Tuning

Songs Below

Back in 1980 the songs in my repertoire were played with at least a 100 tunings. I needed a way to keep track of them all. I decided to write them out with numbers.

Thus, so called standard tuning EADGBE, would be called 55545.

	From E-A is 5 half-steps or a perfect fourth.
	From A-D is 5 half-steps or a perfect fourth.
	From D-G is 5 half-steps or a perfect fourth.
	From G-B is 4 half-steps or a diminished fourth.
	From B-E is 5 half-steps or a perfect fourth.

Using this logic, DADGAD tuning would be called 75525.

	From D-A is 7 half-steps or a perfect fifth.
	From A-D is 5 half-steps or a perfect fourth.
	From D-G is 5 half-steps or a perfect fourth.
	From G-A is 2 half-steps or a major second.
	From A-D is 5 half-steps or a perfect fourth.

In the case of a tuning where the second note is lower than the first note, I have added a minus sign after the number. Thus EDBGBE would be called 2-9845.

	From E-D is 2 half-steps or a major second. {Not a minor seventh.}
	From D-B is 9 half-steps or a major sixth.
	From B-G is 8 half-steps or an augmented fifth.
	From G-B is 4 half-steps or a diminished fourth.
	From B-E is 5 half-steps or a perfect fourth.

Using numbers like this makes it easy to see if two tunings with different tones are the same. For example C#F#BEG#C# is the same as EADGBE only 3 half-steps lower or 9 half-steps higher. Both of these tunings would be called 55545.
For a number of years I was under the impression that I invented this system until I found out that Joni Mitchell also discovered the same way of keeping her tunings in order.

2 7 3 7 2 - E F# C# E B C#
Slow Motion Roast Beef William Ackerman
2 8 5 4 5 - E F# D G B E
Albatross Anonymous
2 -9 8 4 5 - E D B G B E
Spider Robin Bullock
3 7 5 4 5 - E G D G B E
Boys Of Ballisidare, the Duck Baker	El Noy De La Mare Liona Boyd	Fanteladda Duck Baker
4 3 2 7 3 - G B D E B D
Anne's Song William Ackerman
4 3 7 5 4 - F A C G C E
No. 11 Edward Gerhard
4 5 5 4 5 - F A D G B E
Lejania Liona Boyd	Lenono Michael Hedges
4 5 5 5 3 - F A D G C D#
Close To Heaven Rick Foster
4 5 5 5 5 - F A D G C F
Squire Woods Lamentation Angelo Eleuteri
5 2 10 2 5 - D G A G A D
Away In A Manger Jeff Jacobson
5 2 5 5 2 - E A B E A B
Hickory Jack Steve Baughman
5 3 4 8 2 - F# B D F# D E
Climbing In Geometry William Ackerman	Conferring With The Moon William Ackerman
5 4 3 5 7 - E A C# E A E
A Berryman's Tune Peter Finger	Camptown Races Mike C. Martin
5 4 3 7 2 - F A# D F C D
Close To Heaven Peppino D'Agostino	Mademoiselles De Paris Peppino D'Agostino
5 5 2 5 7 - E A D E A E
Cock O' The North Kieran Fish	Fairies Hornpipe, the Davey Graham	Fanny Power Udo Dölz	Gamble's Tune David Surette
Ghost Riders In The Sky Pat Kirtley	Grassy Turf, the Scott Arbuckle	Handing Down, the Edward Gerhard	Hardiman The Fiddler Davey Graham
Old Joe Clark Pat Kirtley	Planxty Baptist Johnson D.J. Rogers	Planxty Hewlett Udo Dölz	Ships In Full Sail Steve Conway
Shufflin' Sam Pat Kirtley
5 5 5 2 5 - E A D G A D
Gavottes Pourlet Soïg Siberil
5 5 5 4 5 - E A D G B E
A Bicycle Built For Two Bill Piburn	A Bicycle Built For Two John Fahey	A' Soaling El McMeen	A Time For Us {Romeo & Juliet} Han Vo Ta
A Whiter Shade Of Pale Michel Dalle Ave	About B & B Attila Zoller	Accokeek Shore Al Petteway	Across The Universe Larry Beekman
Addams Family, the Joop Essers	After You've Gone Lee Ramirez	Ah, Surely Arthur Banks	Ain't No Tellin' Arthur Banks
Air {Purcell} Anonymous	Alcoholic Blues Mike Ingram	Alegria Bartolome Calatuyud	Alice's Restaurant Arlo Guthrie
All Heaven Declares Craig Rogers	All My Loving Eric Schoenberg	Amazing Grace Anonymous	Amazing Grace Bill Tyers
Amazing Grace Richard Hefner	Amazing Grace Steve Kaufman	America The Beautiful Gene Zimelinski	And I Love Her Fred Sokolow
And We Will Luis Ayllon	Andante Ferdinand Carulli	Andante Fernando Sor	Andantino Matteo Carcassi
Andernos Rock Michel Dalle Ave	Andy Pandy Steve J. McWilliam	Angeline The Baker Duck Baker	Angel's Serenade Jeff Linsky
Angels We Have Heard On High Liona Boyd	Angels We Have Heard On High Marc Lamberg	Angels We Have Heard On High Mark Hanson 2	Angels We Have Heard On High Stan Ayeroff
Angels We Have Heard On High Thomas Catalano	Angie {Intro} Keith Richards	Another Blues Mike Emblem	Anthem John Doan
April In Portugal Gilles Charlois	Arabian Folk Song Siegfried Behrend	Aranjuez, Mon Amour Michel Dalle Ave	Are You Sleeping Craig Rogers
Are You Washed In The Blood Tony Willis	Aria {Logy} Boris Godunov	Arkansas Traveler, the Will Schmid	Armadillo Andy Summers
As Tears Go By Joop Essers	Ash Grove, the Glenn Weiser	Ash Plant, the Arthur Banks	Asturias {Intro} Isaac Albéniz
Aura Lee Chris Proctor	Automne Bleu Gilles Charlois	Autumn Leaves Boris Bursac	Away In A Manger El McMeen 1
Away In A Manger Matthew Kincaid	Away In A Manger Stan Ayeroff	Baa Baa Black Sheep Steve J. McWilliam	Baby Let Me Lay It On You Reverand Gary Davis
Baidin Fheilimi John Loesberg	Ballad Of Jed Clampett, the Earl Scruggs	Balleto {Logy} Liona Boyd	Ballinasloe Fair Dan Gelo
Baltimore Todelo Jack McGann	Banana Boat Song, the Jurg Hochweber	Barbara Allen Fernando de las Heras	Barbie Brazil Bill Piburn
Because He Was A Bonny Lad Arthur Banks	Behind The Bush In The Garden Ken Perlman	Bellefleur Arnaud Dumont	Ben's Promise Mike Lydiat
Berceuse Francis Kleynjans	Bermuda Triangle Exit Stefan Grossman	Berry's Hornpipe Glenn Weiser	Beyond The Known Jack Jezzro
Bill Bailey Stefan Grossman	Bingo Paul Doty	Blarney Pilgrim, the Glenn Weiser	Blue Moon Howard Morgen
Blue Moon Yves Keroas	Blue Room Jean Banwarth	Blues Boris Bursac	Blues Changes Anonymous
Blues For Hy Howard Morgen	Blues For John Jim Nichols	Blues From Jekyll Roger Hudson	Blues In A Rick Ruskin
Blues In C Alain Giroux	Blues In E Alain Giroux 1	Blues In E Alain Giroux 2	Blues In E Don Van Der Craats
Blues In E Richi Kochli	Blues In G Anonymous	Blues Solo Joe Pass	Bluesinay Richard Saslow
Bold MacDonald Howard Morgen	Bon Roi Dagobert, le Antonio Lauro	Bonnie Howard Morgen	Bonnie Dundee Glenn Weiser
Bottle Of Wine Jack R. Baker	Bourrée {Bach} Dirk Meineke	Boys From Blue Hill, the Duck Baker	Boys From Blue Hill, the Russell Letson
Bridal Suite, the Eric Tingstad	Bring A Torch Edward Wright	Bring A Torch Mark Hanson	Brisbane Ladies Bill Tyers
Broadway Blues Mike Ingram	Brooklyn Rag Seth Austin	Brussler Spitzen Ole Anders Halen	Bulgarian Highlife Seth Austin
Butterfly, the Jean Banwarth	Bye Bye Baby Blues Little Hat Jones	Bye Bye Blackbird Paul Doty	California Girls Mike Emblem
Campbell's Farewell To Redgap Ken Perlman	Camptown Races Arthur Banks	Carol Of The Birds Mark Hanson	Castle Drummond Glenn Weiser
Cattail Waltz Al Petteway	Celtic Medley Jim Graham	Chanson Du Soir Chris Kilvinston	Charlotte's Fancy Charlie Byrd
Christmas Hymn Mark Hanson	Christmas Song, the Mark Hanson	Chromatic Bass Mike Ingram	Chromatic Blues Yves Kéroas
Chrysanthemum, the Jim McLennan	Circular Motion Amrit Sond	Classical Gas Craig Rogers	Clementine Richard Freitas
Clementine Steve J. McWilliam	Clover Colin Reid	Coleraine Glenn Weiser	Colored Aristocracy David Laibman
Con Spirito Al Viola	Coney Island Cakewalk Richard Saslow	Constantine Maquire Tom O'Farrell	Coolin, the Glenn Weiser
Copacabana Mike Emblem	Corinna, Corinna Arthur Banks	Cork Road Jig, the Steve J. McWilliam	Country Dance Ferdinand Carruli
Coventry Carol, the Hugh de Camillis	Coventry Carol, the Stan Ayeroff	Cowboy Waltz Michael Chapdelaine	Crawdad Song, the Howard Morgen
Crazy Basses Franco Morone	Cucaracha, la Arthur Banks	Cucaracha, la Dirk Meineke	Cucaracha, la Jürg Hochweber
Cuckoo's Nest, the Glenn Weiser	Cumparsita, la Dirk Meineke	Cumparsita, la Gregg Nestor	Dadalada Richard Saslow
Dallas Rag David Bromberg	Dance With Me Richard Mullins	Danny Boy Glenn Weiser	Danny Boy Paul Doty
Death Letter Blues Dave Van Ronk	Deck The Halls Dale Turner	Deck The Halls Liona Boyd	Deck The Halls Mark Hanson
Deep Cove Hop Jim Graham	Desert Winds Seth Austin	Desperado Larry Kuhns	Devil's Dream Glenn Weiser
Dickie's Blues No.2 Jim McLennan	Dixie Doodle Craig Rogers	Do Re Me Mike Emblem	Dominique Bill Taylor
Dominique Mike Emblem	Dona Nobis Pacem Mark Hanson	Down & Out Blues Lisle Crowley	Downtown Artur Nadal
Downtown Stomp Pat Donohue	Dr. John Hart Glenn Weiser	Dream A Little Dream Yves Keroas	Dream On {Intro} Steven Tyler
Duke Of Fife, the Duck Baker	Eastland Dream Robert Bowlin	Easy Winners, the Jim McLennan	Eight Days A Week Fred Sokolow
Eilis' Jig Jamey Bellizzi	El Colibri Michael Chapdelaine	El Condor Pasa Alex Below	El Condor Pasa Dirk Meineke
El Condor Pasa Joop Essers	El San Pedro Michel Dalle Ave	Eleanor Rigby Fred Sokolow	Eleanor Rigby Mike Emblem
Elsie Marley Duck Baker	Entertainer, the Steve J. McWilliam	Estudio No.2 Fernando Sor	Eternal Holly William Ellwood
Evergreen Stan Ayeroff	Every Breath You Take {Intro} Andy Summers	Fair Haired Maiden, the Douglas Niedt	Fair Haired Mary Philippe Renaud
Fairy Dance, the Gerard Fagan	Fairy Dance, the Steve J. McWilliam	Fairy Queen, the Duck Baker	Fallingbrook Rag Liona Boyd
Fanny Power John Morris	Fanny Power Les Weller	Fantasia Michael Joyce	Farewell Glenn Weiser
Farewell To Erin Gerard Fagan	Farewell To Nova Scotia Richard Fortin	Farewell To Whiskey Glenn Weiser	Farewell To Winter Tony Polizzi
Fay's Hornpipe Bill Brennan	Fezzik's Rag Rolly Brown	Fiddle Medley Tim Sparks	Fiddler's Contest, the Stefan Grossman
Fields Seth Austin	First Noel, the Hugh de Camillis	First Noel, the Mark Johnstone	Fishin' Hole, the Bob Frye
Fiston Roque Carbajo	Five Foot Two Arthur Banks	Five Foot Two Mike Ingram	Flood Plain Al Petteway
Flowers In The Snow Ron Eschete	Fly Me To The Moon Dirk Meineke	Folk Tune Medley Mike Emblem	Fool On The Hill, the Joe Washington
For No One Yves Keroas	Forever Girl Earl Klugh	Forked Deer Dan Hucklebee	Fortune Cookie, the Howard Morgen
Four Strong Winds Craig Rogers	Frankie & Johnny Mike Emblem	Frankie & Johnny Steven Eckels	Franklin Blues Sam F. McGee
Freight Train Anonymous 1	Freight Train Anonymous 2	Freight Train Bill Taylor	Freight Train Chet Atkins
Freight Train Frank J. Oddo	Freight Train Happy Traum	Freight Train Marcel Dadi	Freight Train Mark Hanson
Freight Train Muriel Anderson	Freight Train Steve J. McWilliam	Freight Train Loaded Michael Joyce	Frère Jacques Dick Hutton
Friendly Beasts, the Mark Hanson	Friends Like You Pat Kirtley	Fritz The Cat Gregor Neaga	Für Elise Craig Rogers
Für Elise Edgar Cruz	Gallagher's Frolic Glenn Weiser	Gallowglass, the Glenn Weiser	Gary Owen Glenn Weiser 1
Gary Owen Glenn Weiser 2	Gavotte {Logy} Liona Boyd	Gentle Rain, the Howard Morgen	Girl Dirk Meineke
Girls Of The Shamrock Shores, the Bill Tyers	Gladrags Mark Casstevens	Glory Of Love, the Arthur Banks	Gloucestershire Wassail Mark Hanson
Go Tell It On The Mountain Anonymous	God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen David Cohen	God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Happy Traum	God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Hugh de Camillis
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Les Weller	God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Marc Lamberg	God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Richard Hefner	God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Stan Ayeroff
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Yoichi Arakawa	Golden Keyboard, the Duck Baker	Golden Slippers, the Glenn Weiser	Good King Wenceslas Mark Hanson
Good King Wenceslas Mike Ingram	Good King Wenceslas Stan Ayeroff	Good Morning Dominique Rivière	Greased Lightning Joop Essers
Great Western TV Medley Guy Van Duser	Greensleeves Arnaud Dumont	Greensleeves Charlie Byrd	Greensleeves Gerard Fagan
Greensleeves Howard Morgen	Greensleeves Jimmy Brown	Greensleeves Kent Murdick	Greensleeves Les Weller
Greensleeves Mark Hanson	Greensleeves Mike Emblem	Greensleeves Stan Ayeroff	Greensleeves Steve J. McWilliam
Greensleeves Thomas Catalano	Greensleeves Will Schmid	Greensleeves Yoichi Arakawa	Greensleeves Country Bob Wolford
Hand Dancing Bruce Cockburn	Handyman Howard Morgen	Hangin' With The Girls I Know Thom Bresh	Happy Birthday Steve J. McWilliam
Happy Wanderer, the Mike Emblem	Hark The Herald Angels Sing Mark Hanson 2	Hark The Herald Angels Sing Stan Ayeroff	Hark The Herald Angels Sing Steve Kaufman
Harry Lime Theme, the Bill Taylor	Helene Anonymous	Her Favorite Song Larry Carlton	Her Majesty Boris Bursac
Here's That Rainy Day Paul Doty	High Heel Shoe Bryan Sutton	High Society Pat Donohue