rafa - Posted - 08/28/2009:  08:10:16

Hello to all, I play a lot of tunes going through sheet music trying to find something thatcatches my fancy then I do what I want to it. A lot of sheet music calls for cross tunings, for the heck of it I played a bunchof the tunes just using standard tuning. Well the tunes sounded just fine without cross tuning my fidle, hard to figure.

bj - Posted - 08/28/2009:  09:26:43

You can do them either way, but when playing crosstuned you'll get a fuller sound, especially when playing drones. This is MOST evident in a crosstuned jam circle. Can be heard when you're playing alone, but is not quite as noticeable.

There's one jam I go to that's a bluegrass jam where some OT players show up. We usually get one circle of OT going. I especially noticed the difference since I was playing a tune in std tuning earlier with a BG jam, then played it later in crosstuning with a couple other fiddlers.

^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^
So many tunes. So little time!

Me on the Web --
http://doneinstyle.com
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rafa - Posted - 08/28/2009:  10:17:50

Hey BJ thanks for the reply, clears that lil mystery up!

Dick Hauser - Posted - 08/28/2009:  16:09:50

I would think that the degree of difficulty would depend of which cross tunings you use. GDAE doesn't create much of a problem. Other tunings would be harder to play using notation. In addition, you won't be able to use as many drones without using a cross tuning. Cross improve sound by creating more sympathetic vibration by the strings.

I have taken standard notation, and changed the notation to compensate for any retuned strings. For example, lets say the tuning will be AEAE. I would have to change the notes for the G and D string. Basically, that is what skodatura does. It looks like standard notation, but notes for the retuned strings have been modified. So, when you play notes the these 2 strings (i.e. G/D) you won't be hearing the notes you see in the notation.

gulfguy

rafa - Posted - 08/28/2009:  17:47:38

Hey Dick thanks for the reply, sure appreciate it, I would be going through all kinds of notaton and everytime I saw a tune that was crooss tuned I would retune my fiddle. It really got me that I could still play the cross tuned tune in standard tuning and it would not sound totally off.

bj - Posted - 08/28/2009:  18:03:48

Um, rafa, why didn't you just pick up one of your crosstuned fiddles?

Folks who crosstune arrange their sets in blocks of tunes in the same key/tuning. Makes life easier.

^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^
So many tunes. So little time!

Me on the Web --
http://doneinstyle.com
My inspiration:
http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh14633812588807237

rafa - Posted - 08/28/2009:  18:29:54

Heck I could have but I just go through a lot of sheet music and being the lazy person I have been accused of being at times, I dont have to go and get it by the computer and I can stiil just stay where I am and get the jist of the tune. But if it catches my fancy I guess I would have to go get my coss tuner and really check it out