Open tunings/Slide option? (a bit long)

[Mister Duke]

Right off the bat, know this.... I am NOT looking for sympathy here. That
said......

I played acoustic guitar beginning at 7 yrs old (still own that first
guitar - Gibson 3/4 size). I've just turned 49 and several years ago I
developed rheumatoid arthritis which has impaired my ability to use my left
hand. I am unable to make chord changes with the speed/accuracy necessary
to play most anything. I haven't been able to play for several years and I
truly miss it. When I have tried to play, it is more frustrating than
enjoyable because my hands won't do what they once could.

I know nothing about using open tunings but since reading some posts here,
I'm wondering if using an open tuning would enable me to enjoy playing again
(not for audiences... for me). If you have a guitar tuned to an open chord
(E or G for instance) can you play minor chords or sevenths?

What I'm hoping for is being able to make chords , but use fewer fingers to
make those chords (follow me?). What about open tunings and a slide?

I need some input from some experienced players that understand where I'm
coming from and don't mind me picking their brain a bit via e-mail if I
decide to try this.... Thanks in advance!

[howldog]

On Sun, 17 Aug 2003 21:40:02 -0400, "Mister Duke"
<Mr_Duke76@yahoo.com> wrote:


>I know nothing about using open tunings but since reading some posts here,
>I'm wondering if using an open tuning would enable me to enjoy playing again
>(not for audiences... for me). If you have a guitar tuned to an open chord
>(E or G for instance) can you play minor chords or sevenths?


sure, a friend of mine wrote a chord book, Chords for Open Tunings,
and i think it was publushed thru the Rolling stones organization,
somehow. I've seen it for sale in music retailers, maybe you could
find it online


>
>What I'm hoping for is being able to make chords , but use fewer fingers to
>make those chords (follow me?).


nope, that aint a-gonna happen. it will require just as many fingers,
sometimes, even more.



> What about open tunings and a slide?

thats the way to go. maybe even go farther that way and get into
something new, like dobro or pedal steel.

[Nil]

On 18 Aug 2003, howldog <howldog-AINT-NO-SPAM-MAGNET@yahoo.com>
wrote in news:hqo1kvgqbq7f3ogog18m43isqm3v75rfok@4ax.com:

> sure, a friend of mine wrote a chord book, Chords for Open
> Tunings, and i think it was publushed thru the Rolling stones
> organization, somehow. I've seen it for sale in music retailers,
> maybe you could find it online

I've got another one that's good: "The Complete Book of Alternate
Tunings", by Mark Hanson, published by Accent On Music.

I haven't gotten deeply into the subject, but I intend to someday. So
far, it's just dabbling, and I haven't gotten confortable with any of
them yet. It's hard to break out of the standard tuning mindset.

[Ricky W. Hunt]

"howldog" <howldog-AINT-NO-SPAM-MAGNET@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:hqo1kvgqbq7f3ogog18m43isqm3v75rfok@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 17 Aug 2003 21:40:02 -0400, "Mister Duke"
> <Mr_Duke76@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> >I know nothing about using open tunings but since reading some posts
here,
> >I'm wondering if using an open tuning would enable me to enjoy playing
again
> >(not for audiences... for me). If you have a guitar tuned to an open
chord
> >(E or G for instance) can you play minor chords or sevenths?

http://www.marymccaslin.com/tunings.htm
http://guitar.about.com/cs/alternatetunings/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=guitar+open+tunings

[chriscc]

the easiest tuning to get to is open g. hi to low....dbgdgd. all tunings are down to g or d ..this is a true open and from there bar the fifth, then seventh frets and you have blues in g..tada since you have played for awhile all u need is to fiddle a bit to find the sevenths and such.capo this open tuning to change the key easily or find another tuning.the easiest is to take the high e string right off!! and continue in the open tuning and things get really simple with out losing too many highs.fender made a telecaster for keith richards set up for five strings only..experiment with the slide tool itself..glass or metal thick or thin..cheers