[Bluesyzep]

I was messing around with alternate tuning for the first time and tried to play "The Rain Song" DGCGCD. When you strum across standard tuning you get a pretty sweet sound. When I strummed across this alternate tune it sounded like crap. I tried the first few measures and sounded bad enough that I gave it up. I have no experience at this so don't know how the tuning should have sounded. Maybe I'm missing something.

[allthumbs]

That is a Gsus4 tuning. The suspended 3 in favour of the 4 gives it that unsettled sound.

[Bluesyzep]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

That is a Gsus4 tuning. The suspended 3 in favour of the 4 gives it that unsettled sound.

So I have it right then and just need more practice?

[allthumbs]

Yup. I took a quick look at the tab. You need to follow it very closely. It will sound pretty sour if you just try and strum every string. Follow the tab. It seems pretty simple the way its laid out. Review you basics of how to play tabs as it is written.

[Bluesyzep]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

Yup. I took a quick look at the tab. You need to follow it very closely. It will sound pretty sour if you just try and strum every string. Follow the tab. It seems pretty simple the way its laid out. Review you basics of how to play tabs as it is written.

Duh. It helps to not to read it backwards. I was reading/playing from the 6th to 2nd strings instead of 1st to 5th. Still haven't done much with tab. I can recognize some of the tunes now.

I have video of a live orchestrated performance that helps also. A lot it seems to be strummed with an upstroke. Downstroke doesn't sound right.

What tab version did you look at? I got mine from "Achilles Last Stand" forum. Thanks for the help.

[allthumbs]

I just googled it. Can't remember what site it was on.