BOXWORK-Keys and Tunings

(All explanations will be in the key I’m “thinking,” ignoring any transpositions)

 

People Get Ready

I’m thinking A Major---Standard down whole step---Concert G

Bass strings A, D & E available for thumb with harmonized A major scale on 1st & 3rd strings. For the solo I just jam over I-V7 (A to E7)

Buckets of Rain

I’m thinking D Major---Drop-D down a step & a half---Concert B

Two open Ds for Travis style, droning under harmonized scales (1st & 3rd strings)

You’ll hear the occasional I7 (D7)

I’ve Got A Secret

I’m thinking E Major---Standard down a step & a half---Concert Db

Having bass notes E & A for the I & IV chords, I use the A bass for the V chord---B7/A (B dominant seventh with an A in the bass)

My Creole Belle

I’m thinking C Major & Mixolydian---Standard down a step & a half---Concert A

“Raggy” C--- Sometimes the I & IV chords are Major Seventh, sometimes Dominant Seventh---I play a few basic substitutions on the 5th time around

Sawdust Blues

I’m thinking E Mixolydian (Blues)---Standard down a step & a half---Concert Db

A finger style blues (I use a flat pick and my fingers). Just a 12 bar jam tune. I ramble around in various amounts of Minor Pentatonic, Mixolydian, throw in the b5, smush some substitutions in there…there you go…goofin’ around

You Better Move On

I’m thinking A Major---Standard down a step & a half---Concert Gb

Bass strings A, D & E available for thumb with harmonized A major scale on 1st & 3rd strings. It has a nice IV, then iv (minor).

This song was an on-the-spot type of thing. I didn’t know the bridge so I just left it out

Buckeyed Jim

I’m thinking E Major---Standard down a step & a half---Concert Db

I have open bass notes E & A for the I & IV chords. C#m, F#7, B7 need a fingered bass note

Blessed Be The Name

I’m thinking D Major---Drop-D down a step & a half---Concert B

Two open Ds for Travis style, droning under harmonized D Major scale (1st & 3rd strings)

All I Have To Do Is Dream

I’m thinking E Major---I call this “Doo-Wop E tuning,” the 4th string down a half-step to C#, then everything down a step & a half---Concert Db

This tuning has E bass for the I chord, A bass for the IV & V chords, and a C# bass note for the vi chord. This opens up possibilities for more “pop” I-vi-IV-V changes. My thumb plays the “changes” while I play the “head” and improvisation with a harmonized E Major scale on the 1st & 3rd strings

The Seven Bridges Road

I’m thinking A Major & Mixolydian---Drop D, then everything down a step & a half---Concert Gb

This is drop-D but playing in the key of A, so I have the low D for the IV chord which is prominent in this song. I have the A bass note for the I chord which I also use under the chord built on b7 (G, actually G with A in the bass)

1000 Steps

I’m thinking DMajor---Down a step & a half---Concert B

During the solo part I’m thinking a simple set of I-IV-V kind of changes, but keeping the low D drone makes them sound a little more “out.”  Then drone the A bass and play the other side (IV-V changes)

Trouble In Mind

I’m thinking E Mixolydian (Blues)---Standard down a step & a half---Concert Db

A finger style 8-bar blues (I use a flat pick and my fingers). The V7 chord (B7) sometimes ends up with A in the bass if I can’t conveniently reach a B bass note

My Old Pals

I’m thinking D Major---Drop D tuning, then everything down a step & a half---Concert B

Basic Travis picking---Octave D bass notes with harmonized D Major scale on 1st  & 3rd strings

Smiley

I’m thinking E Major---Down a step & a half---Concert Db

A 12 bar blues in E Major (Is that an oxymoron?) with an abundance of sus 4 chords. The V chord (B7) has the A bass note (sometimes I’ll play a B bassnote if it feels necessary (and I can reach it)

Good News

I’m thinking D Major---Drop D tuning, then everything down a step & a half---Concert B

Basic Travis picking---Octave D bass notes with harmonized D Major scale on 1st  & 3rd strings. The V chord (A) has the D bass note

Goodnight Irene

I’m thinking A Major---Down a step & a half---Concert Gb

A, D & E all have an open bass note . The second bar in the chorus I play II7 (B7) with an A in the bass