Orkney Tuning (lesson)
With
Steve BaughmanSteve Baughman introduces his favourite open tuning, Orkney (C G D G C D), and shows how a simple C shape sounds in it.
What's in the course
13 lessons (1h 9m) · 1 free
01. Dans A Sailheu - Tavarn - Danse des Deux Pommes Frites (performance)
Free lesson5:10
02. Dans A Sailheu - Tavarn - Danse des Deux Pommes Frites (lesson)
10:24
03. Little Beggar Man (performance)
1:54
04. Little Beggar Man (lesson)
8:24
05. Loch Lomond (performance)
3:20
06. Planxty John Irwin (performance)
3:33
07. Planxty John Irwin (lesson)
1:29
08. Cool A Jig - The Choice Wife (performance)
4:09
09. Cool A Jig - The Choice Wife (lesson)
6:09
10. Neil Gow's Lament - Devil In The Kitchen - The Tushgar (performance)
6:24
11. Neil Gow's Lament - Devil In The Kitchen - The Tushgar (lesson)
11:08
12. Paddy Fahy's Jig (performance)
2:40
13. Orkney Tuning (lesson)
You are here4:43
Lesson transcript
Exploring Orkney Tuning
Before I really leave you, I would like to take the opportunity to show you one little thing about my favorite guitar tuning, the Orkney tuning. I'm going to show you how simple and accessible it is, and how beautiful it can be. After you've spent 45 seconds with it, I'm going to show you.
Basic C Chord
- Look at my left hand.
- Now, the basic C chord:
- Middle finger on the fifth string, fifth fret.
- Ring finger on the fourth string, fifth fret.
- Pinky on the first string, fifth fret.
This is basic C.
You'll notice your index finger hanging out, waiting for something to do. This is a C neutral. It doesn't have any thirds in it; it's just Cs and Gs.
Creating Chords from C Neutral
- Simply plop your index finger down in the most natural spot available, which is:
- Second string, fourth fret.
Listen to what happens to this C neutral:
- Suddenly, it's a C major.
- Slide your index finger down 1 fret for C minor.
- Take your index finger over to the third string, third fret for C7.
- Slide it up to the fourth fret of the third string and you've got a very California, New Agey sounding C: C suspended, C major, seventh.
Chords Summary
Here's what you have out of the basic C position:
- C neutral
- C major
- C minor
- C7
- C major (new age 7)
- Back to C neutral
Transitioning to Other Chords
Now, you're obviously going to need more than C's when you play. So, without picking up your pinky or your ring, pick up everything else.
- Take your pinky and ring, slide them up two frets, and bar at the fifth to get an F chord.
- Back to basic C: P and R (Pinky and Ring) up two frets for F chord.
- Slide them up two more for a G chord.
- Slide P and R up one more fret for a nice rich sounding high C chord.
Playing in the Key of G
If you want to play in the key of G, it's just as easy. Here's your G chord:
- I call this wimpy G.
- To put your pinky down on the first string, fifth fret, you get basic G.
- Pivot over to basic C.
This simple pivoting motion gets you from G to C.
Adding the D Chord
You need one more chord to play in the key of G, pretty much any folk song, and that's a D chord:
- Position your fingers on the second string and third string at the second fret.
- For a cool variation, bring your thumb over.
Conclusion
So welcome to the world of Orkney! If you have any questions about Orkney Tuning or anything else related to this project we've discussed today, feel free to send me an email.
- My website is CelticGuitar.com.
- You can also contact acousticmusicresource.com to learn about my CDs and find lots of great fingerstyle music from many different genres.
Stay in touch, and I hope you found this to be a worthwhile time. Thank you!
13 lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Steve Baughman is one of fingerstyle guitar's true originals - a player whose open-tuned, Celtic-rooted acoustic work has earned critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic.
'Once in a while an album comes along that can alter your thinking about guitar music - Steve Baughman's Farewell to Orkney is one of those... A must for all lovers of guitar and especially Celtic music.'
--Acoustic Guitar Magazine
'A star of fingerstyle guitar: very deft, thoughtful, quietly adventurous, deeply lyrical and playful.'
--Radio National, Australia
'Steve's artistry and musicality are world-class, with dynamics, timing and interpretation that always bring out the emotional essence of the song.'
--Sing Out Magazine
'...technical innovation, virtuosity, and intensity.'
--Acoustic Guitar Magazine
'Incredible virtuosity ... showcases the quiet beauty of the open-tuned acoustic guitar.'
--Marin Independent Journal (Too bad it's not the Washington Post. But I'll take it.)
His album Farewell to Orkney was listed as one of the 'Best Albums of 2013' by Acoustic Guitar Magazine.
And then there's the accolade Steve can't quite take seriously. He is on the Digital Dream Door list of the 100 best fingerstyle guitar players of all time, which includes dead ones. 'I used to put this in my press materials. But then I figured it was just the lone opinion of some dude/gal somewhere in cyberspace. Anyone can make a list. Besides, how many fingerstyle guitar players can there be anyway? It must be hard not to make the top 100. I suspect the 81-100 slots are all made up names. As long as you did a guitar CD you're top 80. I think I was 77. Maybe I'll be deleted from the list now that I've said all this. But I appreciate the passion of whomever compiled it. Thanks for including me, and it impressed my mother. Maybe it won't now.'
In Celtic Guitar Solos, Tunes & Techniques, Steve shares the open tunings and fingerstyle approaches behind that sound, so you can play it for yourself.
