[capo2nd]

Well, I have tuned my spare guitar to open D now just to mess around with some bluesy stuff.

Since you play the major chords with just one finger, my question now is:

How do I play minors in open D?!

I would be very grateful if someone could answer me that question and include the fingering just for the 7 standard minors.

Thanks a lot and happy christmas!

Shane

[grzegorz_panek]

The pro of open tunings is that you can modify the chord with just one or two fingers. There are a few possibilities. If it's D A D F# A D tuning I'd simply fret the D4 string on the 3rd fret, and use the same finger to mute the F#3 string.

Same with barre chords. Put the bar with the index finger and use your pinkie on on the D4 string, muting the next 3rd string. That's perhaps the most simpe fingering.

You can do things like minor a or g in open positions. To see the fretting, best go to http://www.looknohands.com (advanced room) change the tuning of the diagram, and see which places go where.

[capo2nd]

Aye! Cool, Grzeg! Thanks a lot.

[dadfad]

Remember, you don't necessarily need a full minor, just the feel or inflection of one. For example, in open-D the fourth-string on the third-fret gives you an F-note, which is the minor note. You need to get rid of the F#-note on the open third-string of course either by not playing it, or by fretting that string on the third fret as well (003300), giving you another A-note. Of course any D-string on the third fret will do the same thing, but the middle one seems most versatile and "user-friendly". Fretting a minor up the neck is relatively simple. Just use two fingers as a "double-barre". For example (again in open D) a G-minor..... barre XXX444 with one finger (or you can just hold the XXX4XX) and barre XXXX55 above it (giving you XXX455). Or add the thumb around the neck on the fifth as well for 55XXXX (or 555XXX if you can!) giving you 55X455. The more you play in a tuning of course the more you become familiar with it (big shock huh? ). I've sort of started to, playing opens, subconsciously stop thinking in terms of minors, sevenths, etc and instead just associate certain feels with certain shapes. The fact that the open strings are notes that are parts of the IV and V positions when played up the neck gives the possibility of much variety. It becomes a very spontaneous thing.

[capo2nd]

Thanks John, you're a...um well, were you a woman, I'd say you're a darling now.

Happy Christmas, mate. Have a good one.

[dadfad]

(in best Skip James-like falsetto voice.....) Why thank you, Shane!



And also, a very merry Christmas to you and yours. Have a great holiday.