The modal G tuning for guitar is an alternative tuning for guitar where the six open strings of the guitar (lowest to highest) are tuned to the following notes: D, G, D, G, C, D.
Modal G tuning is similar to the open G tuning (D, G, D, G, B, D) and the open G minor tuning (D, G, D, G, Bb, D), but the major and minor third of the G major or minor scale respectively is replaced by the fourth of the G scale (major or minor) (B or Bb is replaced by a C). The result – the modal G tuning – is not decisively major or minor. The open strings of this tuning produce a suspended G chord (Gsus4 composed of G, C, and D).
The modal G tuning is interesting also because it allows chords in which different strings can carry the same pitch (same note in the same octave) which produces a droning sound. The open first string (highest to lowest), for example, and the second fret on the second string produce the same C note. In other words, many chords allow these two strings to produce the same pitch with only a two-fret difference. This is easier on the neck hand than standard guitar tuning where the difference is five frets.
The most common guitar tuning is EADGBE (lowest to highest). One can obtain the modal G tuning from the standard tuning by: 1) dropping in the lowest guitar string one tone from E to D; 2) dropping the fifth string (highest to lowest) one tone from A to G; 3) dropping the first guitar string one tone from E to D; and 4) raising the second guitar string half a tone from B to C.
Comments
Older comments
admin: First posted on 2016 03 24
Ron Wrolson, 2016 03 24: I use this tuning for my original rock songs extebsively...I leave my prize Les Paul tuned to it permanenly. I wrote a third of my rock tunes in G-modal. Everyone knows, or maybe not, that Jimmy Page wrote and plays The Rain Song in this beautiful tuning...and never wrote another song in it. That inspired me to experiment in it, if I terested in samples of the power of this tuning...Google ReverbNation Ron Wrolson...and dive into my material. I can point to the ones using G-modal.
Sorry for the typos....just excited because this tuning is dear to me
mic, 2018 02 04: No worries. I am glad someone is reading this stuff
Tuning to Modal G
"One can obtain the modal G tuning from the standard tuning by: 1) dropping in the lowest guitar string one tone from E to D; 2) dropping the fifth string (highest to lowest) one tone from A to G; and 3) dropping the first guitar string one tone from E to D."
And of course raising the second string a half note from B to C.
Right?
Right
Right. Thank you. I will update the topic.
Sample of G-Modal in harder rock format and rock ballad format
https://www.reverbnation.com/ronwrolson/song/30295652-fritter-and-waste
Took one of your links out
G-modal in Rock
This link shows a Southern Blues Rock style song with a Les Paul tuned to G-Modal. It’s such a rich lush palette of possibilities
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/96Uemv7MXj7eG3Re6
G-Modal Tuning
Here’s a link in 24 bit from SoundCloud. All guitars in g-modal
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/uGzyHV5Ye7X8t8qG9
Add new comment