DADDAD tuning with larger gauge 3rd string?
Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 5:37 pm
Has anyone ever heard of a person replacing the 3rd string with a larger gauge string (same gauge as the 4th string) in the DADDAD tuning? Is this weird or common?
More for those who have the time . . . . . . .
I was exploring the 4 + 20 lesson with the DADDAD (D5/D modal) tuning where the 3rd string is tuned down a perfect 4th (5 half steps). Neil comments on the how loose the 3rd string becomes. Imagine this as chocolate.
Then I was fooling around with alternate tunings and came across the Nashville tuning where the lower four strings (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th) are replaced with lighter gauge strings and these strings are then tuned up an octave higher than standard tuning in order to emulate a 12-string sound on a 6-string guitar. Think of this as peanut butter.
Now to mix the peanut butter AND chocolate . . . . . . and . . . . . could a person replace the 3rd string in DADDAD with one the same gauge as the 4th string? When tuned the same as the 4th, it wouldn’t be as loose and would, theoretically, have the same tension and tone as the 4th?
I can see advantages and disadvantages to this.
Advantages:
1. 3rd and 4th strings are identical and should sound more alike. Isn’t that what we are trying to accomplish?
2. 3rd string doesn’t have the slack in it and is easier to tune and keep in tune with less potential fret buzz (unless fret buzz is desirable).
Disadvantages:
1. The 3rd string nut slot may need to be altered to fit a thicker string.
2. If you have only one guitar, you wouldn’t want to limit yourself to this as you would have to change the 3rd string back to a standard gauge in order to tune back up to play in standard tuning. That would be a hassle.
3. You would have to get some spare strings, sacrifice a full set, or use a string from an old set to provide the replacement string.
4. If you space out and forget about it, or someone decides it needs to be tuned to standard tuning without checking, it could cause damage as the 3rd string would be tuned 5 half steps higher than it is meant to be in order to reach G. This would be my biggest fear.
Any other thoughts and opinions? This has most likely been done before, but is it a stupid idea?
A few other thoughts:
Perhaps one of those artists that have a zillion guitars on stage and picks up a specific guitar for a specific song has done this?
I have plenty of guitars, so tying up one for a special purpose is not an issue.
Before I’d do this, I would talk with my luthier for opinions.
I am finding more songs that utilize or could utilize the DADDAD tuning such as this one:
A song in DADDAD tuning
More for those who have the time . . . . . . .
I was exploring the 4 + 20 lesson with the DADDAD (D5/D modal) tuning where the 3rd string is tuned down a perfect 4th (5 half steps). Neil comments on the how loose the 3rd string becomes. Imagine this as chocolate.
Then I was fooling around with alternate tunings and came across the Nashville tuning where the lower four strings (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th) are replaced with lighter gauge strings and these strings are then tuned up an octave higher than standard tuning in order to emulate a 12-string sound on a 6-string guitar. Think of this as peanut butter.
Now to mix the peanut butter AND chocolate . . . . . . and . . . . . could a person replace the 3rd string in DADDAD with one the same gauge as the 4th string? When tuned the same as the 4th, it wouldn’t be as loose and would, theoretically, have the same tension and tone as the 4th?
I can see advantages and disadvantages to this.
Advantages:
1. 3rd and 4th strings are identical and should sound more alike. Isn’t that what we are trying to accomplish?
2. 3rd string doesn’t have the slack in it and is easier to tune and keep in tune with less potential fret buzz (unless fret buzz is desirable).
Disadvantages:
1. The 3rd string nut slot may need to be altered to fit a thicker string.
2. If you have only one guitar, you wouldn’t want to limit yourself to this as you would have to change the 3rd string back to a standard gauge in order to tune back up to play in standard tuning. That would be a hassle.
3. You would have to get some spare strings, sacrifice a full set, or use a string from an old set to provide the replacement string.
4. If you space out and forget about it, or someone decides it needs to be tuned to standard tuning without checking, it could cause damage as the 3rd string would be tuned 5 half steps higher than it is meant to be in order to reach G. This would be my biggest fear.
Any other thoughts and opinions? This has most likely been done before, but is it a stupid idea?
A few other thoughts:
Perhaps one of those artists that have a zillion guitars on stage and picks up a specific guitar for a specific song has done this?
I have plenty of guitars, so tying up one for a special purpose is not an issue.
Before I’d do this, I would talk with my luthier for opinions.
I am finding more songs that utilize or could utilize the DADDAD tuning such as this one:
A song in DADDAD tuning