Steve Howe - Open tuning

[Simon B]

One for the muso's. I have posed this theory in a number of threads, but no-one wants to play!! So, decided to give it a dedicated thread.

Nine Voices is played by Steve in an *open 'E' tuning. IMHO one of his best 12 string acoustic fret bashing tunes!

I believe this to be the only time 'the gifted one' has used any open tuning on any YES album he has played on?

Am I right?

Total Mass


*(apologies to none muso's. Open tuning is were a guitar is tuned differently than the usual 'European' scale. It means that the guitar can be played very tunefully without 'fingering' as many strings as you usually would - this is the worst decription of a simple concept I've ever read!! - it also produces very nice **harmonics.)

**Harmonics are very prevelant in Steve's playing (intro to AYAI before the first true ***'plucked notes' = Harmonics). That was a better descriptor wasn't it?

***Plucked Notes...okay, shutting up!

[Dr Yes]

The Portuguese 12-string on Your Move is an open tuning in E. It's a real weird one. Lots of E's!!!

Can't remember it off the top of my head as I've always faked it on a standard 12-string (like Rabin faked it in his day).

I'll try to remember the way it's strung low-to-high.

[Dr Yes]

Here we go:

The 12-string tuning he uses on the infamous Portuguese guitar is:

"The top string's tuned to A-flat, above the guitar, and then it goes E, B, E, B, E. The first three pairs are tuned in unison - two A-flats, two Es, two Bs - then the next E is split high and low, B high and low, and the E is the same pitch as the fourth course, split high and low. So it's really without a bass end, and ends up with this lovely jangly sound."

That's from the Steve Howe Guitar Collection Book thing.

[Dr Yes]

Thinking about it....perhaps it's the same guitar on Nine Voices. (I've never seen it played live but have a feeling it possesses that same jangly sound - doesn't it?)

[Simon B]

Here we go:

The 12-string tuning he uses on the infamous Portuguese guitar is:

"The top string's tuned to A-flat, above the guitar, and then it goes E, B, E, B, E. The first three pairs are tuned in unison - two A-flats, two Es, two Bs - then the next E is split high and low, B high and low, and the E is the same pitch as the fourth course, split high and low. So it's really without a bass end, and ends up with this lovely jangly sound."

That's from the Steve Howe Guitar Collection Book thing.

Ooooo, I've gone all shivery - Steve Howe Guitar Collection Book thing?? Tell me more!!

TM

[Dr Yes]

Ooooo, I've gone all shivery - Steve Howe Guitar Collection Book thing?? Tell me more!!

TM

It's a lovely thing indeed. I think they call it a coffee table book or summit don't they? Lots of glossy pictures with fold outs of major guitars - like the ES175, Les Paul Custom and Martin 000-18 and great commentary of their use on Yes and solo albums. Basically a chronological run through of all the major instruments he's owned and ....well you get ohld of it if you can. I know you'll love it.

It says it is OOS at amazon, but it's wrth trying to source one.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0879302909/qid=1077285449/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/103-9801821-1534266?v=glance&s=books

Regards

Dave.

[Simon B]

It's a lovely thing indeed. I think they call it a coffee table book or summit don't they? Lots of glossy pictures with fold outs of major guitars - like the ES175, Les Paul Custom and Martin 000-18 and great commentary of their use on Yes and solo albums. Basically a chronological run through of all the major instruments he's owned and ....well you get ohld of it if you can. I know you'll love it.

It says it is OOS at amazon, but it's wrth trying to source one.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0879302909/qid=1077285449/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/103-9801821-1534266?v=glance&s=books

Regards

Dave.

Love this site! Getting the book! Dave gets a pint!! No 2 pints!! No make it 3, sod it let's have a party!!!

Simon

[Dr Yes]

Love this site! Getting the book! Dave gets a pint!! No 2 pints!! No make it 3, sod it let's have a party!!!

Simon

:cheers:

Uh OH....

HIC :toilet:

Dave.

[PO]

This could get a bit complicated. All of the steels are "open" tuned, for example. I assume you mean on a guitar that is typically not open tuned, such as a standard 6 or 12 string.

I'll have to listen to 9 Voices again, for sure. I don't think I've seen 9 Voices live, so I couldn't watch to see if a certain guitar was used or not.

Offhand, I would say that 9 Voices is the only Yes tune done this way.