Learning the string intervals of open D

[rothko]

I'm still having trouble getting the string intervals of open D tuning nailed down, particularly the minor 3rd and major 3rd intervals around the 3rd string - for some reason, these still occasionally trip me up.

Does anyone have tips, mnemonics or techniques for getting new intervals nailed?

I found DADGAD pretty easy and intuitive to learn alongside regular EADGBE tuning, but for some reason that dang third string in open D causes a mental blockage, especially when I'm trying scales and modes up and down the strings... 

[Michael Messer]

Hi Rothko,

It is interesting that you find DADGAD easier than standard D tuning DADF#AD. I have played in DADF#AD, DGDGBD & GBDGBD for so long that I don't think about it. It depends what I am playing, but quite often in D tuning when I want a minor, I tune it to DADFAD. I occasionally do it in DGDGBD too, making it DGDGBbD (couldn't find a 'flat' symbol). When I am playing lap steel in GBDGBD, I never retune and play all keys and styles in that tuning.

I don't have any words of wisdom for you. You just have to persevere. I am sure there are some good learning resources for open D tuning...books, DVDs etc.

There are many great open D non-slide players; to name a couple.... Ry Cooder plays incredible open D stuff, so does Bee Gee Barry Gibb. Barry only plays in open D, which makes it very interesting to watch how he plays his chords.

Shine On
Michael

[rothko]

I think the 4th/2nd interval around the 3rd string in DADGAD is intuitively easier than the minor 3rd/Major 3rd in DADF#AD. DADF#AD has a constantly shifting 5th/4th/M3rd/m3rd/4th interval pattern as you go up the strings.

But as you say, familiarity will come with practise.

[Michael Messer]

Here's a harmony scale in D major...

You can play them as pairs or one after the other.

1st string - open 0 - fret 2 - 4 - 5 - 7 - 9 - 11 - 12
3rd string - open 0 - fret 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 8 - 10 - 12

or
3rd string - open 0 - fret 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 8 - 10 - 12
4th string - open 0 - fret 2 - 4 - 5 - 7 - 9 - 11 - 12

Notice the shapes in sequence - open - angle - angle - straight - straight - angle - angle - straight.

I use these and variations of them to play many different styles.

And of course the shapes are moveable.
So in G it would start at the 5th fret with a straight pair, then frets 6/7 - 8/9 etc up the scale to fret 17 with a straight pair.
The G scale shapes in sequence - straight - angle - angle - straight - straight - angle - angle - straight.

I hope that makes sense and is connected to your question :-)

Shine On
Michael

[rothko]

Thanks Michael - helps a lot.

[Dessery]

Hi Rothko

I've been playing in open E (EBEG#BE) a lot recently and the real break through for me was releasing that the 1st and 2nd strings were identical to standard tuning and the 3rd string is just 1 fret lower e.g. 3 in standard becomes 2 in open E, 6 is 5, 10 is 9 etc.

Realising that has meant by just shifting 1 string by 1 fret, I can play a lot of the licks/chords I played in standard in open E instead.

It's pretty simple really but that realisation has been a massive game changer for me and I'm having a lot of fun with it!!

Obviously open D is exactly the same, it's just in the key of D instead of E.

Hope that helps
All the best
David

[rothko]

Yes, I've been overthinking this a bit! Thinking as you say as the 3rd and 4th strings as down 1 or 2 frets (depending on how and from where you count it) and it all becomes a lot simpler. I'd been mixing up the differing string intervals with the differing strings pitches too...

Give me 20 years and I'll be solid.

[jodygc50]

And when you learn licks in Open D, they transfer directly to Open G (and vice versa) but 1 string down or up, respectively. In Open D the intervals between strings 6-5-4-3 and 2 are the same as the intervals in Open G between strings 5-4-3-2 and 1. Have fun!