What tuning for Goodbye Lara?

What tuning for Goodbye Lara? This beautiful fingerstyle guitar piece by Tommy Emmanuel is typically played in DADGAD tuning (D-A-D-G-A-D from low to high), which creates the song's distinctive open, resonant sound.

Understanding DADGAD Tuning

DADGAD tuning involves adjusting your standard tuning by:

- Lowering the 6th string (low E) down to D

- Lowering the 2nd string (B) down to A

- Lowering the 1st string (high E) down to D

This creates a Dsus4 chord when strummed open, providing the ethereal, Celtic-influenced atmosphere that makes "Goodbye Lara" so captivating.

Why DADGAD Works for This Piece

Tommy Emmanuel chose DADGAD for "Goodbye Lara" because it offers several advantages:

Enhanced Resonance

The open D strings create natural harmonics and sympathetic vibrations that enrich the melody's emotional depth.

Easier Fingerings

Complex chord voicings become more accessible, allowing for smooth transitions between the song's intricate harmonic progressions.

Drone Notes

The tuning enables sustained bass notes that ring throughout passages, creating the piece's signature layered texture.

Playing Tips for DADGAD

When learning "Goodbye Lara" in DADGAD:

- Allow open strings to ring naturally for maximum resonance

- Use partial capos if needed to explore different tonal centers

- Practice the fingerpicking pattern slowly to maintain the song's gentle, flowing character

Alternative Approaches

While DADGAD is the standard tuning, some guitarists have successfully adapted "Goodbye Lara" to standard tuning, though this requires significant rearrangement of the fingerings and loses some of the original's sonic richness.

Mastering this tuning opens doors to exploring Tommy Emmanuel's extensive catalog and the broader world of Celtic-influenced fingerstyle guitar. Consider studying other DADGAD pieces to fully appreciate this versatile tuning's musical possibilities.