[HOWEYMAN]

This is general question that I'm sure could be explained in many differn't ways. I'll use "One Way Out" by the Allmans.
I sat down to learn how to play this song from the sheet music in a Guitar One mag. The entire song is in the key of A. The intro is in standard tuning. The first lead over the intro (guitar2) is also in the key of A of course, but is played lead in an open E tuning, playing the A riff lead higher on the neck.
My question is this. Why would they tune to an open E. Trying to learn the part. I just moved down the to 12th position and have been playing the riff here
instead of same part in 15th position with the guitar in open E.
Did the Allmans write it this way they to get that A riff an octave higher?
Some answers to this may help me fill out some other musical questions I have in my mind. Maybe there is no answer. You all may be saying WTF are you talking about?lolololo
Thanks.

[ronster]

Most likely because Duane played slide in open tuning most of the time so his guitar is allready tuned to open E so he played it in open E. I doubt the other lead (Dickey Betts part) is tabbed out in open tuning.

[jck_strw]

I'm as ignorant as most, but I would say that they used the open E tuning because that's a much easier tuning for playing the slide (which, I think, the Allmans have been known to incorporate into their music now and again :)

[HOWEYMAN]

Does it sound to you like the first lead part over the intro riff before the first verse is being played with a slide? maybe thats why I can't nail it.

[Chief5959]

I believe they are playing a harmony part with Duane playing the line an octave higher than Dickey. Duane is definetly playing slide on the song. At the end of the main riff he is playing a little slide fill. If you start off the lick higher up the neck at the 15th fret it is easier to play in the open e tuning.

[HOWEYMAN]

Yea, I thought that ease of play may have something to with it also. Like you said, the riff is easier to tackle in 15th postion rather than 12th. I never have played slide. I guess I'll just get it as close as possilble. Thanks for the input.

[Pigpen]

can you link the tab?

[HOWEYMAN]

can you link the tab?

I have the tab and music in a issue of Guitar One. I'll check tonight to see what month. Trey and Warren are on the cover. "the Jam issue" lololo!

[shakedown_04092]

It's 12 bar blues in A. This is how I play the main riff: (no guitar in hand so hope it's right!)

Part I (x4)
e------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------
D------7-7--5-----7--5-----5-5--7----------
A--------------7--------7------------------
E---5--------------------------------------


Part II (x2)
e-----------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------
G------7-7--5-----7--5-----5-5--7---------
D--------------7--------7-----------------
A---5-------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------


Part I (x2)


Part III (x1)
e--------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------
G------9-9--7-----9--7-----7-7--9--9b11r9b11~~~----
D--------------9--------9--------------------------
A---7----------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------


Rinse, lather, repeat

Although that last bend from the 9 to 11 I'm not so sure it's right - just make some noise. But that's how I play it (I think...again, no guitar)

[owmmusic]

Generally, all open tunings lend themselves well to playing slide. Some like different ones. Duane like E. Dickey liked G. You can play pretty much in any key as long as you know your way around the fretboard in that tuning. It's kinda hard to completely retune a guitar between every song. Most guitarists who use multiple tunings base their set lists around similar tunings - ie, four songs in a row in one tuning, then switch guitars and play several songs in another tuning. Otherwise, it's easier to just play your songs in the same tuning regardless of the key.