Today is Saturday and so far this year, I have used Saturday’s blog post to do something a little different (or a lot different) than my daily posts during the week.
For today’s tuning, I’m playing the same open chord (A# add4) that was featured in yesterday’s alt tuning blog post, but the open string notes and the scale/key I’m playing in are different. More on that later!
Here’s a video of a song I wrote today while improvising in this new version of Open A# add4 Tuning in the key of A# Bebop Dominant (with an add note of F#). It’s called “Shades of Blue”:
Here are the scale notes, numbers, scale degrees and intervals I’m playing (including the F# note I added to the scale):
For comparison, here are the open tuning notes and scales for each of the Open A# add4 tunings I’ve played yesterday and today:
D# A# D F A# D
Key of A# Major
F A# D# F A# D
Key of A# Bebop Dominant (add F#)
The chord notes of A# add4 are A#, D, D# and F. Changing String 6 from D# to F and changing String 4 from D to D# does not change the chord type, but it does change the sound of the chord, which inspires new ideas to come to mind while I’m playing in this new tuning.
Each tuning provides a unique expression of notes that inspire creativity and expand both the song and writer beyond the limitations of standard tuning.
Do you get inspired when you play in alt/open tuning? Do you come up with musical ideas BECAUSE you’re playing in an alternate tuning? It’s as if each tuning guides the creative process simply because it’s a new tuning. Nothing more, nothing less!
That’s why I include the scale notes, numbers, scale degrees and intervals that I’m playing on fretboards in my daily alt tuning blog posts.
When I visualize WHERE the notes are located and WHAT the notes are that I’m playing, alt tuning becomes a whole lot more fun because it’s a lot easier to find your way!
May these daily alt tunings continue to inspire you as you explore songwriting beyond the limitations of standard tuning. If you’d like to learn more about making alt tuning a part of your songwriting, give me a call at 888-7-GUITAR or reach out to me here.
Until next time…
~Scott Quillin
Did you know? Scott started playing guitar when he was 14 years old back in 1982. A Pittsburgh native, Scott resides in Rhode Island where he teaches guitar, bass, music and songwriting. He also records and mixes songs for local bands and artists as well as his own music. He writes and records nearly every day and has a real passion to help others hear their “inner voice” and express that in songs.
You can listen to more of Scott’s music at https://soundcloud.com/scottquillin.
