I'm a little limited in how I use tunings though. DADGAD and low C tuning mostly for celtic picking, but I can't improvise in these as I've never bothered to learn the scales, but I do mess around with chord shapes.
G (Spanish) tuning for slide playing and some rock/blues stuff, in particular Rory Gallagher/George Thorogood/Stones stuff.
But what I do find, is when I go back to standard, I often come up with some interesting things based on what I was doing in open tunings.
I have been trying years to play slide but can't do it. Whats this G (spanish) tuning and any tips on sliding is greatly received.
G tuning is DGDGBD. Major chords are then just barred across at each fret. So for a blues in G for example, I chord is all strings open, IV chord bar at 5th fret, V chord bar at 7th fret. Generally you'd have a higher action set up for slide, but you should be able to do it with a bit of practice on your standard set up. Again, I don't know the scales but I've just learnt my way around by ear.
George Thorogood is probably the best example of the classic open G for rock/blues. It also works well for country blues/acoustic and it's commonly used in bluegrass music.
I personally put the slide on the finger next to my pinky, but people use different fingers - whatever suits you. Start with a light touch. I use just a piece of copper pipe which fits me well. Metal slides give a harsher sound (good for rock), glass a softer tone (subtle blues and folk), but again of course you use what suits you. It's good fun!
Rory Gallagher (again!) does some great slide playing in standard tuning, but he does use open G too.
