Dave demos James McMurtry guitar playing: The McTuning

Short how-to video showing guitar tunings and fingerings used by James McMurtry. Hope these help other players learn some JM songs!

This video uses what I have been calling “The McTuning”, an open C with strings tuned CGDGBD and a capo on V but omitting the low C string. Here’s my full rendition of St. Mary of the Woods, which uses this tuning:

Some songs James plays with the McTuning: Where’s Johnny, Saint Mary of the Woods, Painting By Numbers, Peter Pan, Vaquero, Late Norther. Melinda with capo II and 5-string capo VII. Restless with no capos.

[jimmymullen]

Brilliant stuff....enjoyed that ...love James' songwriting and and best wishes from

[Squarole]

Brilliant- thank you! Just found you here on YouTube but I remember your name and wonderful energy during the Facebook pandemic concerts.

[jdc]

so appreciative of this video. Love his performance of Peter Pan at Threadgill's on Music Fog and you explain his tuning so well. I always found that tuning so unique. Thanks again!!

[jbdawg]

Thanks a bunch! I always wondered how James got so many unique sounds. Love it!

[NavigatingThePsychverse]

Amazing video, thank you for sharing your knowledge

[jillwestra]

Hey, fellow McPeep! I didn't know you did tutorials - and here you just came rolling by on my "you might also like..." feed! This is a great one, well done!!! Catch ya back in the bunker hunker! :-)

[scottguy]

Hey-Great work-up on this stuff. Fun stuff to play! Quick question-Have you seen James do Cold Dog Soup? If so can you tell what tuning he is playing in? Hes using the Red red Guild but it does not seem to be tuned the way he typically tunes that one.

[cabrenee]

Thank you so much. I can't get over his lyrics, his songs are so great! I want to play them so bad! Restless, Fast as I Can, Dry River, Childish Things. Where do you live?

[mikewilliams]

Hi Dave, Thanks for this. I'm having trouble catching some of Jame's fills in Choctaw Bingo. Could you do a more detailed demo of that song?

[louispatrone]

Great tutorial love to learn safe side is it the same double drop T any information would be really appreciate it

[cabrenee]

You mention Restless in the comments, saying "no capos"... what are the shapes? Would greatly appreciate a Restless video/demo :)