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Genki Hikari

(1,766 posts)
Sat Nov 5, 2022, 07:08 PM Nov 2022

Luckiest Music Generation: Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl

It seems like a standard rock song, but when you listen more closely, you hear weird things going on, like the two-part harmony in the verse lines, and that relentless dual guitar riff that seems to sound the same for the entire song...but doesn't, not when you listen to it closely. This duality seems to be a nod to the off-kilter love song lyrics, sort of an "inner-outer" voice thing about what he's thinking versus what he's saying (or not) regarding the mysterious girl, but what do I know? Maybe I'm overthinking that.

My son the music genius guitar junkie told me when we were listening to "Cinnamon Girl" one evening that Neil Young used a particular guitar tuning here that was in some of his other songs, too. I'm a dolt about music theory, so he commended me for picking up on how "Ohio" was one of those songs. It just has the same guitar "feel" to it, to my ears. The real musicians here can do the explaining for how that all works.

Anyway, here's the song itself:

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Luckiest Music Generation: Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl (Original Post) Genki Hikari Nov 2022 OP
Double drop D tuning for both guitar parts. Check the video below. highplainsdem Nov 2022 #1
I knew someone here would have the explanation for it Genki Hikari Nov 2022 #4
Ohio: highplainsdem Nov 2022 #2
This page lists the Neil Young songs, like the two above, using double drop D tuning. highplainsdem Nov 2022 #3
My eyes started crossing in that second link Genki Hikari Nov 2022 #5
... highplainsdem Nov 2022 #6
Glad that list helped! highplainsdem Nov 2022 #7
Well, HPD Provided The Answer ProfessorGAC Nov 2022 #8
So you don't use standard EADGBE tuning for "Sweet Jane"? highplainsdem Nov 2022 #9
I Do Use Standard Tuning ProfessorGAC Nov 2022 #11
Listening to your SoundCloud recording of "Sweet Jane" again. Really enjoying it. highplainsdem Nov 2022 #10

highplainsdem

(48,731 posts)
1. Double drop D tuning for both guitar parts. Check the video below.
Sat Nov 5, 2022, 08:11 PM
Nov 2022

Double drop D is mentioned just after 5 minutes in.

 

Genki Hikari

(1,766 posts)
4. I knew someone here would have the explanation for it
Sat Nov 5, 2022, 08:37 PM
Nov 2022

I don't know music theory, but I can pick up stuff like how the guitars in "Ohio" and "Cinnamon Girl" sound similar.

Thanks for the instruction videos. I won't retain any of it, but it's interesting to hear the explanations.

highplainsdem

(48,731 posts)
3. This page lists the Neil Young songs, like the two above, using double drop D tuning.
Sat Nov 5, 2022, 08:34 PM
Nov 2022
https://hyperrust.org/Music/NeilTunings.html

Look for the block of songs listed under DADGBD.


More info on double drop D here, including a list of some songs by other artists using this tuning.

https://theacousticguitarist.com/double-drop-d-tuning-dadgbd/
 

Genki Hikari

(1,766 posts)
5. My eyes started crossing in that second link
Sat Nov 5, 2022, 08:46 PM
Nov 2022

But then I shrieked at the list of songs using that tuning. Way back in the 70s, my family laughed at me when I heard "The Chain" the first time, and asked, "Why does parts of it sound like Black Water?"

Now I know I was right that they sounded similar! I didn't know why they did, but they "felt" the same, somehow.

ProfessorGAC

(64,425 posts)
8. Well, HPD Provided The Answer
Sun Nov 13, 2022, 01:11 PM
Nov 2022

I very seldom use drop D, but I have messed with it.
It's a nice tuning when a song is heavy on D & G chords, because letting it drone in the bass gives a tonic or a 5th. The fifth as the low string adds no dissonance so it's still a pleasant sound.
A song I messed with it on is Sweet Jane. Just have to be careful to not play the 6th string on the A chords which come 3rd & 5th in the main progression. The advantages, of course, are the G chord becomes only 2 frets and I can use my left thumb to deaden that dropped D.
I doubt I'd use it for anything other than messing around, even though I play with alternate tunings fairly often.
Here's one example where I work on fingerstyle using a tuning that goes (1st to 6th) E, C, G, C, A, C.


ProfessorGAC

(64,425 posts)
11. I Do Use Standard Tuning
Sun Nov 13, 2022, 04:43 PM
Nov 2022

I've only messed around with drop D on that song. Never would perform it that way.
Not worth it. My hands are on autopilot when I play it. I don't to have to think about it.

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