HyperRust: Neil's Alternate Tunings

Neil's Alternate Tunings
compiled by Malc Brookes (malc@malbro.demon.co.uk)

On the rusted-guitars list there's been a lot of discussion about Neil's songs using alternate tunings. I volunteered to collect all of the submissions, to make them available to the Rustie musicians. As with the Chord and Tab Archive, I'm sure more will be discovered as people delve further into Neil's vast catalogue. And as with the tab archive, it's been through the same verification process on rusted-guitars. Please send corrections or additions to rusted-guitars or to me. Regards, Malc (malc@malbro.demon.co.uk)

Index of Tunings listed below:

DGCFAD . . . aka, "Dropped Standard"

Like standard tuning (EADGBE), but with each string tuned down a tone/step.

DGCFAA

Like "Dropped Standard" (DGCFAD above) but with 1st string tuned to the 2nd.

DADGBE . . . aka, "Dropped D"

Standard tuning (EADGBE) except 6th string is tuned down a tone/step.

DADGBD. . . aka, "Double Dropped D" or "Neil Young D Modal"

Standard tuning (EADGBE) except 1st & 6th strings are tuned down a tone/step.

Note: Neil has referred to DADGBD as "D Modal" in interviews, though that term is non-standard for this tuning. However many people have subsequently picked up the term, and know this tuning by that name.

CGCFAD

Combination of "Dropped Standard" (DGCFAD) and "Dropped D" (DADGBE).
All strings are tuned down a tone, then the 6th is tuned down another tone.

CGCFAC

Combination of "Dropped Standard" (DGCFAD) and "Double Dropped D" (DADGBD).
All strings are tuned down a tone, the 1st and 6th are tuned down another tone.

BbFBbEbGBb

Like "Double Dropped-D" (DADGBD), but with all strings tuned down 2 full tones/steps.

In the charts below, if there is a tuning entered in the "Original Tuning" column, the listed alternate is from performances where Neil has played differently than on the original recording. Neil often plays songs live in an alternate tuning when performing electric songs on an acoustic, (e.g. Rockin' In The Free World, Cowgirl In The Sand). Also in some more recent performances, Neil has adjusted the tuning to suit his current vocal range. There may be other reasons on some songs.

DGCFAD. . . aka, "Dropped Standard"
Like standard tuning, but with each string tuned down a tone/step.
Song... Album or Performance... Original Tuning
Ambulance Blues On The Beach
California Sunset Old Ways
Cowgirl In The Sand (acoustic) 4 Way Street (CSNY) EADGBE
Crime In The City Freedom
Dance Dance Dance At the Bottom Line, 1974 (unreleased)
Deep Forbidden Lake Decade
Don't Be Denied (acoustic) Solo Trans (video) EADGBE
Expecting To Fly Buffalo Springfield Again / Decade
Feel Your Love American Dream (CSNY)
The Great Divide Silver & Gold
Greensleeves At the Bottom Line, 1974 (unreleased)
Interstate Big Time single
L.A. (acoustic) (unsure of performance details) EADGBE
Last Trip To Tulsa 1999 Solo Tour EADGBE
Little Wing Hawks And Doves
Long May You Run At the Bottom Line, 1974 EADGBE
Long Walk Home [See note below!] Life
Look Out For My Love 1999 Solo Tour EADGBE
Love Is A Rose Decade
Motion Pictures On The Beach
My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) Rust Never Sleeps
Name Of Love American Dream (CSNY)
Nothing Is Perfect Archives Be Damned (i.e., unreleased)
Old Man Bridge 1998 and 1999 Solo Tour EADGBE
Old Ways Old Ways
On The Beach (acoustic) 1999 Solo Tour EADGBE
Powderfinger (acoustic) Bridge 1998 and 1999 Solo Tour EADGBE
Pushed It Over The End At the Bottom Line, 1974 (unreleased)
Railroad Town 1999 Solo Tour (unreleased)
Revolution Blues At the Bottom Line, 1974 EADGBE
Rockin' In The Free World (acoustic) Freedom
Roll Another Number (For The Road) At the Bottom Line, 1974 EADGBE
Round & Round (It Won't Be Long) Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Someday Freedom
Sugar Mountain Decade
Tell Me Why After The Goldrush
Train Of Love Sleeps With Angels
Western Hero Sleeps With Angels

Note about Long Walk Home: Neil himself does not play this song this way. However the tab in this archive is a guitar arrangement of a piano song, in which it is suggested people use Dropped Standard (DGCFAD) tuning in order to play along to the record. The song is included here for reference purposes only.

DGCFAD. . . aka, "Dropped Standard" Like standard tuning, but with each string tuned down a tone/step.
Song...	Album or Performance...	Original Tuning
Ambulance Blues	*On The Beach*
California Sunset	*Old Ways*
Cowgirl In The Sand (acoustic)	4 Way Street (CSNY)	EADGBE
Crime In The City	*Freedom*
Dance Dance Dance	At the Bottom Line, 1974 (unreleased)
Deep Forbidden Lake	*Decade*
Don't Be Denied (acoustic)	Solo Trans (video)	EADGBE
Expecting To Fly	*Buffalo Springfield Again / Decade*
Feel Your Love	American Dream (CSNY)
The Great Divide	*Silver & Gold*
Greensleeves	At the Bottom Line, 1974 (unreleased)
Interstate	Big Time single
L.A. (acoustic)	(unsure of performance details)	EADGBE
Last Trip To Tulsa	1999 Solo Tour	EADGBE
Little Wing	*Hawks And Doves*
Long May You Run	At the Bottom Line, 1974	EADGBE
Long Walk Home [See note below!]	*Life*
Look Out For My Love	1999 Solo Tour	EADGBE
Love Is A Rose	*Decade*
Motion Pictures	*On The Beach*
My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)	*Rust Never Sleeps*
Name Of Love	American Dream (CSNY)
Nothing Is Perfect	*Archives Be Damned* (i.e., unreleased)
Old Man	Bridge 1998 and 1999 Solo Tour	EADGBE
Old Ways	*Old Ways*
On The Beach (acoustic)	1999 Solo Tour	EADGBE
Powderfinger (acoustic)	Bridge 1998 and 1999 Solo Tour	EADGBE
Pushed It Over The End	At the Bottom Line, 1974 (unreleased)
Railroad Town	1999 Solo Tour (unreleased)
Revolution Blues	At the Bottom Line, 1974	EADGBE
Rockin' In The Free World (acoustic)	*Freedom*
Roll Another Number (For The Road)	At the Bottom Line, 1974	EADGBE
Round & Round (It Won't Be Long)	*Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere*
Someday	*Freedom*
Sugar Mountain	*Decade*
Tell Me Why	*After The Goldrush*
Train Of Love	*Sleeps With Angels*
Western Hero	*Sleeps With Angels*
Note about Long Walk Home: Neil himself does not play this song this way. However the tab in this archive is a guitar arrangement of a piano song, in which it is suggested people use Dropped Standard (DGCFAD) tuning in order to play along to the record. The song is included here for reference purposes only.

DGCFAA
Like "Dropped Standard" (DGCFAD above) but with 1st string tuned to the 2nd.
Song... Album or Performance... Original Tuning
Hangin' On A Limb Freedom

DGCFAA Like "Dropped Standard" (DGCFAD above) but with 1st string tuned to the 2nd.
Song...	Album or Performance...	Original Tuning
Hangin' On A Limb	*Freedom*

DADGBE . . . aka, "Dropped D"
Standard tuning except 6th string is tuned down a tone/step.
Song... Album or Performance... Original Tuning
Albuquerque Tonight's The Night
Already One Comes A Time
Daddy Went Walkin' 1999 Solo Tour (unreleased)
Give Me Strength Archives Be Damned (i.e., unreleased)
Harvest Moon Harvest Moon
Homegrown American Stars'n'Bars
New Mama Tonight's The Night
The Old Homestead Hawks And Doves
Prime Of Life Sleeps With Angels
Silver And Gold (Unreleased)
Star Of Bethlehem American Stars'n'Bars
Tonight's The Night (parts I & II) Tonight's The Night
The Ways Of Love Freedom
World On A String Unplugged
You And Me Harvest Moon

DADGBE . . . aka, "Dropped D" Standard tuning except 6th string is tuned down a tone/step.
Song...	Album or Performance...	Original Tuning
Albuquerque	*Tonight's The Night*
Already One	*Comes A Time*
Daddy Went Walkin'	1999 Solo Tour (unreleased)
Give Me Strength	*Archives Be Damned* (i.e., unreleased)
Harvest Moon	*Harvest Moon*
Homegrown	*American Stars'n'Bars*
New Mama	*Tonight's The Night*
The Old Homestead	*Hawks And Doves*
Prime Of Life	*Sleeps With Angels*
Silver And Gold	(Unreleased)
Star Of Bethlehem	*American Stars'n'Bars*
Tonight's The Night (parts I & II)	*Tonight's The Night*
The Ways Of Love	*Freedom*
World On A String	*Unplugged*
You And Me	*Harvest Moon*

DADGBD . . . aka, "Double Dropped D" or "Neil Young D Modal"
Standard tuning except 1st & 6th strings are tuned down a tone/step.
Song... Album or Performance... Original Tuning
After Berlin Berlin (video)
Captain Kennedy (capo on 3rd fret) Hawks & Doves
Cinnamon Girl Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Cortez The Killer Zuma
Dreamin' Man Harvest Moon
Fuckin' Up Ragged Glory
Goin' Back Comes A Time
Inca Queen Life
Live To Ride Archives Be Damned (i.e., unreleased)
The Loner Neil Young
Medly 4-Way Street (CSN/Y)
Mr. Soul Unplugged / Year of the Horse
Natural Beauty Harvest Moon
No More Freedom
Ohio Journey Through The Past / 4-Way Street
The Old Laughing Lady Neil Young
Ride My Llama (capo on 2nd fret) Rust Never Sleeps
War Of Man Harvest Moon
When You Dance I Can Really Love After The Goldrush

DADGBD . . . aka, "Double Dropped D" or "Neil Young D Modal" Standard tuning except 1st & 6th strings are tuned down a tone/step.
Song...	Album or Performance...	Original Tuning
After Berlin	Berlin (video)
Captain Kennedy (capo on 3rd fret)	*Hawks & Doves*
Cinnamon Girl	*Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere*
Cortez The Killer	*Zuma*
Dreamin' Man	*Harvest Moon*
Fuckin' Up	*Ragged Glory*
Goin' Back	*Comes A Time*
Inca Queen	*Life*
Live To Ride	*Archives Be Damned* (i.e., unreleased)
The Loner	*Neil Young*
Medly	4-Way Street (CSN/Y)
Mr. Soul	*Unplugged / Year of the Horse*
Natural Beauty	*Harvest Moon*
No More	*Freedom*
Ohio	*Journey Through The Past / 4-Way Street*
The Old Laughing Lady	*Neil Young*
Ride My Llama (capo on 2nd fret)	*Rust Never Sleeps*
War Of Man	*Harvest Moon*
When You Dance I Can Really Love	*After The Goldrush*

CGCFAD
A combination of "Dropped Standard" (DGCFAD above) and "Dropped D" (DADGBE). All strings are tuned down a tone/step, and then the 6th is tuned down another tone.
Song... Album or Performance... Original Tuning
Pardon My Heart Zuma
Pocahontas Unplugged

CGCFAD A combination of "Dropped Standard" (DGCFAD above) and "Dropped D" (DADGBE). All strings are tuned down a tone/step, and then the 6th is tuned down another tone.
Song...	Album or Performance...	Original Tuning
Pardon My Heart	*Zuma*
Pocahontas	*Unplugged*

CGCFAC
A combination of "Dropped Standard" (DGCFAD above) and "Double Dropped D" (DADGBD). All strings are tuned down a tone/step, and then the 1st and 6th are tuned down another tone.
Song... Album or Performance... Original Tuning
Don't Let It Bring You Down After the Goldrush / 4-Way Street

CGCFAC A combination of "Dropped Standard" (DGCFAD above) and "Double Dropped D" (DADGBD). All strings are tuned down a tone/step, and then the 1st and 6th are tuned down another tone.
Song...	Album or Performance...	Original Tuning
Don't Let It Bring You Down	*After the Goldrush / 4-Way Street*

BbFBbEbGBb
Like "Double Dropped-D" (DADGBD), but with all strings tuned down 2 full tones/steps.
Song... Album or Performance... Original Tuning
Don't Let It Bring You Down Seattle 1991 CGCFAC

BbFBbEbGBb Like "Double Dropped-D" (DADGBD), but with all strings tuned down 2 full tones/steps.
Song...	Album or Performance...	Original Tuning
Don't Let It Bring You Down	Seattle 1991	CGCFAC

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