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Post subject: blues, Strings and tunings
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:34 pm
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hi guys, girls
I have a standard telecaster love plaing it and just recently been playing more and more blues, it has made me think what would anyone consider the best strings for playing blues heavey or light or somthing different? plus tunings what would be the best tuning?

looking forward to your replys

kind regards
Chuck 8)


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Post subject: Re: blues, Strings and tunings
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:22 pm
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Hard question really because there is no answer. Play the gauge and strings you like best. The rest is in your hands. Some blues players played in open tunings for slide and chording. SRV used 13's. Billy Gibbons uses 7's.


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Post subject: Re: blues, Strings and tunings
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 9:48 am
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I'm learning blues on an ash Tely with a maple neck. I felt like the guitar was too bright so I switched to pure nickel strings and was happy with the results. 11's sounded great but I switched to 9's because I'm still developing my bending strength. I'll probably settle on 10's. I prefer a warm sound so this has worked well for me.


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Post subject: Re: blues, Strings and tunings
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 12:47 pm
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thanks guys interesting change to nickel strings I also have a maple neck telie any particular sting brands i have jst put on sone Erne Ball super slinky these seem to have the bend control like at the mommet. have you tried some different tunings?
regards
chuck


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Post subject: Re: blues, Strings and tunings
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 4:32 pm
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You need to use the string gauge that feels best. I use Ernie Ball 10's when I play in standard. I use heavier gauges if I play in open G or open D or if I tune down. The band I play in tunes down a full step (D-G-C-F-A-D low to high) and I use 11's for that tuning. I have used strings as heavy as 12's for tuning down but switched to 11's.

Now, as far as tunings, it really all depends on what you want to play. Some guitarists use open tunings for slide, mainly open G and open E. Now, when you hear talk of open tunings, you need to understand that open G and open A are basically the same thing. They have the same intervals. What I mean is that open G is D-G-D-G-B-D low to high, and when you tune each string up one whole step to E-A-E-A-C#-E (low to high), then you have open A. If you're in open G and want to get to open A without retuning, you can just put a capo on the second fret.

It's the same with open D and open E. Open D is D-A-D-F#-A-D (low to high) and you get to open E by tuning each string up a whole step to E-B-E-G#-B-E.

Clapton likes to use open G and A for slide. Duane Allman and Elmore James used open D and open E.

When using open tunings, you should probably use fairly heavy strings for tunings like open G and D where you have to tune strings down below standard. When using open A or E, you should use fairly light strings because you have to tune some strings higher than standard.

Now, open tunings are usually used for slide, and if you're going to play slide, you don't want to have an extremely low action.


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Post subject: Re: blues, Strings and tunings
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:36 am
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Midniterambler wrote:
You need to use the string gauge that feels best. I use Ernie Ball 10's when I play in standard. I use heavier gauges if I play in open G or open D or if I tune down. The band I play in tunes down a full step (D-G-C-F-A-D low to high) and I use 11's for that tuning. I have used strings as heavy as 12's for tuning down but switched to 11's.

Now, as far as tunings, it really all depends on what you want to play. Some guitarists use open tunings for slide, mainly open G and open E. Now, when you hear talk of open tunings, you need to understand that open G and open A are basically the same thing. They have the same intervals. What I mean is that open G is D-G-D-G-B-D low to high, and when you tune each string up one whole step to E-A-E-A-C#-E (low to high), then you have open A. If you're in open G and want to get to open A without retuning, you can just put a capo on the second fret.



It's the same with open D and open E. Open D is D-A-D-F#-A-D (low to high) and you get to open E by tuning each string up a whole step to E-B-E-G#-B-E.

Clapton likes to use open G and A for slide. Duane Allman and Elmore James used open D and open E.

When using open tunings, you should probably use fairly heavy strings for tunings like open G and D where you have to tune strings down below standard. When using open A or E, you should use fairly light strings because you have to tune some strings higher than standard.

Now, open tunings are usually used for slide, and if you're going to play slide, you don't want to have an extremely low action.


:D thanks Midniterambler

I will try out some of them
question what do you think of the string lifting bridge. i have seen them advertised and wonderd if they are any good? i have not personaly seen anyone useing them so have not had a chance for an experinced view
I alos own a fender squie stratt if i fitted that with heavier strings and used a lifting bridge do you think it would ok
and what songs would you play with at slide and what tunings

Regards
Chuck


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Post subject: Re: blues, Strings and tunings
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:32 pm
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chuck21c wrote:

:D thanks Midniterambler

I will try out some of them
question what do you think of the string lifting bridge. i have seen them advertised and wonderd if they are any good? i have not personaly seen anyone useing them so have not had a chance for an experinced view
I alos own a fender squie stratt if i fitted that with heavier strings and used a lifting bridge do you think it would ok
and what songs would you play with at slide and what tunings

Regards
Chuck


Well, I'm not familiar with the string lifting bridge that you mention. So I can't offer any insight on that.

You can use a slide on about any song you want. You can also play slide in standard tuning obviously. Muddy Waters played slide in standard alot, such as on "Honey Bee" and "Standing Around Crying". Duane Allman used mostly open E or D (and occasionally standard) for slide so about any Allman Brothers song with slide guitar is played in open E or D, like, for instance, "Statesboro Blues". Elmore James songs such as "Done Somebody Wrong", "It Hurts Me Too", "The Sky Is Crying", and of course "Dust My Broom" are all done in open D. Eric Clapton played "Motherless Children", "Mean Old World", and "Early In The Morning" in open G and sometimes open A tuning. The Rolling Stones cover of "Stop Breaking Down" on Exile On Mainstreet is in open A. There are hundreds of examples and I could keep naming songs but it probably doesn't matter if you're not familiar with these songs.


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