What tuning is Prince using on his acoustic guitar? It doesn't appear to be standard E-A-D-G-B-E, or if it is, I don't make the chords the same way he does.

And when you guys play Prince stuff acoustically, do y'all use any open tunings? I've always played his stuff with standard tuning, but only because I don't know any better.

I always use standard tuning, but that's just cos i can't be arsed with trying to work out what tunings he's using. Oh, and i also can't be arsed with changing my guitar tuning all the time.

When exactly are you talking about - from a boot of a show?

TheFrog said:

No, I noticed the different-looking chords during the movie broadcast of the Staples Show.

Never mind, I figured it out. Standard tuning for the acoustic stuff.

RodeoSchro said:

Have you thought about USING a different tuning to get something more interesting than just a replica of his song? Try making it your own. Just a thought. Not a criticism.

otan said:

It's a good thought. I've just recently discovered other tunings and haven't played around with them much. On the front end, it seems like a pain trying to remember which fingers go to new places.

Is it hard to adjust to a different tuning? Are there any mental tricks you use? What alternate tunings do you like best for acoustic? Electric? What kind of songs - and what Prince songs in particular - do you like to adjust tunings on?

Thanks.

I pretty much go into open G or open A tunings, mostly for slide work or wierd stuff like Chris Whitely songs. Ani Di Franco does a LOT with alternate tunings. I think its learning the fingerings of the song and ignoring the chord progressions - just knowing the development of the song on the fretboard.

Just mess around with the strings and find coolio chord combos.

Or, sure, you could be like theChronic and go to music school for twelve years and just KNOW every possible chord in every possible tuning, but, that would only make you arrogant, and pretty close to uninteresting.

otan said:

LOL, that only works if you go to the University of Michigan.

jimmy page had lots of great alternate tunings in his songs, my favorite is the one from FRIENDS from led zeppelin III, i don´t remember but i remember the bass note was in C. THe way i think about alternate tunings is thinking about MODES, like you tune a open D5 chord and play the notes of C scale, so you have a dorian sound. It´s the way i think. hope it helps.