Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF
Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Topic started by: TaylorGirl on May 26, 2016, 12:16:44 PM
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I'm not interested in this for me (can't see it working for this fingerpicker), but just noticed it at Sweetwater. There's a video that explains and demostrates the tuning. Interesting concept for a mix.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GSMiniMNT
Has anyone experimented with Nashville tuning? If so, what have you done with it?
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Indirectly, yes. And so have you. Nashville tuning is just the same tuning as the octave strings on a 12-string guitar -- but on a 6-string. So as far as I know, there's nothing particularly special about the guitar that Sweetwater is offering; they've just replaced the standard strings with the octave strings of a 12-string guitar. You could do the same with your GS Mini (or any other of your 6-string guitars).
I'm sure one can do many more things with Nashville tuning than I know about. But I do know that "Dust In The Wind" is properly played as a duet: one guitar in standard tuning, the other in Nashville tuning. I always thought if one was adept at picking a 12-string, it could be played solo. I'm not adept at picking a 12-string, though... :(
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Hey Tim, I understand what Nashville tuning is, just wondered if anyone here has done anything with it. I have no interest in doing it myself, but wondered what others have done. It is an interesting concept for a mix, I think. I've gotten pretty comfortable with fingerpicking a 12-string, due to the latest Taylor 12-strings that I've owned. Gonna refine it even more with the 562ce.
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I came really close to trying it on a Baby Taylor I used to have, but gave it to my oldest instead. I at least thought about it, though... ;D
Nick
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Yeah, they say it works best on the shorter scales.
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Hey Tim, I understand what Nashville tuning is, just wondered if anyone here has done anything with it. I have no interest in doing it myself, but wondered what others have done. It is an interesting concept for a mix, I think. I've gotten pretty comfortable with fingerpicking a 12-string, due to the latest Taylor 12-strings that I've owned. Gonna refine it even more with the 562ce.
Ah, OK. Guess I misinterpreted your question. Good luck with the 562ce!
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I have not played with it much myself. Just once when I was changing strings on a 12-string. I took the low pairs off first leaving the octaves on. It was fun for a while. I cannot cite specific recordings but doubled parts are often overdubbed in studio recordings, hence the "Nashville tuning" name.
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Hey Tim, I understand what Nashville tuning is, just wondered if anyone here has done anything with it. I have no interest in doing it myself, but wondered what others have done. It is an interesting concept for a mix, I think. I've gotten pretty comfortable with fingerpicking a 12-string, due to the latest Taylor 12-strings that I've owned. Gonna refine it even more with the 562ce.
Ah, OK. Guess I misinterpreted your question. Good luck with the 562ce!
Thanks Tim. Based on the lack of responses here, there doesn't seem to be much experience with Nashville tuning. But, I think it's another creative use of a GS Mini.
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I have not played with it much myself. Just once when I was changing strings on a 12-string. I took the low pairs off first leaving the octaves on. It was fun for a while. I cannot cite specific recordings but doubled parts are often overdubbed in studio recordings, hence the "Nashville tuning" name.
Interesting, Earl.
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Hi. I've got an old Ovation Celebrity that I converted to Nashville tuning about 5 years ago (I play mostly Country, by the way). I use it on my home recordings in 2 ways. Firstly, as a strummed rhythm guitar, set at the opposite end of the stereo spectrum to my 614ce,which has standard tuning. That gives an additional lift, or lightness, to the rhythm section and is great when properly mixed down. Secondly, I discovered that I really liked the effect of using it as an additional lead instrument, finger-picking, predominantly on the top 3 strings. The octave lift on the third string creates some nice sounds against the top two strings, which are the same as standard tuning.
I used the Ovation because it had seen better days, but it's still going strong. I plan to look into using my GS Mini, once the Ovation gives up the ghost (it was stated by the Taylor guy, at the last road show I attended, to be a good use of the guitar). I need to check the effect on intonation before that happens - there must be a lot of different stresses on the neck if you change from the very heavy strings recommended for the GS Mini to very light Nashville tuning strings. BTW, if anyone is interested in trying it, D'addario do a high-strung Nashville string set (.010 - .027) ref EJ38H. Hope you found the above interesting.
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You all have intrigued me with the concept (thanks TG!), as I am not a alt-tuning kind of guy (that takes even more thinking ;), but this seems like a cool way to get a different voice without having to restructure fingerings, or my brain.
Question: if I tried this on my Baby Taylor, what gauge strings do you think I should try it with?
Edward
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Thanks PW for sharing that. It is interesting how you have used that tuning. I can see where it could add some unique sounds to the mix, like you described.
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You all have intrigued me with the concept (thanks TG!), as I am not a alt-tuning kind of guy (that takes even more thinking ;), but this seems like a cool way to get a different voice without having to restructure fingerings, or my brain.
Question: if I tried this on my Baby Taylor, what gauge strings do you think I should try it with?
Edward
Your welcome, Edward. ;D
I wonder if that string set PW mentioned would work.
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Has anyone experimented with Nashville tuning? If so, what have you done with it?
So the first Taylor I ever bought was a GS Mini Mahogany. I bought it for my wife (an accomplished pianist in her own right) who wanted me to teach her to play the guitar. While she was late in her pregnancy with our third child the guitar just hung on the wall, so I began to play it (which introduced me to the Taylor tone). Since I have a few other guitars, I used it to experiment with alternate tunings. After stumbling upon the Nashville tuning on Justin Sandercoe's site, I started experimenting with it. I like it so much, I began to use the Mini as a niche accompaniment guitar in session. While I haven't found it suitable for writing melodies, I found it to be a great harmonizing tuning.
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My baby is currently strung in a hi-strung or Nashville tuning. It is another tool in the arsenal. I find it can provide unique color to chords as it "clusters" intervals sometimes quite beautifully. It's purpose seems to shine as a accompaniment to another guitar. If similar parts are played simultaneously you can get a live 12 string that can be panned very wide (ala dust in the wind), or just provide sonic separation for multiple guitars. A baby hi strung has a nice high sonic signature that adds a nice shimmer on top of instrumentation that is not too thin, but has its own sonic landscape (mandolin territory) to live in that does not wash over other instruments. I use it often during worship services if there is more than one guitar-just to keep separation.
As a solo tool, you kind of have to re-learn your playing technique because patterns you are used to (walk downs and g/b string diads) definitely do not work the same.
Like anything, if you devote enough time to it, it can be very rewarding. I've had my baby strung this way for 5 years now and have no inclination to change it.
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I had my Baby with Nashville tuning. It works for bluegrass (sort of banjo sounding) sound & feel. It caused me to finish writing a song because the song spurred creativity. Works with other guitar parts but not solo. The strings are the octave strings of a 12 string guitar set.
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Stevie-d is right about the strange sounds produced by applying normal guitar riffs to a Nashville-strung guitar but I've used this to great advantage (imho!) on several recordings. Best advice is not to listen too intently when you're playing it and you may be pleasantly surprised on the playback. As ever, one man's meat.....
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For you guys using nashville tuning with a GS Mini, which top are you using? Spruce, Hog or Koa?