Jeremy Collins: Alternative Tunings!

Alternative Tuning "intriguing familiar unfamiliar"

How many of the six strings are altered? How does the altering serve the music? 

We are familiar with the lowered 6th from E to D or 3rd from G to F# to enhance harmonic sonority or facilitate fingering. Extend the range by lowering 6th and 5th or contracting an upper string ex. 1st from E to D. Usually many occur within the Major or Minor tonality with doubling or tripling a pitch to enhance the open chord sonority. 

Add to this the possibility of applying a capo in a different position or a capo that allows open and stopped strings. There are many to create to serve the ultimate musical goal.

I've used open G for Resonator guitar for blues, Bluegrass and folk music.

Works by Andrew York, "Yamour" and "The Equations of Beauty" where 6th D,3rd F#, 1st D.

Roland Dyens, "Chansons Francaises", Carlo Domeniconi, "Koyunbaba"

Any alternate tuning you try will take you out of your comfort zone, stimulate your mind and fingers and surprise your aural sensation.

     The Pros of different tuning is a new experience of discovery. Stretching your imagination.

I don't believe there are any Cons. Ideally if you could have a half-dozen guitars already set up for alternative tuning pieces you are ready to go. 

Synth guitar (ex. Godin) with a controller (ex. Roland) you could program multiple tuning.

Con here is you are at the mercy of electricity.

     The Jeremy Collins (Elegy) is on a whole other level. From what I could hear was a tuning based on a ascending (or real) melodic minor scale without steps 2 and 4 . C#-E-G#,A#,B#

I'm not sure but 6th C#, 5th A#, 4th E, 3rd G#, 2nd B#, 1st E.

What I initially was intrigued by was the sound of augmented and diminished sonority.

If my analysis was true there exist diminished, half-diminished 7th, minor, minor-major9 and augmented sonorities from the open strings. As a simultaneous exposition of sound.

    From my perspective this was a unique tuning to serve the music. It reminded me of my first experiencing the "Impressionist". I was captivated by the piece and it would take repeated listening to appreciate the structure and form, as well as its intricate details.

    I suspect he enjoys performing his music as much as I did listening with new ears.     

I would definitely include Jeremy's music in my repertoire and library. Thank You for creating some beautiful guitar music and sharing with the Tonebase community.