He was a Friend of Mine

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 4:55 am

No. If my memory is correct, Stills' version of "Open E" is EVERY string is tuned to E except the B (the 5th).

chingnchime · Post by **chingnchime** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 5:46 am

Wow, how bizarre. Wonder if he used a regular set of strings...

budrocket · Post by **budrocket** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 6:43 am

It's my understanding Suite: Judy Blue Eyes is played in dropped-D tuning, i.e. both E strings are dropped a whole step, the rest of the strings are standard concert tuning.

bw

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:00 am

I’ve heard from a couple of sources that it is in Steve’s weird “Open E.” And as mentioned, I have a published version in that tuning somewhere. I will look for it this weekend and post it.
I know just because something is published doesn’t make it correct. We’ve all seen incorrect versions in “official” songbooks. But I doubt very much some publisher would go to the trouble of making up this bizarre tuning. (As a matter of fact, I have it in another book in, I think, also in normal tuning too.) Stay tuned . . .

budrocket · Post by **budrocket** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:30 am

Could be. The song is in E, & I don't remember if he's using a capo or not on the Woodstock footage.

bw

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:48 am

Found this during lunch:
Guitar Player, Jan. 1976, Stills uses modal tuning E-E-E-E-B-e for "Suite:"
http://www.4waysite.com/articles/guitarplayer76.htm

No, I don't recall a capo.

budrocket · Post by **budrocket** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:04 am

Okay, weird Bruce Palmer open E tuning it is, my bad.

What'd you think of his advice about breaking in bass guitar strings? <g>

bw

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:44 pm

Stills uses that 5 "E"s and a "B" a lot, notably on Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, 4 & 20, and Carry On. Joni Mitchell also regularly used it (I think it's on "Carey" for instance)-but then again what tuning hasn't she used! I remember reading an interview with her where she would go outside and "tune to nature" - one string to the birds, another to the wind, etc. Given the close associations personally between Mitchell and the CSN boys, I wonder who brought it first. I've never checked chronology closely on this. Any ideas?

budrocket · Post by **budrocket** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 1:17 pm

I think maybe we can credit the Cros for supplying the killer herb...I'd be tuning to the birds & the wind too <g>

bw

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:22 pm

I remember thinking, this is all a little too stereotype hippie for me. But then I went and put some Joni Mitchell music on and realized that whatever she was doing worked just fine thank you. Who knew seagulls were tuned to a C#? Only Joni.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:24 am

Yes, forgot about 4+20. Carry On? Uh, could be I guess. But I thought Stills only used the "Five Es" on acoustic.

I don't know about the "tuning to nature" part but as far as chronology goes (who came first?) Cos has always credited Joni with exposing him to the myriad uncommon tunings she used.

A few years ago there was a great Vanity Fair article about Joni. And the funny thing (for me) was her mentioning a Crayola crayon experience that was exactly like mine.

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:14 am

I haven't listened to Carry On for some time but I think the main bit was an acoustic, no?

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 11:49 am

Oh gosh, you're right, good point.
On Deja Vu he does play it on acoustic.
My brain was focusing on the live versions like Four Way Street.
And it is in E too.
Sorry.
Hhhm, Stills owns a hundred guitars. Maybe he does have some electrics in different tunings.

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 5:41 am

I saw CSN&Y live in 1969. Opening song was "Suite," and Stills -- who was the only one playing guitar -- broke a string (a lower one) about 1/4 way into the song. He retuned somehow while he kept strumming, with Crosby commenting "Can you still play it like that, man? Oh, man ... it's gonna be tough." But he did. Great show -- only about 5,000 in attendance. Those were the days you could still take a tape recorder into the shows and I have it on cassette somewhere.

chingnchime · Post by **chingnchime** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 6:30 am

Stephen Stills has never gotten his due for being one of the most brilliant ACOUSTIC guitarists out there. Completely unique style, and an incredible accompanist. A second guitar only obscures his full sounding playing style. I've recently rediscovered his first solo album STILLS. Unfortunately, he still uses that silly 80s sounding chorus effect for some reason. I think many of us realized how artificial sounding chorus is on acoustics years ago.With the right EQ and relatively fresh strings nothing else is needed- unless you're a beginner and are trying to 'augment' your ability (newbies always try shortcuts!) All IMHO, of course...