Sligo Creek (12-string/DADGAD)

[iaingbrennan]

Also completely bored with playing 12-string guitar in standard tuning, come to that!

[iaingbrennan]

Great rendition of this song, as usual, played perfectly, yourself, and other 12-stringers on YouTube, have of late, been a heavy influence on me tuning down a few half-steps from whatever tuning I'm in, to achieve a whole different sound on my 12-string guitars, -would never have roughy of doing it otherwise, thanks.

[cosiema]

Have you done both dadgad and regular string tuning to play this song? if so, which one do you find easier?

[dadgadjohn]

@cosiema - I did try doing this in standard tuning with a cut capo across the G, D & A strings at the second fret. I'm used to this fingering, so it felt rather awkward for me, but I think it could be done.

I don't know if it could be done in standard tuning without the cut capo. If it could, I imagine it might lose something in the process. Excellent question.

[cosiema]

@dadgadjohn I suppose that since it was composed for dadgad, then it probably would not be possible/the same in normal tuning. Great job on the song btw, its one of my favorites. :)

[xusen008]

nice playing. You will probably need a nice mic to match up with the high class of Lowden and your playing:-)

[dadgadjohn]

@xusen008 Actually, I have one now.

[guitarguru1992]

I just posted a tab on ultimate-guitar of this song

[JoeJurius]

Very, very nice! I really enjoyed this and am encouraged to learn it also. Thanks for posting the video.

[eimead]

here man, i feel guilty even attempting to correct you, but I think u are taking a slightly too severe bend on the 3rd fret bend... i think you are turning a minor bend into a major... i hope my comment is helpful... u rock!

[dadgadjohn]

@eimead

Because of the double strings, as well as my lowered tuning, the bend went out of tune. Al Petteway suggested that instead of the bend, that I slide the note up and back down. That isn't perfect either, but I think that for the 12-string guitar it is a better solution.

Thank you for listening, and for your input.

[eimead]

i hear that... my cousin actually plays 12 string, but snips the 2nd string on the G... it sounds pretty good...great vid again man.

[boosting11]

@eimead yer the missing 2nd string on the G is a john butler thing sounds great aye

[stevet380]

Well played.5***

[Nicnak7]

where did you get the sheet music for this? or did you learn it by ear? I've been looking all over and can't seem to find any.

[dadgadjohn]

I learned this by ear. The tune was written by Al Petteway and appears on his cd "Caledon Wood" on Maggie's Music record label.

There is a book of music & tab of the entire cd available. The tune is also on an instructional DVD from Homespun Tapes called "Celtic Instrumentals for Fingerstyle Guitar."

[Drewboy64]

Great song. You kind of look like van gogh

[dadgadjohn]

Perhaps. But I do not paint, and I am reasonably certain that I do not suffer from mental illness.

[annicho8]

amazing

[gourmand62]

This is one of my favorites too. You do it justice.

[dadgadjohn]

Thank you.

It was a fun tune to learn, and nobody seems to do it on the 12-string.

[shohom67]

This is so awesome! I heard the song for the first time in Ken Burns Nat'l Park series playing on PBS. Wow! Thanks

[dadgadjohn]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

Stay tuned, more to come.

[Suprkit]

This reminds me of the new documentary "Our National Parks:America's Best Idea" by Ken Burns. You play very well. Thank you for uploading this beautiful song.

[kschom]

pretty sure this is the same song for the "theme" of that series

[KMO325]

You are correct

[kiltedrebel]

Beautiful song, beautiful sound and beautifully played. I've been toying around with DADGAD for a little while, so I might give this a whirl!

[javovai]

Awesome!

I also play with DADGAD tunning with a 12 string guitar, and its just beautiful..

but i've always get bad results with bendings (that's why i don't use them jajaja )

... and i'm kind of hearing the same sounds on your song...

Well, that's all..

¡Saludos desde Chile!

[niaboktdruk]

Sligo Creek on a 12-string guitar? AWESOME!

[oldloafandyoung]

Beautiful man, I just bought a Takamine and am finding the sounds coming from it amazing havnt put it down in weeks. You play amazingly and inspire me, FANTASTIC

[dadgadjohn]

Thank you for the nice comment. Good luck with the new Tak. Enjoy it.

[thegroovemonster]

Wow, excellent cover and what a beautiful guitar! Did you go to George and half that custom built? I've just posted a video of this - I'm playing on a Lowden F32 C East Indian Rosewood/Sitka Spruce, which I haven't put down since I bought! Check it out if you like, and keep up the good work! All the best, Jeremy.

[dadgadjohn]

This guitar almost didn't happen. It was being built during the falling out, as it were between George Lowden and the company now known as Avalon.

I bought all three of my Lowdens during a time when I was teaching at a store that had a relationship with Lowden Guitars. The owner of the store gave me a good price on the guitars, which is the only way that I could have ever afforded them.

Thank you for watching.

[metalburger2]

an absolutely beautiful song! never heard of it before but I really like it now haha

[JenniferMylod]

Sweet Johnny boy... always a pleasure to listen to... i never get tired of that tune from you...

[Cj12sings]

Thanks, I found the book!!!

[Cj12sings]

I agree this is a wonderful sound, well played....do you have tab for this.... or is it offered commercially somewhere??

best regards

[dadgadjohn]

The tune is on Al Petteway's cd "Caledon Wood" which is on his website "alandamy [dot] com" (cannot put live links in comments).

I believe there is a book that goes along with that cd. I learned it by slowing down the cd using computer software.

Thank you for the nice comment.

[BenEzraSoundProject]

This is truly superb! This is how a 12-string is meant to be played, if you ask me. How many steps are you tuned down here? What gauge strings do you use? I haven't settled on a setup I really like on my 12 yet.

[dadgadjohn]

I am tuned down 3 half steps (D = B).

I use a medium 6-string set (.013-.056) for the primary strings and the first four strings from a light (.012-.054) or extra-light (.010-.047) set for the octaves.

So currently my set goes:

13/13, 17/17, 10/26w, 14/35, 23w/45, 30/56

That wound octave string on the 5th pair is important, as it really gives a nice warm tone,

Thank you for the nice comment. Always appreciated.

[AnchoriteProductions]

Well done! Do you tune down to save the neck on your 12-string? Or, do you use heavier gauge string since you tune down? -Derek

[dadgadjohn]

Thank you.

Tuning down is something that I have always done. Back then, people probably did it to save the neck but now, it just sounds right to me.

My set-up actually puts about the same amount of tension on the neck as a regular 12-string set tuned to pitch.

[MattRenoufAcoustic]

Man.. you sure do like you're Lowden 12 strings. Do you actually own all of those guitars? I play an F23c.. they really are fantastic guitars.

[dadgadjohn]

Yes, I own all 3 of the Lowdens in the videos, as well as a Taylor 555 and a Lakewood nylon string. That's a LOT of strings to change. ; )

And yes, the Lowdens are superb guitars.