Drop D Cajun Blues for Slide Guitar
This lesson will focus on the drop D tuning, used for slide
guitar. Cajun blues is one of my favorite forms of music.
It was derived down south in many southern states, Louisiana,
Arkansas, Tennessee, any where you can find a hillbilly playing
this very recognizable form of blues. To obtain the drop D
tuning, lower the large E string by a whole step, so it sounds
an octave lower than the D string. This will make the large
E string a D. The results is, this will produce a 5th chord,
on the largest 2 strings. The notes on the large E string and
the A string are now the same as within a D5 chord. The notes
become D and A. See the examples below.
D5 chord Drop D tuning
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :--7----------(7)------------------------------------0-
A :--5---(5)---------------------------------------------
E :---------------------------0--------------------------
Notes D A Lower E the sound of the D
string
Drop D tuning is now Large E string=D A string=A
The same as a D5 chord. This will allow you to play
5th chords on the large 2 strings. This produces a
low tone Cajun Blues sound. Many new rock, metal, and
alternative bands have adapted this tuning for a low
bottom end sound.For example the song "Heart Shaped Box"
which was written by Nirvana.
E dropped to D A tuned normally D5
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :------------------------------------------------------
A :-------------------0---------------------0------------
E :-0---------------------------------------0------------
Note
As you move up the neck, keep in mind that the chords are
tuned down on the large 2 strings. This is somewhat confusing
at first, until you can fully understand how to use this
very helpful tool, drop D tuning. I have provided some samples
below.
D5 D5
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :----------------7--------------------(7)--------------
A :-0------(0)-----5--------------(5)--------------------
E :-0--(0)-----------------------------------------------
notes:D A (same as D5 chord)D A
E5 E5
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :-------------------------------------------------(9)--
D :--------------------------------9---------------------
A :-------2---------(2)------------7--------------(7)----
E :-------2--(2)-----------------------------------------
notes E B(same as E5, or E powerchord)E B
F5 F5
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :----------------------10-----(10)---------------------
A :-3-------(3)----------8---(8)-------------------------
E :-3---(3)----------------------------------------------
notes F C (same as) F C
Remaining chords as listed in the example below
G5 A5 A#5 C5 D5(octave)
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :------------------------------------------------------
A :-5----(5)---7----(7)--8----(8)--10----(10)-12----(12)-
E :-5-(5)------7-(7)-----8-(8)-----10-(10)----12-(12)----
G D A E A# F C G D A
Chords in use as shown in the example from below
"Heart Shaped Box" By Nirvana
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :----2-------------------------------------------------
D :--2--2----3------0--0--0------------------------------
A :-0------3--3---0--0--0---0----------------------------
E :-------3------0---------------------------------------
Fundamentals of Playing in Drop D
I have designed this lesson for slide players, who are seeking
to obtain slide guitar technique in a drop D tuning. However, as
shown in the example above, you can also adapt the drop D tuning
to various other forms of music also. So, if you dont own or play
or wish to play slide guitar, why not crank up the distortion a
bit, and spend some time getting to know these chords, and having
a bit of fun. If playing them without a slide, they can be easily
fingered by using the index finger of your fret hand to barre the
2 largest strings.I used this tuning when I wrote the song "Snap"
Lets Move On.
Below is the tab I have created for you, to obtain a basic Cajun
Blues sound, using a slide.I have found the best slide to use for
control, is a steel slide or mud slide.
s s s s s s
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :--------------------7--7--7--7-5--5-------------------
G :--------------------7---7----7-5--5-------------------
D :---------------5-7------------------------------------
A :-2-3--2-3--0--------------------------3-5-----5-3-----
E :-2-3--2-3--0--------------------------3-5-----5-3-----
s s s s s s
e :----------------------10---10-8-----------------------
B :-----------------8-10-----------10--6-7-7-------------
G :----------------------------------------7-------------
D :------------------------------------------------------
A :-0-2-3--2-3--0-------------------------------5-7------
E :-0-2-3--2-3--0-------------------------------5-7------
s s s s
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :------------------------------------------------------
A :-5-7-6----5----0-2-3--2-3--0--------------------------
E :-5-7-6----5----0-2-3--2-3--0--------------------------
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