"The irony of such horrendous bloodshed giving rise to such an upbeat tune"
+1
Carthy didn't fail to mention the incredible contrast between such a joyful composition and the terrifying episode of massacre related to it. That contrast is adding a somewhat sinister feeling in the background adding new meaning.
But he does play stuff in normal tunings as well doesn't he? I've tried the open tunings a few times but it's a complete nightmare. My guitars just hate it and go completely out of tune.
@Blacksquareable Martin uses Heavy Gauge strings for this tuning - which you shouldn't tune up to Standard (unless you really despise your guitar neck and want to destroy it). I play with Medium Gauge and they're OK going down to this tuning, but if you're using ordinary Light Gauge you'll have tuning problems and they'll flop everywhere.
could one of you fine gentlemen or ladies please clear this up for me and tell me what tuning is actually being used? I'm just getting more and more confused... Brilliant tune!
Thanks for posting this. And thanks to Martin for his generosity - sharing tuning and details of one of his signature tunes ... The irony of such horrendous bloodshed giving rise to such an upbeat tune ...
The one downside is that this video doesn't capture the amazing resonance of Carthy's open tunings. I heard him once at the Library of Congress' Coollidge Auditorium and the walls, the seats, the whole room was vibrating! It was like being INSIDE the guitar.
Dunno about the tuning, etc, as I don't play well enough for it to matter, BUT, this is one of my very favourite tunes. I just love the way it swaggers along.
Great tune played by a true master of the guitar. And it is definitely in CGCDGA - I learnt this from the video and it does work - honestly!
A tip for blahblahblah85 - if you wish to use this tuning then you need another guitar, put heavy gauge strings on it and don't use the guitar for any other tuning - it's the only way, believe me!
I agree, you'd have to use a custom set of strings pretty much. A B-string on the first and so on. You'd probably break the guitar if you tuned that set to normal.
i tried 2 tune my guitar 2 cgcdga like he said but i broke 2 e strings. bang!! Any sugestions? At least he always inspires me 2 try new stuff,,good-on-ya Martin :)
Definitely strange. I agree the bottom string is G but when he plays the strings at the very beginning to outline what they are it's the tuning he says, but then all of a sudden the bottom string changes to G? Did he retune that string in that split second? :)
He's not tuning the 1st string to the A note higher than the high E string (5th fret). It is the A-note as in the G-string, 2nd fret.
His tuning is based on DADEAD but with the high D lowered to B, giving him DADEAB. He then lowers the whole tuning a step, giving him CGCDGA. He has tuned that way for many years.
Wait... were you tuning the E strings UP? The 6th is tuned DOWN to C and the 1st is tuned down to A. You'd pretty much have to use a B string on the first because a high E won't tune that low. But yeah, it's the A you get on the second fret of the G string, not the 5th fret of the high E.
I thought this was a lesson? Nice music but I didn't really learn anything... Also why doesn't he say any notes or what chords he's playing OR EVEN TELL US WHAT SCALE THAT WAS AT THE BEGINNING...man...
Well true he doesn't break it down note by note, but near the end where he plays it section by section you can see the fingerpicking structure for the right hand and also follow along with what he's playing on the left as well since it's zoomed in.
It's worth looking for the version he recorded on his album "Because it is There" which has a nifty drum part. And there is tab for this on an instructional DVD he Recorded some years back.
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"The irony of such horrendous bloodshed giving rise to such an upbeat tune"
+1
Carthy didn't fail to mention the incredible contrast between such a joyful composition and the terrifying episode of massacre related to it. That contrast is adding a somewhat sinister feeling in the background adding new meaning.
As always great Martin Carthy.
SquigglyJ0e 3 weeks ago in playlist Favorite videos 8
But he does play stuff in normal tunings as well doesn't he? I've tried the open tunings a few times but it's a complete nightmare. My guitars just hate it and go completely out of tune.
Blacksquareable 9 months ago
@Blacksquareable Martin uses Heavy Gauge strings for this tuning - which you shouldn't tune up to Standard (unless you really despise your guitar neck and want to destroy it). I play with Medium Gauge and they're OK going down to this tuning, but if you're using ordinary Light Gauge you'll have tuning problems and they'll flop everywhere.
themachinist1000 2 months ago
could one of you fine gentlemen or ladies please clear this up for me and tell me what tuning is actually being used? I'm just getting more and more confused... Brilliant tune!
revolverator 10 months ago
@revolverator Tuning is (low -> high) CGCDGA.
ralphd35 9 months ago
Great to hear this from Martin. More would be great.
viking1au 1 year ago
Thanks for posting this. And thanks to Martin for his generosity - sharing tuning and details of one of his signature tunes ... The irony of such horrendous bloodshed giving rise to such an upbeat tune ...
fallingstarre 1 year ago
The one downside is that this video doesn't capture the amazing resonance of Carthy's open tunings. I heard him once at the Library of Congress' Coollidge Auditorium and the walls, the seats, the whole room was vibrating! It was like being INSIDE the guitar.
SueEGenaris 1 year ago 2
Martin, nice job! And good on you for telling the truth about the Siege...no sugar-coating John Bull's bloody avarice.
MrTanbark 1 year ago
Nice song! Might try and learn it now...
fassaalbrecht 2 years ago
Dunno about the tuning, etc, as I don't play well enough for it to matter, BUT, this is one of my very favourite tunes. I just love the way it swaggers along.
carollizc 2 years ago
I would think that Martin [MBE] knows what he's doing by now!
gmtdiato 2 years ago
I wish I had 1 % of Martins talent it would make me so much better He is a Genious
Trencomtrink 2 years ago
This is great !!!
228ANDY 2 years ago
Great tune played by a true master of the guitar. And it is definitely in CGCDGA - I learnt this from the video and it does work - honestly!
A tip for blahblahblah85 - if you wish to use this tuning then you need another guitar, put heavy gauge strings on it and don't use the guitar for any other tuning - it's the only way, believe me!
davytheravy 2 years ago
I agree, you'd have to use a custom set of strings pretty much. A B-string on the first and so on. You'd probably break the guitar if you tuned that set to normal.
eyeball226 2 years ago
i tried 2 tune my guitar 2 cgcdga like he said but i broke 2 e strings. bang!! Any sugestions? At least he always inspires me 2 try new stuff,,good-on-ya Martin :)
blahblahblah85 3 years ago
Something wrong there. the bottom string is definitely "G"
gtr1359 3 years ago
Definitely strange. I agree the bottom string is G but when he plays the strings at the very beginning to outline what they are it's the tuning he says, but then all of a sudden the bottom string changes to G? Did he retune that string in that split second? :)
mawalls2001 3 years ago
He's not tuning the 1st string to the A note higher than the high E string (5th fret). It is the A-note as in the G-string, 2nd fret.
His tuning is based on DADEAD but with the high D lowered to B, giving him DADEAB. He then lowers the whole tuning a step, giving him CGCDGA. He has tuned that way for many years.
dadgadjohn 2 years ago
Wait... were you tuning the E strings UP? The 6th is tuned DOWN to C and the 1st is tuned down to A. You'd pretty much have to use a B string on the first because a high E won't tune that low. But yeah, it's the A you get on the second fret of the G string, not the 5th fret of the high E.
eyeball226 2 years ago
My Hero.
footpig 3 years ago
I thought this was a lesson? Nice music but I didn't really learn anything... Also why doesn't he say any notes or what chords he's playing OR EVEN TELL US WHAT SCALE THAT WAS AT THE BEGINNING...man...
MrTaylorN 3 years ago
Well true he doesn't break it down note by note, but near the end where he plays it section by section you can see the fingerpicking structure for the right hand and also follow along with what he's playing on the left as well since it's zoomed in.
mawalls2001 3 years ago
One of the finest. Simply great. And a nice guy to boot.
Yeractualpatience 3 years ago
well done mate ;O)
this is the kind of things that makes me happy
greetings from italy
costa1953 3 years ago
Classic playing
BLOOOOBIRDS
Trencomtrink 3 years ago
i just learned this on the bagpipes
CapoeiraPiper 3 years ago
My god, the high 'E' on that set is more like a B string gauge.
eyeball226 3 years ago
Oh my god, ive been looking for this tab for ages
xjester 3 years ago
It's worth looking for the version he recorded on his album "Because it is There" which has a nifty drum part. And there is tab for this on an instructional DVD he Recorded some years back.
DunlapShohl 3 years ago
Wow. Marches on a guitar (in the hands of a master like Mr. Carthy) are quite amazing. Haven't heard too many like this.
empiremonkey 3 years ago
Very well done.
I really like the tune.
5+
maurieer 3 years ago