Stefan Grossman & Tom Feldmann Talk About The Open G (Spanish) Tuning

The Open G Tuning has been part of the fingerstyle repertoire since 1830. In this 55 minute show, Stefan Grossman and Tom Feldmann discuss how this tuning evolved and was used in Parlor Music, folk tunes, Hawaiian Melodies and Country Blues. Stefan and Tom perform a variety of instrumentals. For further information about Stefan and Tom check out www.guitarvideos.com. Enjoy!
Here's the track listing:
Spanish Fandango (3/4 Time): Intro
Spanish Fandango (4/4 Time): 7:29-9:05
Frankie: 10:45-11:56
Poor Boy Long Way From Home: 13:46-17:34
C.C. Rider: 18:21-19:48
Blues in G a la Son House: 21:22-23:34
Banty Rooster: 25:02-26:45
Delta Duet: 27:58-30:16
Special Rider Blues: 32:56-37:29
Terraplane Blues: 39:24-41:29
Just a Closer Walk with Thee: 45:25-49:17
Duet: 51:09-54:13
www.guitarvide...

[@richardpels9660]

Wonderful tour of Open G. That last tune, "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", I had the privilege of using Stefan's arrangement in a Pepsi commercial I wrote. My art director knew I wanted to meet Stefan, since I was a guitar hack who loved his work, and suggested we get him into a studio instead of just doing a needle drop. The studio owner/engineer had toured with the Rolling Stones on keyboards but wasn't familiar with Stefan's playing or his vast musicological contributions to the blues, or the fact that he had played with David Bowie in England. He said, "You never know what these guys who play folk and blues can do, whether they can even keep time." We weren't worried. Stefan got into the sound booth with his guitar (tuned in Gm I believe!) and said what do you want me to do with the song?" We said, "Could you do what you did on the record?" He said, "Sure, but why didn't you just use the record." My art director said, "My writer wanted to meet you." Stefan rolled with it and gave us a few variations, the engineer was impressed with his precision, we had a nice chat afterwards. Stefan was about the nicest person in the world and said, "How'd you find that recording? It's pretty obscure." I said, while we were shooting the director (Joe Pitka) said to me, I need to hear some music while we're shooting, what you want to put behind this. Can you get me something for tomorrow?" I went to Tower Records on Sunset and bought a whole bunch of Stefan Grossman CD's knowing the sound was in there somewhere. The next morning Pitka, who doesn't like to be disappointed, said "Well?" I played him the tune, he smiled and said "Perfect". And it was. Stefan said, "You know, my dad told me, 'Stefan, you did one other commercial for a bank, and the bank went out of business'." We said we didn't think Pepsi had anything to worry about. Thanks again Stefan for sharing that wonderful performance with us. And thanks Tom, I'm a big fan of yours as well! vimeo.com/manage/videos/122000295?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=4428049

[@kcardwell105]

Amazing. I know there's a lot that's wrong with the world today, but the fact that I can watch this and learn for free... When I was growing up in rural TN you just couldn't find stuff like this. Thanks

[@dariusdribbles.3981]

Right! I grew up in Carroll Co. Wbu?

[@kcardwell105]

@@dariusdribbles.3981 Lebanon

[@bluto212]

I'm from the future an I'm laughing at you.

[@MrGandharva108]

Spanish Fandango...1833....played in 4/4. What a revelation ! Important part of musical history. Thank you Tom and Stefan.

[@danbrooklin]

It's so great to see the talented, young Tom Feldmann pick up the torch and continue to promote this wonderful musical tradition. Thank you Stefan for all you do, and for finding this guy.

[@panatronicfreud6484]

I love these roots guitar talks. Keep posting them, please!

[@peanutpeanut123]

this is a really good vid. Getting back into some open tunings, it's cool to hear Stefan talk about the originators of the style.

[@78tag]

This is what YT was intended for. Excellent work guys. The duets were particularly enjoyable. Thanks

[@MisterNiles]

I talk guitar before I had a brain injury. I’m just no good at it anymore and I’m currently learning the guitar. I always started my new students in either DADGAD Or open G. Eventually, I switched to DADDAD because it was even more ambiguous. It was always so exciting for new students to be able to make some thing that sounded like music immediately. And of course it is music. there’s like instant success to encourage a student to dig deeper

[@Crashoverall]

this is a gem. thanks a lot for this video!!

[@TheLogankelley]

i return to this video every year or so - one of my favorites!

[@wheninroamful]

Only got a week left of 2022, so im commenting on here so maybe you'll see it and get your yearly watch in if you haven't yet this year. And to play guitar during the holidays, if you do such a thing! :)

[@adrianmartin5780]

Thanks to you both,this is very therapeutic,insightful,relaxing,I start my day now listening to your renderings,bless you.

[@NickHarrisMouldingman]

Thank you Stefan I have your Country Blues Guitar Book & it has totally inspired me !!

[@brianmcguire9872]

You guys are awesome!

[@rhllnm]

Nice to come upon this video. Learned alot from a Stefan Grossman book about 35 years ago. Great book: open G, open D, dropped D, standard tuning. Gave me a great start.

[@MeanLittlePoodles]

Very nice! Thanks for making this available!

[@Andrelix67]

Thank you kindly for responding to my question! Keep up the great work!!!

[@lemonderangello]

the upmost courtesy of these gentlemen to lecture each other just for our sake.

[@crisscorreag]

Gotta love Bukka White. Keep making these guitar talks, it's great to hear a little bit of history about this.

[@redson425]

Late to the party but really nice video boys. Enjoyed the banter, smiled when Stefan just had to talk about Rev Gary Davis even if he never played open G. Couldn't help himself (smiling! I watched a lot of Stefan's videos back in the day) Enjoyed Tom playing Terraplane blues, hadn't heard that for 20 years and I had to grab my guitar and jump back in and play it again. Sweet playing Tom.

[@rwpresley]

I feel so lucky to see this.

[@catboneguitar]

Tom guitar has a lovely tone. Fantastic history lesson. Love it!

[@robthompson964]

Wow ! Thanks Stefan & Tom. I think I learnt more about music from this video than any other enquiry. So good!!! :)

[@borderlord]

What a Great way to spend an hour!

[@terrypack7537]

Jeeez !!! I just love this music you all are playing!!!

[@dantonharris4101]

Stefan you are great! I listened to your song "Blues for the Man" on the 2000 Mel Bay album and it was terrific! I am a guitar student at Indiana State University studying under Brent McPike and I can't wait to work on some of this stuff! Thanks :) Danton

[@johndurning6609]

For myself the “0ld Guy’s” for me and anything by Stefan will do me he has a lot to offer as here !! Thank you again.

[@Andrelix67]

This is fantastic!!!

[@marciaewell2661]

What an education on history of how blues music came about

[@TonyBoy22657]

Thank you for sharing this amazing cache of knowledge and playing.

[@ledhendrix]

lovely stuff, made my day.

[@reddustdiecastmodelrail1499]

Great stuff ! Thanks for sharing ! Martin

[@btlnckr]

I learned from Steve James' version but you guys really presented some great stuff here...thanks again.

[@MrWeecha1]

2 maestro's @ work --- pure class .

[@pamda58]

fabulous video! thnx 4 showing all these 'tricks'. Very inspiring

[@tylerhouston9746]

“Why not teach kids to play guitar like this from the get go.” I actually learned this way and still play open g daily. Im planning on teaching my kids this way too. it builds confidence and makes standard tuning easy to learn because you’ve already built coordination by the time you get ready to learn it. In short, pretty solid advice in my perspective.

[@JustVinnyBlues]

Really great discussion. I'm a firm believer in the influence of the banjo on early Delta Blues. At the turn of the century the primary roots instruments were fiddle, mandolin and banjo, and the banjo is an African instrument. Papa Charlie Jackson was an important early blues man and played mostly a six string banjo. There is a great deal in common between the old time claw hammer banjo style and the early Delta percussive playing style and of course Open G on the guitar is the same tuning. It would have been an easy migration. The Hawaiian Guitar too was essential to the development of the guitar market, because until that craze there were not any affordable guitars around. But it is a logical step from playing claw hammer banjo to playing Delta style with a slide on a guitar tuned in Open G. I also agree it is crazy not to teach kids how to play in these open tunings because the whole idea is to make music and to have fun doing it. The standard tuning thing is really something that was promoted when guitars got popular and music stores wanted to capitalize making people think they had to pay for years of lessons.

[@fraserwing8744]

That's some fantastic insight you shared.

[@thomaslthomas1506]

I agree I have a disease like ms. When I switched to open tuning about 5 years it made all the difference in the world for me.

[@JustVinnyBlues]

@@thomaslthomas1506 Yes, there are some amazingly low impact things you can do in open tunings that sound amazing. And I advise picking up a slide too if you have those kinds of problems.

[@StevenKHarrison]

A friend gave me a dobro yesterday! I think open G is where I'm going next.!

[@jusachipa]

Be careful! I tuned to Open G a couple days ago. ZERO productivity since, but it sure is a lot of fun. ;-)

[@GuitarWithJamie]

Be good to that friend of yours.

[@longjaw1]

Great video!

[@mississippibluestravellers5440]

Great video. I'm off to try some of these techniques.

[@rldickie]

I thought I invented G minor tuning myself. I came up with it on my own while trying desperately to arrange Randy Newman's Burn Down the Cornfield for solo guitar. I should have known nothing is new under the sun.

[@edwardgwozdz3039]

That right thumb brother. Damn.

[@johnlandis2552]

there's also an old video clip of Bukka White:. a really cool Bonus! Thanks for the upload

[@williamlukesinclair1315]

frankie by john hurt was sped up so that it would fit an those old records that may account for the strange key change

[@NUJAKKCITIE]

please can you do the same about vestapol tuning?! thx so much for all of your great work! greetings from good ol' europe!!

[@bernablues]

Great!!!!

[@juicylucy5797]

I must have died and gone to guitar heaven.

[@nudge2626]

Wasn't it the British vs the Russians in the Crimean war. But great video, loved the performances. Curious if Tom made the slide himself or if he purchased it from somewhere? Thanks

[@mikewilliams258]

Hate to be picky but it was the British, French, Turks and Piedmontese against the Russians. :-)

[@johncoulson2041]

See also Hawaiian Two Step by John Fahey

[@btlnckr]

I noticed that Tom's guitar sounds like a resophonic while playing the single line melody on the E or D as it were... Tom's guitar is a Franklin correct? BTW your new signature sounds awesome! I got to see Rory a couple years ago & her's is incredible as well. Thanks Guys!

[@joshshuffman]

Tom's 4/4 version of Spanish Fandango sounds like Charley Patton's "I shall not be moved."

[@eliyag1]

Spanish Fandango in 4/4 sounds a lot like Poor Boy.

[@eliyag1]

And then they show Bukkah White playing it.

[@pelumaad331]

I've GOT to get me a 12 fret-parlor guitar! Suddenly 14 frets just seem so unnecessary.

[@nameleven]

Pelu Maad get a wee Gretsch Jim Dandy.. you won’t regret it

[@pelumaad331]

@@nameleven ....I bought a Washburn parlor...looks cool as hell....has a nice plunky 12 fret parlor tone.....but the tuners suck...

[@GuitarWithJamie]

Unless you slide with your pinky you may regret it.

[@christaylor2070]

never knew Leadbelly played CC Rider in open tuning with a slide?

[@nicksonthevet]

Sadly I can't download this!!!!!! Why don't they let us download!???

[@hughcameron]

OMG I can't believe I am correcting Stephan Grossman - 43.10, the Turks and the British were allies not opponents in the Crimean War. Regarding the guitar, he is OK!

[@646oleg]

He meant to say British ,Ottoman and France against Russian empire, but at the public school level, American education system has been failing students on 19th century European history . They say it's too Eurocentric and racist

[@eddielee6490]

What can I say but , Great ?

[@neilsthepoet]

Mary Mary Where are you now

[@Andrelix67]

What kind/brand of guitar is Tom Feldman playing?

[@PlayCountryBlues]

flammangguitars.com/guitars/el-acoustic-guitar. It's a N35-H, a variation of his EL guitars,

[@tangobayus]

I can see why Keith Richards takes off the 6th string. I think the open tunings that use the 6th string make better use of the range. DADGAD, for instance, gives you 3 fundamentals and 2 5ths.

[@Williamgarity]

Hawaiian's call Open G the Taro Patch Tuning.

[@mellowgary156]

I think that slack key guitar may have been influenced by parlor guitar

[@fiddlingf]

Tom, who makes that beautiful 12 fret you are playing?

[@btm240]

i believe it's a "Franklin"

[@dabeaudoin78]

it is a david flammang

[@OthersOrSomething]

know what'd be cool? if there were a pedal that could change your guitar tuning. like he's playing in open A maj, but you could have that pedal change wirelessly trigger a signal in the tuning knob to wind the C# string down a semitone to C so he'd be playing in open A min, or he could take 1 or both of the A strings and wind them down whole steps to give the open chord a A dominant 7 sound when the song calls for it. YOU COULD DO SO MANY DIFFERENT TUNINGS ON THE FLY THAT YOU'D NEVER HAVE TO STOP PLAYING THE SONG CAUSE YOU COULD ALWAYS SWITCH TO A NEW KEY WITH EASE WHENEVER THE ONE YOU'RE PLAYING IN GETS STALE. sears and roebuck I want you to advertise that pedal to me in one of your catalogs so I might order as we travel westward with the music and the money.

[@OthersOrSomething]

whaaat for real? I was looking on music123 and musiciansfriend and couldn't find any. any recommendations???

[@jwsadler]

+Nick Stephens Try one of these: jacksonsteelguitar.com/guitars/ Once you can change tuning with a pedal, you can do other cool things by changing from one tuning to another on the fly. It's called (not surprisingly) a Pedal Steel Guitar :-)

[@tunatwo]

+Nick Stephens look up "Gibson Robot"...

[@buddybusker3483]

why do u think kottke went on stage with 3 12 string and one 6 string in the early years! to avoid retuning all the time!

[@j.miguel6193]

Love in vain r johnson is in open G

[@vincent5542]

I dont need netflix.... this is much better!!!

[@Mamlishways]

I feel like I heard frank Hutchison play the Spanish fandango.

[@jackrainbow560]

try DAISY DAISY, GIVE ME YOUR ANSWER DO and a million other toons that have identical passages

[@lordofthemound3890]

It’s not to far a stretch to wanna grab a bottleneck to play those high notes in Spanish Fandango.

[@saborfrancias]

This sounds alot to Santiago de Murcia and Joropo

[@btlnckr]

Maybe it sounds like a reso because that's what I usually play it on...Ear memory I guess

[@adrianschneider109]

What's up, yo? I like it snotty surprise What do you think, guys? !!!

[@philipbunney9445]

Stefan ‘This is in open G tuning’ Keith Richards ‘hold my glass’

[@tslambert1973]

Can someone tell me what the tune playin over the beginning credits is please

[@PeterWasted]

+Tim Lambert Vestapol

[@ryanj6862]

Shore, shore, shore, shore

[@jcalkins0]

Is that a D-45.?

[@LionBronstein]

Jim Calkins No; it's an OM model. Orchestra Model. The OM stands for the opverall shape of the guitar---rounded shoulders and hips. This is probably an OM-21. The 21 or 45 stands for the level of decorations and the type of wood used. A "D" shaped guitar would be bigger, with squared-off shoulders. D-18 is simple or no decoration, with a mahogany back. D-28 is the same size, with rosewood back. The D-45 was the top of the line in the D shape guitars, with abalone inlay around the body, the soundhole, and the headstock inlay. The D-45 had mother of pearl hexagon fingerboard inlays. This guitar has "snoflake" inlays on the fingerboard. It has abalone inlay--but only around the sound hole. The headstock inlay on this guitar is just like the inlay on the D-45. Confusing?

[@GuyNarnarian]

Awesome but would have been easier to follow if you guys both just stayed tuned in G. Maybe I should just buy a capo

[@ReyBanYAHUAH]

Always remember we must repent of our sins (sin is transgression The Law Of Yahuah The Father in Heaven. The Law are The Books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy). We must repent of our sins and Have Belief On Yahusha The Messiah. HE Died and Rose three days later so that we can be forgiven of our sins! Come to HIM🙂🙂🙂

[@4acresmike]

Stefan talks relentlessly, I would hate to see him drunk

[@supragraf]

If you’ve seen him, you’ve seen him drunk

[@davidspedding8349]

sounds v nice but its cheating really

[@craigcrabfoot319]

I'd find this more interesting if it didn't involve so much molesting the fingerboard of nice guitars with pieces of glass and toilet fixtures ...

[@herborian]

Do you have trouble playing the slide?

[@GuitarWithJamie]

brainworker Don’t mind him. He’s programmed to be crabby.

[@petergraham4744]

too slow

[@brauliocavalcanti3703]

What happened to all that head of hair Stefan head? Wig? Oh, crap!

[@edithofr.i.emeraldisle5042]

the know it all on the left makes this "interview" unbearable

[@78tag]

I think you missed the point.

[@ronald530]

Drop that klunky low E string….it’s useless