Learning guitar - 4ths tuning easier?

[Jim Nazium]

Yes, I know this is a bass forum.

While bass will always be my main instrument, I'd like to learn a little bit of guitar just so that I have a chordal instrument to play. I'm hoping it will help me identify chord progressions by ear.*

I'm wondering, since I'm a bassist, if it would be easier to tune the guitar in 4ths all the way across: E A D G C F, so all the scale and chord shapes are the same as they would be on a bass. Anyone try it? Or should I just go ahead and tune it the standard way so I can play the standard open chords?


* I also secretly hope that I can strum an acoustic guitar by the campfire and chicks will dig it.

[Richard Lindsey]

You can do what you want, but if you'd like the advice of someone who's been playing guitar even longer than bass, here it is:

It's a bad idea IMHO. There are a lot of very good reasons why the guitar is not usually tuned this way. Yes, I can think of one guitarist who does it (Stanley Jordan), but his full-time two-handed thing is highly specialized and, from what I can tell, not what you're looking for.

EADGCF would make most chording a lot harder, actually, believe it or not. Try playing a full 6-note E major chord with that tuning. Then a barred F#7 chord. You'll see what I mean. For chordal work and strumming by the campfire, EADGBE will likely be a lot better for you. Yes, there will be a learning curve, but there usually is with new stuff.

This is not to say that standard tuning is the only way to go. For example, some acoustic guitarists, especially Celtic ones, use DADGAD. Some slide players use open tunings, like open G. There are good reasons for those tunings, because they facilitate some things the players are trying to accomplish.

I'm just saying that for the things you say you want to do, and from the fact that you say guitar is always going to be a secondary instrument for you, EADGCF would not a be a good choice at all. It might look easier at first, but in the type of guitaristic context you're considering, it would turn out to be harder and less useful.

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by Richard Lindsey

It's a bad idea IMHO. There are a lot of very good reasons why the guitar is not usually tuned this way. Yes, I can think of one guitarist who does it (Stanley Jordan), but his full-time two-handed thing is highly specialized and, from what I can tell, not what you're looking for.

EADGCF would make most chording a lot harder, actually, believe it or not. Try playing a full 6-note E major chord with that tuning. Then a barred F#7 chord. You'll see what I mean. For chordal work and strumming by the campfire, EADGBE will likely be a lot better for you. Yes, there will be a learning curve, but there usually is with new stuff.

A big +1 for that. Shapes constitute more than the bottom 4 strings will be a serious pain.

If you don't really know chord shapes moderately well, I'd guess you're going to use some resource or the other to learn chord shapes. Most of these resources (teachers, books, etc.) won't provide you special diagrams for using an all 4ths tuning.

Assuming you won't sit down and put hours upon hours into inventing chord shapes

[MonetBass]

+1 to starting with a standard tuning. All of the books and chord charts are designed around the E-A-D-G-B-E tuning. Once you get that down, and I mean really down, then play around with alternate tunings.

As Richard said, there is a reason why the guitar is tuned the way it is. Unless you enjoy hand cramps, stick with that.

[HeadyVan Halen]

NO!!!! Tune it how it is sipposed to be tuned. In like 2 days you'll have it down. Just remember after the 'G' string, your minor 3rd is 1 fret back instead of 2 and that's it.



P.S. Please, please don't strum by the campfire. When you tell people you play guitar, this is instantly what comes to mind.....DON'T DO IT!!!!

[Jim Nazium]

Originally Posted by champbassist

If you don't really know chord shapes moderately well, I'd guess you're going to use some resource or the other to learn chord shapes. Most of these resources (teachers, books, etc.) won't provide you special diagrams for using an all 4ths tuning.

Good point, I'm planning to buy some books, and of course they'll all be written for standard tuning.

Thanks for the input everyone.

[Jim Nazium]

Originally Posted by HeadyVan Halen

P.S. Please, please don't strum by the campfire. When you tell people you play guitar, this is instantly what comes to mind.....DON'T DO IT!!!!

But ... I have to show the chicks how sensitive I am. Just a couple of tunes... "The Sound of Silence" and "Behind Blue Eyes" maybe?

[Richard Lindsey]

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

But ... I have to show the chicks how sensitive I am. Just a couple of tunes... "The Sound of Silence" and "Behind Blue Eyes" maybe?

I'm going to suggest "More Than Words."

[Michael Campbel]

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

...I'd like to learn a little bit of guitar... by the campfire and chicks will dig it.

You saw this, didn't you? http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1904510

[lowdownstu]

Agreed with everyone.
I only took up guitar after playing bass for years and that damn 3rd interval between G & B got me melodically for ages, but it comes. And as for chord shapes you'll get it down in no time, the standard tuning really does make ergonomic sense.

[All_¥our_Bass]

I actually prefer guitars in 4ths tuning to standard.
But I don't play "full" 5/6 notes chords, just usually 3/4 note ones that are easier to move around the fretboard.
Then there's the fact that my guitar playing is more melodic/scalar and not so full of chords in the first place, so it's not ab ig deal for me, but if you wanna strum chords, standard tuning, DADGAD, open G, etc. will serve you much better.

...And then there's tuning in perfect 5ths which is my absolute favorite thing to do!!
It really keeps you from playing the same old lines because all the fingerings are different.
This also has a side effect of dramatically increasing your range-my guitar goes from bass F to high E!! (It's in FCGDAE tuning)

One more thing!!
I could never get chicks with guitar because I always liked playing metal (esp. death metal) on acoustics-no joke!!

[HeadyVan Halen]

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

But ... I have to show the chicks how sensitive I am. Just a couple of tunes... "The Sound of Silence" and "Behind Blue Eyes" maybe?

The only song you are 'allowed' to do campefire with is:

'Prototype' by Outkast. Let me help you out

D Major 7--A Major 7--D Minor 7--A Minor 7...that'll have the draws droppin'

[plangentmusic]

If that's what you want, get a 6 string bass. What's the point of learning guitar and not being able to play chords?