Erockin - Posted - 04/17/2024:  06:37:11

Morning, Fiddle World.

I'm in the process of learning "Midnight On the Water" and this morning I thought I'd try to drop the G string to D and WOW...does that opening part of this song sound better by doing so. Also, I started sliding up to the A and back down on the opening section with that D droning...right away I was captivated! I can see why ya'll like to play in certain tunings. I also noticed when I try at times to play with folks on YouTube and they are tuned differently...it makes it tough. I'm getting brave at tuning. I was scared that I wouldn't get it back in standard...lol Next I'd like to try GDGD.

Gallaher - Posted - 04/17/2024:  08:25:11

Midnight on the Water in DDAD low to high. Really rocks. Also, Bonaparte’s Retreat.

DougD - Posted - 04/17/2024:  08:46:21

Eric - As Gallaher has noted, the tuning for "Midnight on the Water" also includes tuning the top string down to D, which is really important to the sound. Have you tried that?

Erockin - Posted - 04/17/2024:  09:06:58

quote:

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Originally posted by DougD

Eric - As Gallaher has noted, the tuning for "Midnight on the Water" also includes tuning the top string down to D, which is really important to the sound. Have you tried that?

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Ahhh. I have not but I think I'll try that tonight! That'll certainly change the way I was shown but I imagine I can figure that out. 

wrench13 - Posted - 04/17/2024:  12:48:32

Erockin make sure you check the bridge position when you retune or put back to normal tuning. Bridges MOVE, sometimes a lot! 90 degrees on the back side and centered on the F-hole cut out = the little <'s).

Erockin - Posted - 04/18/2024:  03:59:59

quote:

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Originally posted by wrench13

Erockin make sure you check the bridge position when you retune or put back to normal tuning. Bridges MOVE, sometimes a lot! 90 degrees on the back side and centered on the F-hole cut out = the little <'s).

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Good thinking! Once I get this tune down to where I don't think about it, I'll tune back up and move on but thanks for reminding me on that. 

Gallaher - Posted - 04/18/2024:  10:05:13

quote:

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Originally posted by wrench13

Erockin make sure you check the bridge position when you retune or put back to normal tuning. Bridges MOVE, sometimes a lot! 90 degrees on the back side and centered on the F-hole cut out = the little <'s).

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Tru Dat!  Bridge can really slide out of position.

Erockin - Posted - 04/18/2024:  10:22:27

Cool thing so far, every time I go to play it...it's still tune. It originally all went out but it's staying pretty solid. I'll def inspect that bridge when I get home today. I'd really love to record it to share but it still stinks for now...lol

Erockin - Posted - 04/19/2024:  04:30:06

Bridge is still straight...unlike my playing lol.

rosinhead - Posted - 04/19/2024:  06:35:38

Since nobody mentioned it..DDAD tuning also has an interesting moniker. AKA "Dead Man's Tuning".

I'm glad you mentioned it because while I play a whole bunch of tunes in alternate tunings, I really need to explore DDAD more.

Most of my D tunes I play in high bass (ADAE) and the A tunes are mostly in AEAE (aka Sawmill). I bring two fiddles and keep one in standard for G and C tunes and just tune the G up to A for the D tunes. The other fiddle stays cross-tuned in sawmill, and lately, I've found it more convenient to just keep it in GDGD and play the A tunes that way. It allows for us to switch from G to A without the banjo having to retune, plus I like the warmer tone.



At the moment I only play Midnight on the Water and Bonaparte's Retreat in DDAD. After hearing Jake Krack play Edden Hammons' "Queen of the Earth and Child of the Skies" at Clifftop, I have put that on the "to learn" list. Looking through the list on Slippery Hill I found Howdy Forrester playing "Cruel Willie", a tune I used to play and sing on guitar, but in C. His version in DDAD is now added to the list. You have to admit DDAD really has a mournful sound to it, haunting even.



Thanks for bringing it up, Eric. I've been working on some C tunes recently, but I think I'll change direction for a bit.



Here are links to Edden Hammons' "Queen of the Earth and Child of the Skies" and Howdy Forrester's "Cruel Willie" for anyone who cares to listen.

Queen of the Earth and Child of the Skies

Cruel Willie

Erockin - Posted - 04/19/2024:  08:48:27

quote:

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Originally posted by rosinhead

Since nobody mentioned it..DDAD tuning also has an interesting moniker. AKA "Dead Man's Tuning".

I'm glad you mentioned it because while I play a whole bunch of tunes in alternate tunings, I really need to explore DDAD more.

Most of my D tunes I play in high bass (ADAE) and the A tunes are mostly in AEAE (aka Sawmill). I bring two fiddles and keep one in standard for G and C tunes and just tune the G up to A for the D tunes. The other fiddle stays cross-tuned in sawmill, and lately, I've found it more convenient to just keep it in GDGD and play the A tunes that way. It allows for us to switch from G to A without the banjo having to retune, plus I like the warmer tone.



At the moment I only play Midnight on the Water and Bonaparte's Retreat in DDAD. After hearing Jake Krack play Edden Hammons' "Queen of the Earth and Child of the Skies" at Clifftop, I have put that on the "to learn" list. Looking through the list on Slippery Hill I found Howdy Forrester playing "Cruel Willie", a tune I used to play and sing on guitar, but in C. His version in DDAD is now added to the list. You have to admit DDAD really has a mournful sound to it, haunting even.



Thanks for bringing it up, Eric. I've been working on some C tunes recently, but I think I'll change direction for a bit.



Here are links to Edden Hammons' "Queen of the Earth and Child of the Skies" and Howdy Forrester's "Cruel Willie" for anyone who cares to listen.

Queen of the Earth and Child of the Skies

Cruel Willie

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When I get my second fiddle rolling, I plan to use one for standard and one to for alternates. A buddy also suggested tuning that E down to D. Thanks for the response and link. When I began MOTW, I had not heard it yet and it's really cool to not have heard a tune and then get it under the belt. It will be fun to get another tune in that tuning so my family gets a break...lol. Bonaparte's is on that list...seeing how everyone connects those two songs. 

DougD - Posted - 04/19/2024:  09:27:47

rosinhead and Eric - Don't know if you know that the great Slippery Hill website can be searched and sorted by tuning, either the various sections, or the entire site. For example the M-K Collection includes 14 different tunes in that tuning, including the two you mentioned, Michael. The entire site includes 96 total recordings in DDAD, with "Bonaparte's" being by far the most common, but there are also several versions of "Dry and Dusty" and "Midnight."

Edited by - DougD on 04/19/2024 09:28:30