_(1).gif)
Topic: Alternative Tunings
'Sawmill' or G Modal tuning is the next in my alternative tuning series.
Going from standard tuning, lower the first, fifth, and sixth strings one step and raise the second string a half step.
This tuning is essentially taking a common banjo alternative tuning and applying it to guitar. There is even a playing technique built around this tuning called clawhammer and you'll find songs like the traditional Shady Grove played this way. Since this is a modal tuning, there is no 3rd in the open chord so both major and minor can be implied, making it a flexible choice if you want that kind of ambiguity in a song. It can also work for simplified fingerpicking on songs that can take advantage of the position of this tuning's notes. It also might be interesting for various rock tunes as well where the 'in between' nature of the tuning can produce the right atmosphere.
The scale tones created by this tuning are
| String | Scale Tone |
| 1st | fifth |
| 2nd | fourth |
| 3rd | root |
| 4th | fifth |
| 5th | root |
| 6th | fifth |
Like before, my demo starts with the single notes followed by an open string strum. Since I can't play clawhammer I went with something simple to demo the tuning, an open chord strum while alternatively fretting the second string on the 5th, 7th, 3rd, and 8th frets. Getting that open chord sound could make a nice driving rhythm to back a lead line. For the second part of the demo, I barred at the 3rd and 8th frets and alternated between the plain one fret barre and playing the 6th string 2 and 3 frets above the barre.
Click Here To Download Sawmill (G Modal) Demo MP3
Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions about the Sawmill (G Modal) Tuning and I'll try to answer them as best I can.
