know you're learning open D, slidemad. I too have started exploring this tuning very recently. To get some kind of feel for it, I am trying to figure out a few songs by John Hammond, essentially covers of blues standards played in Vestapol. My current obsession is Hellhound On My Trail.

[slidemad]

Thanks to everyone for your replies.

I am also enjoying learning Skip James in D-A-D-F-A-D.

[andys]

I play mainly in open G, but a useful fact is that chords and riffs in open G can be transfered to open D, by simple shifting everything ACROSS the fretboard by one string.

I often retune my guitar to open D for a change, but I tend to put it back into open G.

Really I need a resonator guitar in each tuning........

Thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!!

[markm]

Prodigal Son cover by the Rolling Stones is that basic tuning. Also No Expectations and Salt of the Earth.

[fitchmeister]

I found the tune "Dark was the night cold was the ground " by Blind Willie Johnson really good for improving my technique.

I found the notes easy, but getting the expression in a lot harder.

I play it when im fed up

Roj

[Michael Messer]

Dark Was The Night, Cold Was the Ground - was included on the Voyager Golden Record, sent into space with the Voyager spacecraft in 1977. It is a unique piece of guitar & vocal music.

The cleanest master of this recording that I know is the one on the Catfish Records Slide Guitar compilation. It was mastered from an amazingly clean 78 record and the sound is superb.

Open D tuning slide guitar - Blind Willie Johnson is possibly THE definitive player. Brilliant stuff.

Shine On
Michael.