How to use alternate tunings

[slick13]

How do you use alternate tunings? I know how to tune the guitar different but not how to implement or use the tunnings because when you tune different your chords sound messed up. What should I do?
s l i c k

[popmusic_sux]

Alternate tunings are used to create different sounds, you can use different chord shapes and it'll sound different than standard or come up with new chord shapes and sounds that you couldn't get out of standard.

[Malcolm]

Like the other post said.... use it to acheive different sounds. Or different easier ways to play the song.

Open G for example lets you make a barre chord straight accross the fret. Easier barre chords which lend itself to slide work. Open string chords are different and you will have to re-learn them to use Open G.

Dropped D; Makes lower string power chords much easier. And Dropped D where all strings are droped a semi-tone --- and then using normal standard tuning chord fingering produces a mellow sound, which some like.

Modal Tuning Open D -- DADGAD: Barre any fret and you get another sus4 chord. Like Open G gives a major this tuning produces a sus4 chord.

And yes, some altered tunings carry all new chord fingering that must be learned.

If you are thinking about altered tunings I recommend the FastForward book, "Altered Guitar Tunings" about $15 US.