Super 8 Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 I know guitarists often kapo (sp?) up for some tunes, but do you ever tune down? Example: Often when I sing to records, the song ends up being either out of my range, or just at the top end. I have a lower voice. If I sing the song a step or two lower, I feel much more comfortable, and I think my voice sounds much better. Problem with the guitar is that some of the lower chord get shifted into higher registers. Make sense? The thing about using a kapo is that I think if makes the guitar stings too high and tight sounding. I think using standard tuning, but lowing the strings a couple of steps might solve the problem, and give the guitar a deeper, and fuller sound. I'm just curious if guitarists do this, or if I am completely backwards on this issue... Your thoughts, please??? Super 8 Hear my stuff here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiral light Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 Hmmm, sounds like an intonation problem... www.windhamhill.com - Shameless Advertising! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 I don't think it was for accomidating the singer, but Black Sabbath almost always played with the guitar tuned either 1/2 step or a full step lower than normal tuning, EADGBE tuned down to D#G#C#F#A#D# or DGCFAD. Also, Soundgarden used all sorts of tunings, most of which were down to D, C, or even as low as B. And it's a capo. BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funk Jazz Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 tuning a 1/2 step down is very common for the very reason you specified 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Keelan Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 U2 does their albums in standard tuning but play 1/2 step down live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werewolf by Night Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Yeah, downtuning is quite common. Usually folks go down either a half-step or a whole-step, but it's not weird or unheard of to go further. Then, using a capo to 'up-tune' for transposition of fingerings would work just fine. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/icons/icon2.gif If the strings get a bit slack- especially likely with light-gauge strings like "tens", "nines", or lighter- you could run into trouble with the capo exerting enough pressure to make them go a little out of tune and intonate oddly. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/icons/icon3.gif If so, and you don't want to go to heavier strings, try carefully aligning the capo just barely half-on the fret, and giving a gentle 'push' against the strings between the bridge and the end of the fretboard (where you pick) to pull a bit of the 'slack' back from behind the capo. Works for me! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanner Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 i am a solo looping electric guitarrorist and i tune down a half step(*no* vocals). i find that that tuning allows the strings to ring in a way you dont get w/ regular tuning. also the feedback happens much more musically, @ least fer me. ymmv s AMPSSOUNDBETTERLOUDER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Originally posted by Super 8: I think using standard tuning, but lowing the strings a couple of steps might solve the problem, and give the guitar a deeper, and fuller sound. I'm just curious if guitarists do this, or if I am completely backwards on this issue... That's why Jimi Hendrix tuned his guitars down a half step. If you do it, you'll probably want to use bigger strings. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Okay.... ...most songs can be transcribed to a more vocal-friendly key. ...those that can't (because of voicings) usually work with the capo on the third fret. ...tuning down 2 or 3 steps is problematic with a standard guitar. The tuning is precarious as it is. If you want a baritone guitar, get one. Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A String Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 It's amazing how many players actually tune down a half step. We did it all the time (Mainly for vocals because we all sang and we were playing 5 or 6 nights a week). I first noticed it with Hendix and Stevie Ray. Many famous player do it for vocal reasons...saves their voices. As for the higher sound using a capo...it's supposed to sound like that. I would not recomend tuning down 2 or 3 steps and capo'ing as BPark said, this can be problimatic. It is o.k. to tune down a half (And maybe a whole) step and then capo up to regular when you are playing with others. Craig Stringnetwork on Facebook String Network Forum My Music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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