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- Neil's Tunings

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Neil's Alternate Tunings

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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 California Sunset Cowgirl In The Sand (acoustic) Crime In The City Dance Dance Dance Deep Forbidden Lake Don't Be Denied (acoustic) Expecting To Fly Feel Your Love

On The Beach Old Ways 4 Way Street (CSNY) Freedom

EADGBE

At the Bottom Line, 1974 (unreleased) Decade Solo Trans (video) EADGBE Buffalo Springfield Again / Decade American Dream (CSNY)

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HyperRust: It's All One Song! - Neil's Tunings

The Great Divide Greensleeves Hold Back The Tears Interstate L.A. (acoustic) Last Trip To Tulsa Little Wing Long May You Run Long Walk Home [See note below!] Look Out For My Love Love Is A Rose Motion Pictures My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) Name Of Love Nothing Is Perfect Old Man Old Ways On The Beach (acoustic) On The Way Home (acoustic) Powderfinger (acoustic) Pushed It Over The End Red Sun Revolution Blues Rockin' In The Free World (acoustic) Roll Another Number (For The Road) Round & Round (It Won't Be Long) Someday Southern Man Sugar Mountain Tell Me Why Train Of Love Western Hero

http://www.hyperrust.org/Music/NeilTunings.html
Silver & Gold At the Bottom Line, 1974 (unreleased) American Stars'n'Bars Big Time single (unsure of performance details) 1999 Solo Tour Hawks And Doves At the Bottom Line, 1974 Life 1999 Solo Tour Decade EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE

On The Beach Rust Never Sleeps American Dream (CSNY) Archives Be Damned (i.e., unreleased) Bridge 1998 and 1999 Solo Tour EADGBE Old Ways 1999 Solo Tour 1999 Solo Tour Bridge 1998 and 1999 Solo Tour EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE

At the Bottom Line, 1974 (unreleased) Silver & Gold At the Bottom Line, 1974 Freedom At the Bottom Line, 1974 EADGBE EADGBE

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere Freedom 1997 HORDE Tour EADGBE Decade After The Goldrush Sleeps With Angels 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

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

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HyperRust: It's All One Song! - Neil's Tunings

Already One Crime In The City Daddy Went Walkin' Give Me Strength Harvest Moon Homegrown New Mama The Old Homestead Prime Of Life Silver And Gold Star Of Bethlehem Tonight's The Night (parts I & II) The Ways Of Love World On A String You And Me Comes A Time

http://www.hyperrust.org/Music/NeilTunings.html
1989 Freedom Tour Silver & Gold Archives Be Damned (i.e., unreleased) Harvest Moon American Stars'n'Bars Tonight's The Night Hawks And Doves Sleeps With Angels Silver & Gold American Stars'n'Bars Tonight's The Night Freedom Unplugged Harvest Moon DGCFAD

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

Berlin Captain Kennedy (capo on 3rd fret) Cinnamon Girl Cortez The Killer Dreamin' Man 4-Way Street Medly Fuckin' Up Goin' Back Grandpa's Interview Inca Queen Live To Ride The Loner Mr. Soul Natural Beauty No More Ohio One Of These Days The Old Laughing Lady Ride My Llama (capo on 2nd fret) War Of Man When You Dance I Can Really Love

Berlin (video) Hawks & Doves Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere Zuma Harvest Moon 4-Way Street (CSN/Y) Ragged Glory Comes A Time Solo Europe 2003 Life Archives Be Damned (i.e., unreleased) Neil Young Unplugged / Year of the Horse Harvest Moon Freedom Journey Through The Past / 4-Way Street Harvest Moon Neil Young Rust Never Sleeps Harvest Moon 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

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HyperRust: It's All One Song! - Neil's Tunings

Pardon My Heart Pocahontas Zuma Unplugged

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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

Bandit Don't Let It Bring You Down

Dublin 2003 Seattle 1991

??? CGCFAC

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