Ken Theriot plays in several different guitar tunings…different from what most normal people use:). This has frustrated many a would-be performer of the songs on Ken’s CDs. Hopefully we can start to de-mystify this mystery (did I just mix metaphors?) here.
The first alternate guitar tuning Ken learned was DADGAD. So instead of the normal EADGBE, a guitar’s strings are tuned to (low-to-high): D-A-D-G-A-D. To do this from standard tuning, crank the low E string (the one closest to your nose when holding the guitar) down to a D note. Leave the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings alone. Then crank the 5th string down for A and the 6th string (the one closest to your feet) down to D. And voila!
Some of the songs in DADGAD on Kens CDs: The Witch of the Westmereland (written by Archie Fisher), from the CD Outside of Time, and Maldon (written by Ken Theriot), from the CD Human History.