For many years my standard “check the tuning riff” was the opening of John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom”. Didn’t even realize I did it until it was pointed out to me by my bass player, and immediately confirmed by the drummer. Not a song we were playing in the band at the time - but those big, open chords are the only way to fly.
I don’t start with chords, I think usually I’ll put my finger on the second fret of the D string and glissando up to A, or play an open A and slide up to E or something like that. And a lot of the time I’ll hit an adjoining open string. I’m attracted to droning sounds on the guitar.
[QUOTE=Marley23]
I’m attracted to droning sounds on the guitar.
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Ah - no wonder you like Derek Trucks! I assume you play a bunch of alternate tunings, then?
[QUOTE=WordMan]
Ah - no wonder you like Derek Trucks! I assume you play a bunch of alternate tunings, then?
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I never thought about that connection. But the answer is no. Like Derek, I pretty much play in one tuning all the time (standard for me, Open E for him). I do screw around with Neil Young-y double dropped D things once in a while.
The only really unusual alternate tuning I’ve ever attempted was for a college performance of In Memory of Elizabeth Reed. I was by myself, but to fill out the sound, I tuned to E A D a a e.
[QUOTE=Marley23]
I never thought about that connection. But the answer is no. Like Derek, I pretty much play in one tuning all the time (standard for me, Open E for him). I do screw around with Neil Young-y double dropped D things once in a while.
The only really unusual alternate tuning I’ve ever attempted was for a college performance of In Memory of Elizabeth Reed. I was by myself, but to fill out the sound, I tuned to E A D a a e.
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Oh man - we should talk. I can show you some basic Stones stuff - you just de-tune your A down to G to what I call “Cheater’s G Tuning” and you get that great…not necessarily droney…but I guess I would say a very big sound, that can sound great with droney-type playing. Playing in Open Tunings means you DON’T have to worry as much about Temperament, as I mention above - you can just tune that sucker so everything sounds perfect for that one open chord. Just that little tweak can line up the guitar’s harmonics just so - and you get that bigger sound…
D or G
I’m mostly a C man, although I’ve been known to flirt with a G sometimes. I think the C comes from having learned to play the piano before guitar.
I see musical notes on a keyboard, and although I’ve played guitar for many years, long after I pretty much stopped playing piano, it’s still like my native tongue. I just can’t “see” notes on a guitar neck.
C, if memory serves.
It’s for “cookie”, and that’s good enough for me.
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee]
Am I the only one that is boring and plays C?
I usually play a progression of C-F-C-G-C when I first pick up the guitar.
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I always start with C - it seems the most natural way for my hand to fall on the frets. Then I do the progression: C-Am-F-G7
I’m embarrassed to say I can’t recall the last time I touched my guitar. I used to be pretty good. Eons ago.
Usually an E 7#9(no 5th) - the one that Hendrix used for an E. Sometimes, I’ll run through the intro progression to “Peg” - D# maj9(no 5th) / D 7#9(no 5th) / C# maj9(no 5th) / C 7#9(no 5th) / B maj9(no 5th) / A# 7#9(no 5th). That, or an A with the index finger.
None of it sounds good though. I haven’t played seriously in years. Well, the A does, but how do you blow that?
C or G Major. Probably C more. C was the first chord I learned. Second chord was G7, but I hardly ever play that chord anymore.
G, C or D. Don’t really pay attention.
G, or maybe D. Probably G first, though. I’m pretty sure that was my first chord. G, then with that extra bit, then G. Into D, A, then E. Try E7, G7, D7, and finally B7. Then I usually play “This Flight Tonight”, realise how terrible and out of practise I am. Then watch the dog slink from the room.
I’m looking at the nails on my left hand. They’re long–I haven’t played in a very long time. Off to the git-fiddle I go!
My fingers always land on C
It was the first chord I learned.
[QUOTE=WordMan]
“some kind”?? Nay, sir - there is only ONE kind: Boston’s More Than a Feeling! Right up there with Stairway in the category of “Songs my sister wanted to kill me over due to my practicing when I was 15…”
(yeah, I know, now you have to get that song bleached out of your brain…)
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I’m partial to the Ziggy Stardust intro, myself.
[QUOTE=Talon Karrde]
I’m partial to the Ziggy Stardust intro, myself.
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Well yeah - but you’re cool, or had a cool older sibling…
When I was 15, getting Boston right was…darn it, man, it was important! 
(please note, I am not dissing Boston - only commenting on how More than a Feeling is Stairway to Heaven Jr. when it comes to riffs a kid learned back in the day…)
If you are tired of habit with chording,try Bob Fripp’s NST.That’ll learn ya.
The mnemonic,bottom up,California Guitarists Drop Acid Every Gig.
[QUOTE=Savannah]
I’m looking at the nails on my left hand. They’re long–I haven’t played in a very long time. Off to the git-fiddle I go!
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I haven’t played seriously in over 15 years, but I still trim the nails on my left hand short, leaving the ones on my right hand long. I’m either a creature of habit, or hopelessly optimistic. Seriously, I’m going to start playing again. Soon. I know it!
[QUOTE=WordMan]
Oh man - we should talk. I can show you some basic Stones stuff - you just de-tune your A down to G to what I call “Cheater’s G Tuning” and you get that great…not necessarily droney…but I guess I would say a very big sound, that can sound great with droney-type playing.
[/QUOTE]
I tried this last night, and while I badly need to re-string (I can’t find my Guitool), it did sound pretty cool and warrants more investigation.
[QUOTE=Marley23]
I tried this last night, and while I badly need to re-string (I can’t find my Guitool), it did sound pretty cool and warrants more investigation.
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Cool - when you strum the middle four strings, kinda lay your thumb over the top E to keep it from sounding (I do the same thing with the high E using the lower part of my fingers). Also, try fretting the middle four strings barre style with your index finger, then hammer on an Am7 shape with your middle and ring fingers - given the tuning, when playing open, you’ll shift from G to C; when at the 7th fret, you’ll start with D and hammer on to G - and if you hammer on while playing an upstroke, you’ll be in Keef heaven…