Dobro Squareneck Tunings

Subject: Open G
Date: Sun, 23 May 2004 13:26:18 -0400

Hi... It goes without saying this whole site is the best on the whole net. I hope you can relieve my confusion or maybe my lack of theory. I play Blues no Bluegrass. I have been tuning my sq neck to GBDGBD which it was tuned to when I bought it. Several books and sites list GBDGBD as "open G". Then I ran across something else called "Open G" that goes DGDGBD. Personally, I like this one better for Blues. What gives? Are they both "Open G". Appreciate any help...Mike <mailto:mmlop@msn.com>mmlop@msn.com

Greetings,

I'd love to assist...and, yes, this can be confusing...you have a valid question that should be addressed properly:

I'm going to touch on some music theory...of which you may already be familiar with...with the hopes that we can elucidate the need for open tuning classifications:

1. All squareneck dobros, in the bluegrass tradition, are tuned: G B D G B D from low to high...now there are variations on this tuning that has been used in bluegrass context...such as tuning down the B, second string, to Bb...which puts it in the G minor tuning...and has a nice effect for minor keys in general...even so, it's very rare to hear a squareneck dobro, in bluegrass or otherwise, tuned to another tuning besides G B D G B D.

2. Now let's classify what would be considered open G tuning: Music theory dictates that a major chord is based on a major triad...this major triad is based on the major scale...for instance, we know that major scales have a half-step between the 3 and 4 intervals and the 7 and 8 intervals...therefore, a major G scale is the following notes within one octave: 1G 2A 3B 4C 5D 6E 7F# 8G...notice that between the B and C there's a half step (3 and 4 interval)...and the F# and G another half step (7 and 8 interval)...there you have it, a major scale spelled out in intervals. This applies to all 12 tones of the Western Music tonal range...no matter what key you would be playing in, a major scale would still have the same intervals...let's now do this with a D scale: 1D 2E 3F# 4G 5A 6B 7C# 8D...notice the half-step intervals in this D major as being between the 3 and 4...followed by the 7 and 8. Why do we want to understand major scale intervals? And, what does this have to do with open tunings? This leads us to number 3...

3. Knowing how chords are built on scale intervals will assist us in understanding what classifies an open tuning. For instance, a major chord is built on the major triad. What's the major triad: the first, third and fifth tones of a major scale. With this knowledge, you can build your own chords and, with this knowledge, build your own open tunings. Let's take for example your question why two separate tunings are still considered "Open G". That's because both tunings base themselves on the G major triad: G B D...intervals of the G major scale.

So the G B D G B D tuning for bluegrass consists of the very same G major triad notes...as does the D G D G B D tuning. Only the notes fall into a different sequence...they are still one and the same classification of being a G Chord...hence they're both addressed as "Open G Tuning"...so what we have here is the fact that we should rename these tunings so that all of us dobroists can differentiate between the two...we should call the G B D G B D sequence: "Bluegrass Open G"...or maybe "Drop G Open G" and the D G D G B D sequence: "Blues Open G"...or maybe "Drop D Open G"...this way we can minimize the confusion amongst dobroists and even guitarists that are familiar with the squareneck...

Now, on another note, I love both of these tunings...I usually always play my squareneck in the G B D G B D tuning...however, I have a new challenge before me...and that is a Dobro book that focuses on playing the squareneck as a solo (unaccompanied) instrument...this will involve instructing how to arrange on the squareneck so that it carries itself harmonically without any back-up instrument... establishing this support with alternating bass patterns, monotonic bass patterns and counterpoint lines...similar to fingerstyle guitar only on a squareneck with nothing but the steel bar to create the noting...this is where the advantage of knowing other squareneck tuning possibilities can come into play...and, be assured, there will be a couple of arrangements with the D G D G B D tuning...this book will be published by Mel Bay...hopefully, by the end of this year...in my opinion, you're on the right track to carry the squareneck forward into these other realms besides the locked into bluegrass tuning...

Wishing you the best in your dobro playing pursuits, Mickey

Subject: open G tuning
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 15:27:29 -0600

mickey,
i know of two tunings that are often refered to as "open G"
the first, which i use, is: D-G-D-G-B-D (low to high)
the second is: G-B-D-G-B-D (low to high)

These tunings are differentiated by the style of instrument being used...the G B D G B D tuning is a squareneck dobro tuning and is not designed for roundneck dobro...for it would be far too much tension for the standard roundneck guitars or dobros...a squareneck can easily take on this tension due to having far more thickness in the neck and a very high action....the G B D G B D tuning is used traditionally for bluegrass dobro stylings...and is the standard tuning for squareneck bluegrass dobro period...

The D G D G B D is one of my favorite open tunings for standard acoustic guitar...I use it extensively for most of my arranging in open tuning...it is not a tuning used on squareneck Dobro...however, I'm sure this tuning would work just the same on squareneck...only the G B D G B D tuning would not work on the roundneck...

Hope this helps clarify things...Mickey

this is confusing to me. i guess my question is what is the difference? (pardon my ignorance!)

thanks in advance,
matt woods
des moines, ia

Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 07:12:15 EST
Subject: dobro video

Hey Mickey, this is Earl again. I'm gonna try and order a Dobro video pretty soon. I messed up the front end of my truck and I don't know how much the payments are gonna be for another one. I've got another question about tuning if you don't mind me asking. Do you think it would be O.K. to tune the roundneck in A like Oswald did his? I'm afraid of warping the neck. Hope to hear from you soon and y'all have a good weekend.

Although many have done this, I would not recommend tuning any Dobro up to A tuning...the stress would could take serious levels...there are other problems that can be caused beyond neck warping...

There's a simple solution to this to gain the same effect without the stress: Try tuning to open G tuning, and then place a Dobro capo on the second fret. This will give you the same open A tuning effect and will not impede your playing in any way.

Keep on Pickin', Mickey