Topic: Open Bb tuning - What a friend we have in Jesus

[Old Man Ned]

Following John's recent tutorial on open tunings I was curious about the open B flat tuning. I've attached an arrangement of, what was for me, an old Sunday school favourite, "What a friend we have in Jesus".

Has anyone else been looking at B flat tuning?

All the Best,
Ned

[Johnm]

That's a beautiful job, Ned, well done! I particularly like some of those moving interior lines. Open Bb really makes some interesting things available, doesn't it!
All best,
Johnm

[Stuart]

Great arranging and playing, Ned. It made my day.

[Old Man Ned]

Thanks John, Stuart, really appreciate you taking the time to listen. I'm finding this tuning really interesting to work with.
All the Best,
Ned

[joe paul]

Good work Ned, that's a really sweet arrangement.
I was in class with John that day too and I agree, it's fascinating digging into that tuning and a good challenge getting away from what's familiar.

[Blues Vintage]

I never even knew B flat tuning existed. But sounds good to me, Ned.

[waxwing]

Never heard of it, either. Is it 5,R,3,5,R,3? Or maybe with a 5 on the top string? What tradition does it come from?

Wax

[waxwing]

Or maybe a 3 on the bottom string, allowing for a IV chord bass?

Wax

[Johnm]

Hi Wax,
It is 5R35R3. Done that way no string needs to be re-tuned by more than a full step from standard tuning. Peg Leg Howell used the tuning for "Low Down Rounder Blues" and "Fairy Blues", the only two tunes I'm aware of in the tradition in which the tuning was used. It was used some in the Parlor guitar tradition, though not nearly as frequently as Vestapol and Spanish tuning were. I like to tune the sixth string down to Eb sometimes to get a low open-string root for the IV chord, akin to using dropped-D tuning to play in A. 

[waxwing]

Thanks, Johnm.

Not suggesting tuning up (maybe capoing 2 frets), but the open chord then "sounds" like a 1st position C chord in Standard tuning, as commonly played with the bass string fretted at the 3rd fret. I guess I figure that, if an open tuning is essentially derived from a first position chord form, it oughta be named after that chord, regardless the pitch the guitar is tuned to, as a capo makes pitch moot. I think of Spanish as Open A, and Vastapol as Open E, regardless of pitch. Drop D is always Drop D, even if I'm playing it on a 12 tuned down to B, where it would be Drop A. Just another way to look at it.

I have to listen to those two tunes.

Wax

[waxwing]

Or, like Vastapol and Spanish, maybe it should be called "Faro" tuning, assuming that's what he is actually singing? Having not yet heard the tune.

Wax

P.S. Heard it now. Wow, Fairy Blues is right smart! Hope I have time soon to look at that. Thanks, again, Johnm.

[banjochris]

Not suggesting tuning up (maybe capoing 2 frets), but the open chord then "sounds" like a 1st position C chord in Standard tuning, as commonly played with the bass string fretted at the 3rd fret. I guess I figure that, if an open tuning is essentially derived from a first position chord form, it oughta be named after that chord, regardless the pitch the guitar is tuned to, as a capo makes pitch moot.

Wax – the main issue with that here is that there's already a well-established "open C" tuning, the one Fahey used a lot, that's basically the same as open C on the banjo – CGCGCE.

[waxwing]

R5R5R3 is ... the same as a D chord in Drop D. Not saying anyone "should" do anything, call it what you want, but it's always interesting to me to note the similarities. Who knows how these tunings were found or created. I think this is useful information if you are trying to suss out a tuning, to know the "sound" of the open chord. I would think someone might be fooled into thinking Open B flat was C in standard, but being aware that is what the open chord sounds like could avoid a lot of frustration.

Wax

Edited to clarify the first sentence, adding: "a D chord in"