Strange to be watching this as it was the only tuning I used when I started playing at 14. Never having had any formal music training I just took it for granted when my older brother brought the guitar home tuned that way. Well to be brief, I created a whole set of chord patterns which I boxed in forms and had them listed in a book so I would remember each. As years went on and I played in one group after another, basic R&R, R&B and the like, a group I entered wanted to cover a lot of Chicago tunes and there began even more charting as I never tried standard tuning, I succeeded and impressed every member of that seven piece group till we all disolved to raise families. All I can say is I am an ear player can't read but at 79 who cares I still play, only now since the mid 90's I have been in standard tuning and found how much I had missed. Still I've never been sorry I played guitar, it's been a life long love. Thanks for this video, it takes me back.
Fantástico, Sr. Sobkowiak! Aqui em Minas Gerais, Brasil, conheço muitos que, como o senhor, são músicos autodidatas e, por sinal, bastante talentosos. Em nossa região, temos a viola caipira, um instrumento que tradicionalmente usa afinações abertas: geralmente open E (ou D), open G e open C. Saudações do Brasil.
The best guitar lesson video of all time. Why? Gets to the point, simple explanation, comprehensive, shows the tuning AND chord shapes and off I went. Progress in 10 minutes!
The lights just went on! This explains so much of what I have been listening to and hearing and trying to figure out how they did it. Thanks so much for this and all the wonderful information you present! I'm off to grab my guitar!
Devin Townsend and Mark Tremonti are two of my favourite musicians and annoyingly enough they both change tunings, a lot! I was learning some Devin Townsend yesterday and thought I'd finally sit down and take a look at Open C. This short video gave so much useful tips and shapes that I was already jamming some ideas down. So thanks dude! Great video!
Great job. I appreciate that your video quickly gets to the point at hand. I last played in open C tuning over 20 years ago, and kind of forgot about it. Seeing your video opened up all sorts of new ideas for me. Thank you!
Open C, wow, it's never been on my radar. Very nice lesson. Thank you. By the way, that is one sweet looking guitar you're playing. Beautiful. Also, the couch and backdrop in general is outstanding in blending with said guitar. The lesson, guitar and setting is super nice. Again --- thank you. Very well done!
This is such a great lesson! I have tuned in open C in the past and tried to experiment but had no clue what to do. I was thinking of Tony today when I was looking at used guitars on the Willcutt Guitars site and saw a used Santa Cruz Tony Rice Adirondack guitar . Thank You for the lesson Tony
And look at the beautiful music Jimmy page came up with in that tuning. So pretty and creative. And then I think Steve winwood did a beautiful version of'can't find my way home' in open C. Another great song. I like the open tunings, they allow you to keep a lot of strings open, so resonant.
Thank you for these tips! I just discovered open C tuning with Auld Lang Syne, John Fahey style. I played around a bit and found out that it is also easy to play Vestapol in open C. It has a slightly different vibe than in open D.
Nice, thanks for the lesson. I learned about the intervals between the open strings from this - the fifth between c and g for example, to create a harmony.
I was surprised to find that I understood everything perfectly. I can do everything as instructed in this video🙏🏻 Great lesson, friend. ::edit:: Playing around last night.. I think this drop C is ROBBIE BASHO [California Raga] tuning!! I put the capo on first fret and I could play along with record!!!
I want to say Thank you for this lesson on open c tuning. It is very helpful in exploring alternate tunings other than standard. I like the mellow calmed down tone of open tunings very much and I appreciate your instruction.
Awesome tutorial man! I wanted to make a new variation for a song I have been practicing in std E and found that I can reach much more with this tuning. Cheers!
This inspired me to write a new Song in a way I never have before! Very nice and easy to grasp! Thank you for the Lesson!🎶✨💯🎬🙏🤠 Kind regards, Caleb Twidwell
I'm surprised that Bruce Cockburn hasn't been remarked on in the comments here - I'm fairly sure that open C is his favorite tuning. Great vid, very enjoyable.
Just started playing open C today , it sounds amazing, started a new song 🎵..although im finding my own chords by ear and how it sounds as i go...also open G too , its gonna open a lot of new song 🎵 ideas.. thanks for the video explanation 😊
Yeahhhh, thanks, Tony. I like the open C for fingerpicking especially. It adds to my guitarsenal of tones with a bit of melancholy, sort of introspective music that is great for those rainy days when you're noodling around on the guitar.
I've played Fahey's old stuff in open C and it ain't too bad but I learned more about that tuning today in this video with Tony than the decades of Fahey tabs, plus a guitar teacher that was able to play lots of Joe Pass, Kottke, etc., to make me feel like an idiot! So thanks - I'm thinking I might stick around this time - I was part f the 2015 boom or thereabouts.
Cool good lesson . Only need 2 fingers for your shapes . Tuning is a little low . I was wondering since it's open C and F and the G would be just a barr chord I suppose.
Love this kinda video. Its a simple way to utilize a tuning or technique that me may c as too overwhelming to dive into. That's my issue with alternate tuning. Im familiar with standard tuning and drop d but outside of those 2 its all new to me.
I would approach using the chords like C major diatonic chords (Starting from all open strings: major, minor, minor, major major, minor, diminished), though they aren’t technically quite those chords. Stacked shape is representing a major and staggered a minor. He’s moving the 3rd and the 5th of the diatonic chords through the C major scale, though when you include open string you include 2 C’s and a G to all of the chords even if they don’t really have them. Also, as he is moving 3rd and the 5th of the diatonic chords, many of the chords don’t include the root note of the diatonic chord at all (you need root and the 3rd to define the quality of the chord) and the diminished chord is just replaced with a major chord which still sounds like it would belong in the scale.
I sure wish I could finger pick. Been playing 25 plus years and can't get my fingers to work like that. I love alternate tunings and finger picking would open up so many doors.
th-cam.com/video/jdYJf_ybyVo/w-d-xo.html this is how it can sound on a 12 string- although technically JB has only one G string- thus 11 strings going. Epic guitar I reckon.
Great tutorial...I'm not looking for an easy way out,but I have a budget guitar,as I have just started to learn to play,consequently sounds dull and thumps.I tried changing too lighter weight strings and different picks,I relies it's a learning curve.However tried this and I have to say the guitar sounds amazing.(my wife thinks I'm a better player)Which is a result thanks.
Having fun with this today..but very new to it..am I right in saying that staggered only works on 1/3/8 frets and stacked on 3/ 5/10/12..that's referencing to the finger position on the e string? Help appreciated...Tone Deaf Rich.😂
You didn't show us how to change the intonation or what scale length we should have or what string gauge to use for that tuning. I like your videos, but can you make one to show us how to put an acoustic guitar into Drop C (CGCFAD)? With proper intonation setting instructions? I have been trying to find an acoustic to buy for Drop C for a while now, and it's extremely difficult. I know that a 25.5" scale is ideal. I know that heavier strings should be put on, and that's about it. Can you show us how to file the saddle and complete the set up for a tuning like this? I have seen your truss rod video and that was pretty good, so I think I got that part. Do you know of any Acoustic guitars that are made for / are better for Drop C than others? Do any come tuned and setup for Drop C? The best I can find is Ovation Guitars. There's one that comes in a D scale, and Breaking Benjamin uses Ovation. Even if I got an Ovation, as soon as I swap the D string for a thicker C, the neck will bend and the other strings intonation will be thrown off. Can you please show a video for choosing an acoustic for Drop C, or Open C and how to set the intonation and pick a string gauge? You could do it all in one video. Should we look for guitars with extra braces or inner support for the lower tuning? Please man, you don't just go to guitar center and buy an acoustic and tune it down... I just want to be able to play stuff like this th-cam.com/video/P9wJmL-ffsw/w-d-xo.html&t=1923 and this th-cam.com/video/LCtdsb_HDK4/w-d-xo.html I have been trying to get an acoustic set up in Drop C for years, with no success. I ruined a Seagull once because I didn't know what I was doing. I am thinking about getting one of these: www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EliteTXDBk--ovation-elite-tx-mid-depth-d-scale-black OR one of these from Davide Serracini which would come in Drop C, but their really expensive. Davide Serracini www.serracini.it/wordpress/ I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me or point me in the right direction. I am not trying to bash you or anything, your truss rod video was awesome. I just want an acoustic for Drop C, been searching for years, most stores I talk to won't help, or claim they don't know how to set something up in Drop C and I think that's B.S. I know how to do this for electric, but I'd like to do this on acoustic. Can you help me? Thanks.
Hello Tony from the Windy City. I am very interested in delta blues as of late and am not sure what string gauge I should use on my Yamaha acoustic. I don’t really know how heavy to go. What would you suggest for open E D G C? Is this even possible to do with 1guitar. There are so many youtube lessons and every tuning is used. Your help would be so helpful. I will also be trying slide on this guitar as well. Oo I may be taking on too much. Thank you very much. 🙏🙏
Strange to be watching this as it was the only tuning I used when I started playing at 14. Never having had any formal music training I just took it for granted when my older brother brought the guitar home tuned that way. Well to be brief, I created a whole set of chord patterns which I boxed in forms and had them listed in a book so I would remember each. As years went on and I played in one group after another, basic R&R, R&B and the like, a group I entered wanted to cover a lot of Chicago tunes and there began even more charting as I never tried standard tuning, I succeeded and impressed every member of that seven piece group till we all disolved to raise families. All I can say is I am an ear player can't read but at 79 who cares I still play, only now since the mid 90's I have been in standard tuning and found how much I had missed. Still I've never been sorry I played guitar, it's been a life long love. Thanks for this video, it takes me back.
Fantástico, Sr. Sobkowiak!
Aqui em Minas Gerais, Brasil, conheço muitos que, como o senhor, são músicos autodidatas e, por sinal, bastante talentosos. Em nossa região, temos a viola caipira, um instrumento que tradicionalmente usa afinações abertas: geralmente open E (ou D), open G e open C.
Saudações do Brasil.
I discovered open C tuning via Devin Townsend and have been hooked ever since.
Ewan dobson
Me 2
Same here 👌
same
The best guitar lesson video of all time. Why? Gets to the point, simple explanation, comprehensive, shows the tuning AND chord shapes and off I went. Progress in 10 minutes!
Well said
The lights just went on! This explains so much of what I have been listening to and hearing and trying to figure out how they did it. Thanks so much for this and all the wonderful information you present! I'm off to grab my guitar!
i like how you're able to explain the appeal of these tunings and scales so succinctly
Devin Townsend and Mark Tremonti are two of my favourite musicians and annoyingly enough they both change tunings, a lot! I was learning some Devin Townsend yesterday and thought I'd finally sit down and take a look at Open C. This short video gave so much useful tips and shapes that I was already jamming some ideas down. So thanks dude! Great video!
Great job. I appreciate that your video quickly gets to the point at hand. I last played in open C tuning over 20 years ago, and kind of forgot about it. Seeing your video opened up all sorts of new ideas for me. Thank you!
Thank You, Tony for open Tuning C, Sound so Great ,& Loudly ❤
*Devin Townsend entered the chat*
John Fahey has joined
I'm a newbie, and a little scared about changing my guitar to open c, but because of my really awkward old fingers, I need this! thank you!
Open C, wow, it's never been on my radar. Very nice lesson. Thank you. By the way, that is one sweet looking guitar you're playing. Beautiful. Also, the couch and backdrop in general is outstanding in blending with said guitar. The lesson, guitar and setting is super nice. Again --- thank you. Very well done!
Thanks buddy -- it was a great lesson
This is such a great lesson! I have tuned in open C in the past and tried to experiment but had no clue what to do. I was thinking of Tony today when I was looking at used guitars on the Willcutt Guitars site and saw a used Santa Cruz Tony Rice Adirondack guitar . Thank You for the lesson Tony
This was a really well paced, detailed explanation. You are a great teacher. Thank you!
great video!! on a side note: I always loved that DGCGCD tuning Page did for The Rain Song.
Really grateful for this.62 years old and still learning😀
And look at the beautiful music Jimmy page came up with in that tuning. So pretty and creative. And then I think Steve winwood did a beautiful version of'can't find my way home' in open C. Another great song. I like the open tunings, they allow you to keep a lot of strings open, so resonant.
Thank you for these tips! I just discovered open C tuning with Auld Lang Syne, John Fahey style. I played around a bit and found out that it is also easy to play Vestapol in open C. It has a slightly different vibe than in open D.
This guys tutorials are so user friendly, clear and concise. He,s friendly too and a I learned alot here
Nice, thanks for the lesson. I learned about the intervals between the open strings from this - the fifth between c and g for example, to create a harmony.
Very cool as always . Thats why i am a happy Tonys Acustic Challenge member. Thanx Tony
Best open tuning tutorial I’ve seen. Thanks bro!
I was surprised to find that I understood everything perfectly. I can do everything as instructed in this video🙏🏻 Great lesson, friend.
::edit:: Playing around last night.. I think this drop C is ROBBIE BASHO [California Raga] tuning!! I put the capo on first fret and I could play along with record!!!
"Question" by the Moody Blues. Uses stacked, staggered and barre chord shapes in CGCGCE.
Everything you did here was helpful. Guitar playing made easier. Understanding why it was easier is why I continue to play. Thank you !
Thanks for the lesson. I've been playing open C for some time and you have opened up more melodies for me.
I want to say Thank you for this lesson on open c tuning. It is very helpful in exploring alternate tunings other than standard. I like the mellow calmed down tone of open tunings very much and I appreciate your instruction.
Best teacher I have ever seen. Great work.. thank you.
Great! You are really good at playing to the piano!
Great lesson. Exactly what I wanted to start playing in this tuning
Thank you! V helpful
Joey Landreth brought this tuning to my attention
I play drums so this was a little tough but after a couple hours I was finally able to get the tuning down. Now it’s strumming time!
I discovered open c through Jimmy Page. really fun tuning to play. good lesson!
Same bro
I found C tunings via John Martyn and Nick Drake. Been grappling with them about a year now. Great lesson man
You always have awesome acoustics
Nicely done mate
Very nice... And easy to start out...I have never tried open c before ...looks fun ..exciting and creative .just like tony said! Kudos!!!!
This is the tuning for aerials right? Cgcge
Awesome tutorial man! I wanted to make a new variation for a song I have been practicing in std E and found that I can reach much more with this tuning. Cheers!
Every day something new....thank you for yet another sweet direction!
Thanks this was great. Keep this going.
Great Vid' That's a beautiful accousticke too
Thank you for these videos! You've helped me get out of a rut!
I came here via country roads. Thanks very much a class lesson
Excellent lesson 👍👍
4:34 Giving anyone else Man Of Steel “Flight” vibes?
I came here to agree with this comment…
and then realised it’s my own comment from 9 months ago 😂
Great lesson mate!
This inspired me to write a new Song in a way I never have before! Very nice and easy to grasp! Thank you for the Lesson!🎶✨💯🎬🙏🤠
Kind regards,
Caleb Twidwell
I'm surprised that Bruce Cockburn hasn't been remarked on in the comments here - I'm fairly sure that open C is his favorite tuning. Great vid, very enjoyable.
This was very helpful. Thanks for the confidence.
It actually sounds really cool if you tune the E to D instead; works as kind of a resonator
Just started playing open C today , it sounds amazing, started a new song 🎵..although im finding my own chords by ear and how it sounds as i go...also open G too , its gonna open a lot of new song 🎵 ideas.. thanks for the video explanation 😊
Yeahhhh, thanks, Tony. I like the open C for fingerpicking especially. It adds to my guitarsenal of tones with a bit of melancholy, sort of introspective music that is great for those rainy days when you're noodling around on the guitar.
Tony, you are amazing!
Thank you man, easy and simple!
Nice explanation. Very simple to follow. Thank you!
Thanks Tony got some good stuff out of this!
I've played Fahey's old stuff in open C and it ain't too bad but I learned more about that tuning today in this video with Tony than the decades of Fahey tabs, plus a guitar teacher that was able to play lots of Joe Pass, Kottke, etc., to make me feel like an idiot! So thanks - I'm thinking I might stick around this time - I was part f the 2015 boom or thereabouts.
thanks a lot mate, cheers
Fretting one note while playing all 6 strings sounds like a mountain dulcimer!
Great lesson to kick things off in open C ......
Thanks, it sounds great. Is there a video for the fingerpick anywhere? I love it.
Hey Tony. You just inspired me to stop procrastinating and get back to that basic finger picking class.
Excellent lesson! Thank you very much!
Thats pretty neat, those tattoos are nice too.
Love the way u teach bro, perfect
sound so beautiful. Thank you for sharing...
Cheers bloke. 👍
It's almost the same as the tuning for the rain song which is called gsus4 I believe.
Excellent
Great lesson, looking forward to trying it!!
Great loved it
Love this!! Thank you!!!
amazing!!
I always tune a half step down, so tuning the B up never worries me. I like open G tuning too
Great lesson, thank you!
Great lesson dude. Thanks!
4:33 sounds exactly like the song from man of steel from hans zimmer
Thanks. Good stuff !
this is Open C major, drop E to D# and its minor, those tunnes are great,
Crazy to think John Butler wrote an amazing song with this simple scale, but more complex picking style.
Great video. Thanks.
Cool good lesson . Only need 2 fingers for your shapes . Tuning is a little low . I was wondering since it's open C and F and the G would be just a barr chord I suppose.
Love this kinda video. Its a simple way to utilize a tuning or technique that me may c as too overwhelming to dive into. That's my issue with alternate tuning. Im familiar with standard tuning and drop d but outside of those 2 its all new to me.
Thank you for this!!!!
I play a lot in CGCGCC, i find it really fun. Give it a try!
I appreciate the chord shapes, but how do I know which chord I am playing at the various fret positions? i.e. Am, D and G.
That's awesome! Now WHAT ARE THOSE CHORDS!😁💖
I would approach using the chords like C major diatonic chords (Starting from all open strings: major, minor, minor, major major, minor, diminished), though they aren’t technically quite those chords. Stacked shape is representing a major and staggered a minor. He’s moving the 3rd and the 5th of the diatonic chords through the C major scale, though when you include open string you include 2 C’s and a G to all of the chords even if they don’t really have them. Also, as he is moving 3rd and the 5th of the diatonic chords, many of the chords don’t include the root note of the diatonic chord at all (you need root and the 3rd to define the quality of the chord) and the diminished chord is just replaced with a major chord which still sounds like it would belong in the scale.
I sure wish I could finger pick. Been playing 25 plus years and can't get my fingers to work like that. I love alternate tunings and finger picking would open up so many doors.
Thank you!
Always so positive!! I wiil have to try this. I wonder how this would sound on a 12 string?? I am semi beginner/novice but it looks like fun!!
th-cam.com/video/jdYJf_ybyVo/w-d-xo.html this is how it can sound on a 12 string- although technically JB has only one G string- thus 11 strings going. Epic guitar I reckon.
coming from piano it would be nice if you said the name of the chord as well as the stacked shape vs staggered shape etc
Thank you thank you !
Thank you, sir.
Great tutorial...I'm not looking for an easy way out,but I have a budget guitar,as I have just started to learn to play,consequently sounds dull and thumps.I tried changing too lighter weight strings and different picks,I relies it's a learning curve.However tried this and I have to say the guitar sounds amazing.(my wife thinks I'm a better player)Which is a result thanks.
Your first 'Super Fan' may be driving the bus now!!
That was great I have given a spider capo can you do some lessons on it
Having fun with this today..but very new to it..am I right in saying that staggered only works on 1/3/8 frets and stacked on 3/ 5/10/12..that's referencing to the finger position on the e string? Help appreciated...Tone Deaf Rich.😂
You didn't show us how to change the intonation or what scale length we should have or what string gauge to use for that tuning. I like your videos, but can you make one to show us how to put an acoustic guitar into Drop C (CGCFAD)? With proper intonation setting instructions? I have been trying to find an acoustic to buy for Drop C for a while now, and it's extremely difficult. I know that a 25.5" scale is ideal. I know that heavier strings should be put on, and that's about it. Can you show us how to file the saddle and complete the set up for a tuning like this? I have seen your truss rod video and that was pretty good, so I think I got that part.
Do you know of any Acoustic guitars that are made for / are better for Drop C than others? Do any come tuned and setup for Drop C? The best I can find is Ovation Guitars. There's one that comes in a D scale, and Breaking Benjamin uses Ovation. Even if I got an Ovation, as soon as I swap the D string for a thicker C, the neck will bend and the other strings intonation will be thrown off.
Can you please show a video for choosing an acoustic for Drop C, or Open C and how to set the intonation and pick a string gauge? You could do it all in one video. Should we look for guitars with extra braces or inner support for the lower tuning? Please man, you don't just go to guitar center and buy an acoustic and tune it down...
I just want to be able to play stuff like this th-cam.com/video/P9wJmL-ffsw/w-d-xo.html&t=1923
and this th-cam.com/video/LCtdsb_HDK4/w-d-xo.html
I have been trying to get an acoustic set up in Drop C for years, with no success. I ruined a Seagull once because I didn't know what I was doing.
I am thinking about getting one of these:
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EliteTXDBk--ovation-elite-tx-mid-depth-d-scale-black
OR one of these from Davide Serracini which would come in Drop C, but their really expensive.
Davide Serracini www.serracini.it/wordpress/
I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me or point me in the right direction. I am not trying to bash you or anything, your truss rod video was awesome. I just want an acoustic for Drop C, been searching for years, most stores I talk to won't help, or claim they don't know how to set something up in Drop C and I think that's B.S. I know how to do this for electric, but I'd like to do this on acoustic. Can you help me? Thanks.
Hello Tony from the Windy City. I am very interested in delta blues as of late and am not sure what string gauge I should use on my Yamaha acoustic. I don’t really know how heavy to go. What would you suggest for open E D G C? Is this even possible to do with 1guitar. There are so many youtube lessons and every tuning is used. Your help would be so helpful. I will also be trying slide on this guitar as well. Oo I may be taking on too much. Thank you very much. 🙏🙏