Hi this is Jeff Isbell on behalf of ExpertVillage.com.
Modern finger style just wouldn't be what it is without altered tunings. If fact, I'm using one now. Here are some of the most common. The first one is called dropped E, you just take your E, and we're going to drop it down to a D. Now you notice I went below the D and then back up to it, that helps you stay in tune. Here's a good way to check your tuning.
Twelfth thread on the D and fifth thread on the E string. You can use it for things like this. So it gives you a nice strong bottom on you D string, you probably already used that. Another one is called DADGAD, D-A-D-G-A-D. Well, I've got to drop my high E down to a D, and my B drops down to an A, you can use it for things like doing the intro. One more fairly common tuning, its actually less popular than it used to be is an open D, now that means that it's the D chord played with all the strings open, that's a D there. It's really a great tuning you know for harmonics and whatever fret you fret, just a straight bar.
It's really great for finger picking and finger picking with a slide. So you know, it has a lot of options, so open D. There are many other altered tunings and we could make a whole series of lessons just on that, you can find them on lots of places and a really great thing to do is just create your own, just don't be limited, just start changing the string notes and have fun.