When you learn guitar, you sometimes hit a brick wall. You get sick of working on the same things, and find it harder and harder to get inspired.<\/p>\n
Y\u2019know what can really help? Experimenting with alternate tunings.<\/a> If ever I get stuck in a rut when playing guitar or writing riffs, playing around with alternate tunings is a surefire way to get my mojo back. Our Complete Guitar to Guitar Tuning<\/a>\u00a0is super helpful as well.<\/p>\n And, judging by the amount of legendary guitarists that use alternate tunings in their playing; I guess I\u2019m not the only one.<\/p>\n Here are three classic Iconic alternate tunings that you need to try. So fire up your tuning app or online guitar tuner and get inspired to play again with these awesome tuning variations.<\/p>\n (Of course, if you want to use the best <\/em>guitar tuner for alternate tunings, there\u2019s Roadie<\/a> 3 \u2013 which comes with all these alternate tunings as presets, allowing you to switch between them in a matter of minutes. Shameless plug, we know, but hey, it\u2019s our blog!)<\/p>\n Here are some Iconic Alternate Tunings You Need To Try<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Great for: <\/strong>Heavy, chuggy riffing<\/p>\n Used by: Tom Morello, Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell and Kim Thayill<\/p>\n Drop D is probably the widest used alternate tuning on this list, and certainly the easiest to master. Simply tune the low E string down a whole step to D and you\u2019re good to go (Total Guitar<\/a> once described it as the tuning equivalent of missionary sex because it\u2019s the first thing that everyone tries \u2013 it\u2019s an apt assessment!).<\/p>\n What\u2019s Drop D good for?<\/p>\n Riffs.<\/p>\n Heavy. Metal. Riffs.<\/p>\n That\u2019s because drop D tuning allows for faster transitions between power chords and adds two lower semitones to the bass range of the rhythm guitar allowing for a deeper \u2013 read \u201cheavier\u201d \u2013 sound. Early examples of Drop D include The Beatles\u2019 \u201cI Want You (She\u2019s So Heavy)\u201d \u2013 an entirely apt title \u2013 and Led Zeppelin\u2019s \u201cMoby Dick.\u201d But, it was tracks like Rage Against the Machine\u2019s \u201cKilling in the Name,\u201d Soundgarden\u2019s \u201cOutshined\u201d and Nirvana\u2019s \u201cHeart Shaped Box\u201d that really brought drop D to mass consciousness.<\/p>\n\nDrop D Tuning<\/strong><\/h2>\n