Playing the bouzouki in GDAD tuning.

Chords for GDAD tuning.

This page has all the information that is specific to the G,DAd bouzouki tuning. This seems to be the most popular tuning, and is used by Irish bouzouki pioneers such as Donal Lunny (ex-member of Planxty, the Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, ....) and Andy Irvine.

I have compiled a chord chart for this tuning, which is available in 3 formats:

Plain text:

This gives per line the fingerings and corresponding note names, makes an attempt to name the chord, and occasionally a remark on usage. [I plan to make these usage notes available in extended form, right here in this page, soon.]

PostScript:

This gives chord diagrams for all the chords. Of course it does not contain all the remarks and annotations that the text version has, but it's a lot easier to read.
To use the PostScript file you either need a PostScript printer, or the GhostScript software, which lets you print PostScript on most other printers.

Adobe .PDF format:

For those who already have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, the chord diagram files are now also available in .PDF format (thanks to Bill McKenty for suggesting this).

Double stop runs in GDAD tuning.

Double-stop run #1 for GDAD tuning.

This one is in the key of C, and is based on the 3rd interval between the 2nd and 3rd strings. The root is on the 2nd (A) string, while the 3rd is below the root on the D string.

Double-stop run #1a for GDAD tuning.

Like #1, this is in the key of C, but this one has the 3rd on the high D instead of the low D string.

Double-stop run #2 for GDAD tuning.

This one's in the key of D, but runs from G to G, and has it's root on the G string, and the 3rd on the A string.

Double-stop run #3 for GDAD tuning.

Here's one based on octaves. It 's in the key of D, but the lead notes go from A, to A on the G string. The D strings function as drones throughout this progression.

Double-stop run #4 for GDAD tuning.

Quite similar to the last one, but this one's in the key of G. It's also based on octaves, except for the initial G chord, and the lead notes range from G, to G on the G string.

[Alternatively, the initial G chord can be played as 0 0 X 0, sticking closer to the octaves pattern.]

Double-stop run #5 for GDAD tuning.

This one I've notated as a descending sequence, but it can be used (as can all the others) both ways. It's in the key of G again, and makes use of the open G string as drone note. It's based on a 3rd interval, but with the 3rd below the root instead of above it - the root is played on the 2nd string, the 3rd (how appropriate) on the 3rd string.