I need to practice three vocal pieces over and over that end up in keys that require me to capo up to 2nd fret on my taropatch-tuned steel-string guitar.
I like the sound of open strings and the ease of using no capo, so is there any harm in tuning the whole thing up a whole step from taropatch? (E-A-E-A-C#-E)
This is the same as tuning three strings up from standard tuning, instead of three strings down, so it seems an equivalent "variation." But will it put too much pressure on the neck and damage the instrument somehow?
Mike, assuming the guitar is well built and in good shape, I'd do two things. I'd use a lighter gauge string set, and I'd be careful to shield my eyes when bringing the strings up to tension. Bottleneck blues players use "Taropatch A" pretty often, and there are stories about strings snapping and inflicting pain.
"A Taropatch"?
Posted - 10/03/2009 : 07:34:00 AM
