'Nashville' tuning

[crunchee]

It's basically only using the 'octave' strings from a 12 string set of strings on a 6 string guitar, and using the same 'octave' tuning as on a 12 string guitar, minus the heavier strings. The bonus is, you get a spare set of strings out of the deal. I'm thinking of trying it, anybody here ever used it on either electric or acoustic guitars? What was the result? Like it? Hate it? Neither? TIA!

[hardheartedbill]

For me its only a recording thing. Great for support tracks or faux middle eastern riffs

[JohnnyB]

Pat Metheny's latest album, "What's It All About" is a solo acoustic album, and all but three songs are played on a baritone guitar in Nashville tuning. He tunes the guitar to suit the song; tunings range from Ab-Ab to C-C (or maybe C#). It's a great album.

[jwhitcomb3]

I like it. I have one electric strung up in Nashville tuning, and have also used it on acoustics. Very nice for jazz chords to give you narrow voicings like a keyboard. You'll have to monkey with the intonation, and the strings may sit loose in the nut. FWIW, I prefer it with the G string normal (just pop up the low E, A and D).

[zenmindbeginner]

Studio engineers sometimes use it as a sort of guitar version of a hi hat or ride cymbal... a high frequency time keeper when strummed.

Single note playing sounds ethereal and complex alongside the normal octave down playing. Like Hardheartedbill said, it's a studio technique.

Ear candy for the Wrangler-set.

[gorch]

It could also add to a normal wired guitar to create a 12 string like sound experience from two guitarists playing at once.

[velorush]

It could also add to a normal wired guitar to create a 12 string like sound experience from two guitarists playing at once.

Ages ago at least one of the guys at a weekly bluegrass jam played an acoustic strung Nashville. It really added to the mix and like Zen said, it was kind of like having a high hat (no drums in attendance) but also filled out the sound without imposing on the fiddles.

[Ned B]

The cluster effect with chords makes adds to an arrangement. Really effects with arpeggios.

[carfish7]

It could also add to a normal wired guitar to create a 12 string like sound experience from two guitarists playing at once.

This is how I experience it, and it is really cool for filling out the spaces in a larger band. Kind of a pain to tote another axe I guess, but if you have one to dedicate to the purpose you can find all kinds of ways to drop it in for added color. It allows Ted and I to play in the same neighborhood and bring a bigger sound than the 2 of us flailing away with the same tonal territory covered. I'm a fan.

[anotherfreak]

Sometimes I use a guitar like that but in an "open E" tuning, For fingerstyle playing it adds tons of new/cool sounds with the same picking patterns.

[silentman]

Check out 'On the Backs of Angels' from Dream Theater on Youtube. The intro uses nashville tuning. There are actually 4 guitars playing (both electric and acoustic) but you can clearly hear the effect and as pointed out above - it works better on arpeggios.

[tommy p]

I first saw a guitar in Nashville tuning setting up a Hooters show. Their guitar tech let me play it but it just felt weird to me. I think of it as more a studio coloring tool than for live application.

Isn't Pink Floyd's Hey You in Nashville tuning?