Alternative Method for Raised B Tuning

[tfxf2]

What's up? I've stopped by for the last few years and cribbed some tab notes from the Musician forum, so I just wanted to say thanks first to all the folks out there who have taken the time to learn the songs, and most importantly, type it all down for us all to learn. I have more fun trying to learn myself, but we all gotta cheat sometime.

I haven't played guitar in a while, but I knew when I picked it up today I wanted to try and tackle Stay or Leave. I knew Dave had some altered tuning going on, so I looked at the Today show performance for help. When I saw the closeups on the fretboard, I was like, "Goddamn, Dave, you motherf-er! Whaddya doin to me?" Then I realized how the strings were moved up one saddle, and how that 1st string was just a droning B. And I came by here to clarify things, and learn about the B tuning. But in the course of trying to figure it out for myself, I think I came up with a cool way of imitating the raised B tuning, without changing the strings, though employing the use of a capo. (Pardon me if somebody may have already posted it, but I searched to be sure, and I couldn't find anything.)

Now, before you say it - NO, I'm not saying capo 7 using standard tuning. That shit's for Hotel California and Here Comes the Sun. I know there's a separate tab for capo 7 in standard tuning, and it's great, but I really wanted to find a way to get close to the same sound with the same droning strings.

First, start by tuning from standard:
High E -> C# (1 1/2 steps down)
B -> F# (2 1/2 steps down)
G -> A (1 step up)
D -> E (1 step up)
A -> B (1 step up)
E -> F# (1 step up)

Now, capo 5 (you'll then need to fine-tune). The resulting tuning is (low to high):
B E A D B F#

The only difference between that and raised B tuning is that the 1st and 2nd strings are switched. You use the same tabs for raised B tuning, just remember to switch the strings.

Now, I'm not a big fan of the capo myself, and to be honest, you still get that capo-ey sound. But at least you get it without a significant change in chord structure that just makes you go, "Ah, it's just not right." Personally, I'm a big fan of Jimmy Page and the way he always used altered tunings without the use of capos, so you got that clean, ringing sound (The Rain Song is just about the coolest altered tuning). Dave definitely has that going with this tuning. But in this case, getting the right open tuning would mean basically having another guitar tuned with the strings in the right places. So here's a good compromise.

The only hard part is when he goes for that high D chord during SOL, which unless you have a cutaway is gonna be a bitch to hit. Otherwise, it's fun to play.

Has anyone else tried this before? Anyone wanna give it a shot and tell me what you think?

[greppson]

or you could just capo the seven and not have to do any tuning.

the only problem i see with your logic is tuning the B down and the E down. why not just tune them up a whole step and then slap the capo on? that'd be the same as putting the capo on the 7th in standard tuning.

[PilotC150]

Remember, for every step you tune up the strings, you can drop your capo one step as well.

[greppson]

yeah, i know that. i was saying if he decided to tune up a whole step on each string, it would result in a capo on the 5th to get the raised b tuning.

[Pipsqueak]

and tuning G, D, A, & E up a whole step is just asking for broken strings....

I just play it without capo in standard tuning and it sounds good.

different, but good.

[ITakeTwoSteps]

yeah, thats an easy way to break your strings

[YknSTONE]

Hmmm.......I'm about due on a new pair of strings..........naahhhhhhhh