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RE: the movie | from Alex NiedtNov 03 2003 - 21:41

Over the last year or so, I pretty much wrote everything in open tunings. Recently, I've started writing in standard tuning again, and I've found I use it much more creatively than I used to. I think distancing yourself from one method or another can be a major key in creativity.

RE: the movie | from Keith Nov 03 2003 - 21:05

Great article. I learned just the opposite. I grew up with guitars, and then found the piano, and that has become my "exotic" instrument, and my most favorite. There's something to be said for not being formally trained at something. It seems to me , more often than not, creativity and experimentation take a back seat to technique, and if you're not aware of it, it'll trap you.

Recently I've tried detuning the whole guitar (out of love for the tenor guitars I've been hearing on the Innocence Mission albums) down to a low C. Not exactly healthy, but just changing that one thing, even in a standard tuning, has given new life and perspective to writing.

RE: the movie | from brianNov 03 2003 - 20:02

here's the article from

RE: the movie | from Alex NiedtNov 03 2003 - 00:06

Check out www.tenorguitar.com. It's pretty informative and interesting.

RE: the movie | from ronOct 27 2003 - 20:15

well, it's possible, apparently. i just got around to reading the liner notes and noticed it.

RE: the movie | from nopeOct 27 2003 - 00:46

nope

RE: the movie | from the original nopeOct 26 2003 - 11:36

i didn't think it was possible for someone to be a fan of idaho and NOT know that they use 4-string guitars.

RE: the movie | from ronOct 25 2003 - 07:34

sorry for the double post. a little rainman in me.

RE: the movie | from ronOct 25 2003 - 07:33

so they can be guilds, fenders, gibsons, whatever? huh. that's pretty cool.

RE: the movie | from ronOct 25 2003 - 07:18

so they can be guilds, fenders, gibsons, whatever? pretty cool. thanks for the info.

RE: the movie | from brianOct 24 2003 - 21:24

here's a

RE: the movie | from brianOct 24 2003 - 21:08

ron, here's a link to Brent's site that features all the tunings to all the songs (to that point) that has pieces of articles from CMJ & AP that talks about the 4 string guitars, with a few photos.

RE: the movie | from AlexOct 24 2003 - 18:38

Brian could lead you to a site about them with a bunch of pictures. He's posted it quite a few times throughout the other threads about custom-made 4-string guitars.

RE: the movie | from Seth HowardOct 24 2003 - 17:32

It's not a bass. Jeff plays custom-built 4 string guitars in tunings he's devised over the years. They are not tuned in 4ths like a bass. Whoever plays second guitar with him live also plays these on some songs. When they toured for Levitate, John Berry switched between 4 string guitar and bass. The drummer even grabbed a 4 string guitar for "Orange".

The "pictures" section has a few live shots that will give you a better idea of what they look like.

4 string guitars are really nothing new. If you search for "tenor guitar" on eBay, you can see what I mean. Electric tenor guitars are pretty rare though, and the tunings Jeff and co use are a big part of the sound.

the movie | from ronOct 24 2003 - 17:01

i'm sure you guys have watched the IDAHO movie on this website. is it me, or does jeff look like he's playing a 4 string guitar, but it's not a bass??? i read the liner notes in one of the records that said "4 string guitar," but i thought it was just a funny inside-joke-kind-of-way to say "bass guitar." can someone throw me a bone here??? maybe the man himself???

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