Hi guys and gals
I am having a re-visit to a tune i tried to play (but couldn't) a year ago.
Dire Straits beautiful Romeo and Juliet.
Knoppfler must use a pretty strong guitar because this is the tuning -
F Bb F Bb D F
which i am guessing is open Bb. I want to play it in open G but capo at the third fret to get it back to the original key.
Whats the most appropriate tuning to use, that will mean i can use the same fingerings as the original?
thanks
Matt
He uses his National style 0 (oh God that's a beautiful guitar from 6 feet away) He plays it in open G DGDGBD with a capo on the 3rd fret. The DVD 'A Night in London' has some good shots of him playing it with the capo on the 3rd fret.
Wish I could play R&J, but I'm not ready for it yet.
BTW, there are rumours of a Knopfler and Emmylou Harris tour this summer mid to late June.
"Things may get a whole lot worse/ Before suddenly falling apart"
Steely Dan
"Look at me coyote, don't let a little road dust put you off" Knopfler
I got FREE (yeah FREE) tickets for the Albert Hall gigs. I couldn't make it so gave them to my guitar playing buddy Keith. He was only a few rows back and could see all Knofflers moves. He says it was an awesome experience.
He doesn't use a pick does he?
Matt
thanks for the answer, that's great.
Ahhh, what a shame. I went a little overboard and saw him three times last tour. Loved every minute. Also loved the fact that you can get close if you want. He actually seems to like people watching from the front of the stage.
Didn't realize you were a Brit, though Albert Hall would've been better
http://www.mark-knopfler-news.co.uk/dates.html
if you're interested and can make it :)
He rarely uses a pick (I can only think of 3 songs off-hand) and certainly doesn't for R&J.
"Things may get a whole lot worse/ Before suddenly falling apart"
Steely Dan
"Look at me coyote, don't let a little road dust put you off" Knopfler
No wonder I've always had trouble with R&J - I never knew it was in a open tuning! I've got close, but always sounded a bit out....grrrrrrrrrr.............
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Yes, F-Bb-F-Bb-D-F is an open Bb tuning.
So if you want it in G, and you need to keep the same fingerings, you have to figure out how many frets above Bb you need to go to reach G.
The answer is nine. Quite a bit higher!
So your best option is using a lower tuning, like open G instead (D-G-D-G-B-G)
Guitar teacher offering lessons in Plainfield IL
Or use light strings and tune it up. I've got a friend who routinely tunes the Open D/E pattern up to F.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
No wonder I've always had trouble with R&J - I never knew it was in a open tuning! I've got close, but always sounded a bit out....grrrrrrrrrr.............
:D :D :D
Vic
Sometimes pictures do help, shiney metal guitar and capo on the 3rd fret... hmmm :D :D :D
"Things may get a whole lot worse/ Before suddenly falling apart"
Steely Dan
"Look at me coyote, don't let a little road dust put you off" Knopfler
