Today’s alternate tuning is Open Cm add4 with the open string notes:
F G C D# G C
This is the 93rd completely different alternate tuning so far in 2016.
I wrote “A Better Monday” while I was improvising and experimenting in the Key of G# Major:
Here are the scale notes, numbers and intervals of Open Cm add4 Tuning in the Key of G# Major with the open string notes FGCD#GC:
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.
2 thoughts on “Open Cm add4 Tuning – FGCD#GC – A Better Monday”
Hi Scott! I’ve been a fan of your blog since I discovered it last year. I’ve been playing in a variety of alternate tunings for years, but I’ve definitely had to steal inspiration from here a time or two!
I just wanted to say thanks for trying out this tuning and showing off some of what it can do. This tuning is really interesting to me, and to get a feel for it myself, I’m about to try it out on a new 8-string. (In honor of the piece you wrote for it, for my own use I codename it “Monday Tuning.” X-D)
There’s something funny to me about extending standard tuning with strings that don’t seem to have much place in its best known chordal structures (actually, as an avid alt-tuner, there’s something funny to me about standard tuning altogether, but perhaps that’s another issue! X-D). While this is one that will very likely pull me far out of my comfort zone – no easy access to octave shapes (or even nicely extensible power-chord shapes, really), not too many straightforward triad possibilities, and unusually close intervals between the lower strings, I’m throwing in a C below the 6th string and an F below that to sort of balance its possibilities against my usual stylistic leanings, so I’m excited.
The first piece I’ve started writing for the tuning, plays on the Abmaj/Fmin back-and-forth that you hint at in “A Better Monday,” so you’ve provided quite a bit of initial inspiration indeed. In the meantime, I hope your musical exploits remain ever-exciting, and I hope very much to see you back on this blog someday soon!
Hi, Marko!
Thanks for the kinds words. I’m glad I’ve been able to inspire some creativity and that you’re able to benefit from the examples and chord charts I’ve provided.
I’d love to hear the song you’re working on. When you have something ready, send a comment with a link and I’ll give it a listen.
I have been thinking of offering some courses/training on Alt Tunings through Patreon in 2018 so if you’re interested, let me know.
Thanks again for reaching out. Hope to hear that song. Feel free to contact me through this website using the contact form.
Best to you in 2018!
Scott Quillin
AltTunings.com