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Should new guitarists start out with an open tuning?
[Editor’s note: The first six Sounding Board entries below are in response to a question I posed in my April 2024 Woodshed column: Is it OK for new guitarists to start with an open tuning, just so they can hit the ground running and play something “musical” right out of the gate — or should everyone start with one of the more traditional routes? And yes, I’m paraphrasing a bit... —DF]
I just read your Woodshed piece in GW Vol. 45, No. 4. I started playing many years ago on a baritone ukulele, learning basic chords from a Mel Bay book.
When my hands were big enough to play a six-string acoustic guitar, my older sister showed me more chords and some cool songs by Neil Young and the Yardbirds. I’m 64 now (like the Beatles song! Yikes!) and play those basic chords to this day. My guess is most kids and people setting out to play guitar want to play songs by the musicians and bands they like. I learned eventually that many of those songs are played in alternate tunings, but I think it’s better to struggle and learn playing in standard tunings before branching out into open G, drop D, etc. Even though Eddie played in drop D, drop whatever, plus a few more half steps (I am clueless), you can still noodle around with his songs in standard tuning. It’s fun, which is the main reason we play! Trust me, you’re not a “fuddy-duddy” — or you wouldn’t be the editor-in-chief of GW.
— Jon Feaver, Iowa City, IA
Great question! I’ve been starting my grandson very gradually with guitar. He is 11. I started him off on double drop D because he can bar chords across the top three strings and lower three and make a chord. I’ve been wondering if I’m doing the right thing. Thanks for asking the same question.
— Barry Lee Seip
Your initial response was the correct one. If they start off easy, they won’t put in the work after the fact… Or (and I’ve seen this) they will just play their entire career in that open tuning, which would only work for a solo artist playing originals.
— Dave Aaron
A person must have an intense desire to learn guitar, and guitar tunings don’t matter. The first year is the hardest, and the student must soldier through aching fingers. There is no easy way. As for young people (I’m an old fuddy-duddy), they need proper inspiration, and it doesn’t help when guit
