Playing Your National In Standard Tuning

[Deleted]

Just thought I would start a thread on playing your National guitar in standard tuning! Hopefully get some discussions....


How many do this?



I started about 10 years or so ago, when I realized I had run out D Open tunes and was boring myself to tears. I also started experimenting with 'brushing' chords with my thumb, sometimes even up and down to save using a pick. All this was on my Dobro and I left it in standard tuning but dropped a tone, for many years, and put it in open tuning for slide when I wanted. I did have some banger guitars that I left in Open D and G to save re-tuning and all that, and recently I have my new Nationals M14 and Tricone in standard, G Open and my Dobro in D Open.


I was shocked when watching a friend play his Style 0 in D Open (Lovely!) and put it down to play standard tuning songs on what I tell him is the worst POS guitar on the planet! I felt like grabbing his Style 0 and re-tuning it to standard for him, but you know, some people freak out at things like that, so...


BluesKing777.

[Deleted]

I don't think I've ever put a resonator in standard tuning, but I do play a lot of 'standard tuned' songs in DADGAD instead.
The only time I use standard tuning is for a POS covers band I occasionally perform with, and I use a POS guitar for it too!
TT

[Deleted]

It is interesting you should mention DADGAD, Deuce!


I was just considering getting this DVD from Homespun after reading how the incredible Al Petteway uses DADGAD for all kinds of fingerpicking styles.


Being the interminable blues lover, I was going to start with this one:


www.homespuntapes.com/Instructors/al-petteway/blues-guitar-arrangements-in-dadgad-tuning


BluesKing777.

[slide496]

Im not an expert but for country blues I think Blindboy Fuller played in standard tuning but I don't know the pitch, whether it was stepped down or not. Ari Eisinger and Paul Rishel might have some material or covers they've done in standard on nationals. Perhaps Fuller's popular Pistol Slapper blues - Rory Gallagher?

[pete1951]

There were a few Blues players who played slide on `standard` tuning. Later Muddy Waters and Honey Boy Edwards come to mind.
PT
PS: I wonder why anyone would put a guitar (reso ,electric, 12string etc. ) into `standard` tuning rather than Spanish anyway?

[gouranga]

Hi folks.

I use my reso's in standard tuning a lot, but drop the tuning down. I drop a full tone on single cone and 3 half tones on tricone. Get some nice tones out of tricone. I also use open tuning, but generally drop half a tone.

Take care and best wishes

Gouranga

[washboardchris]

Hi, I have a CD by the great Argentine swing guitarist Oscar Aleman who worked in Paris at the same time as Django Reinhardt.He played some wonderfull stuff on a standard tuned Tricone ,If you can find any of his prewar stuff its well worth a listen.I have read that his two round necked tricone guitars were seized br the Nazis at a border check which probably means that they were melted down for there war effort

[steadyrollinman]

Hi Bluesking,

One of the slide guitar tutors at Bluesweek recently, taught slide in standard tuning on single cone resonators. Obviously care has to be taken if you have heavy strings, in which case tune down and capo up.
The concept appeared quite daunting to begin with, what with the extra work involved with muting strings you dont want to hear, but after a couple of days, like all things it opened up a whole new sound and approach. Definitely a big plus if you stick with it.

The songs we worked with were: Muddy Waters "My Home is in The Delta" and Honeyboy Edwards " Sweet Home Chigago" Both quite addictive when it gets under your skin.

Regards,


Chris

[frank64f]

In interviews, Rev Gary Davis stated that his 1930's recordings were made on a 'steel' guitar, I think a style O National. These were in standard tuning, e.g. Cross & Evil Woman etc. They certainly sound different to his later Gibson J 200 recordings.

Frank

[sirjohnalotof]

Yup, I have my ResoRocket in standard tuning for ragtime and swing stuff but I had a struggle to get the action comfortable enough. Still working on it and will change the 13's for 12's in due course which should help a bit.
Also a big nod for Oscar Aleman...in some ways even better than Django and he's pretty much my alltime favourite guitar player.

[televiking]

As I play songs live in both standard tuning and open G, I use two resonators (I think tuning between the songs takes too much time and as I use two guitars it´s easy to play the songs in any order) so yes, I DO play a resonator in standard tuning.

Although the standard tuning one is not a National but a Busker Cannon.

[jw]

In the course of an evening, I tune to standard for the opening song of a set. It happens to be the state anthem called 'Way Down Upon the Suwannee River' as penned by Stephen Foster. Before I decided to make this a set opener, I feared ruining my tuners as I tried every conceivable combination of hybrid and open tunings - standard was the only way for my fingers!
If only I could afford another Style 1 ... just to sit beside me on stage waiting for that one song ....

[Deleted]

Coincidentally, I went into Hobgoblin in Bristol yesterday, and all these except the NRP ElTrov were in standard E.
TT

[Deleted]

It must have kept you busy for a while, playing all those!


BluesKing777.

[slide496]

Mamie Minch plays in standard