#1
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solo gig first time, tuning down
Good Morning
I'm almost 54 years old, and although I spent 1997-2004 as lead guitar for a country rock band, I have only been "keeping my chops" since. But...I've been practicing. I'm semi retired from my business and my second act is going to be a solo or duo gig. I've got 28 songs I can do without looking at lyrics, another 28 I can do WITH lyrics nearby, and another 20 or so I'm halfway there on. I'm a lead guitarist at heart so I really don't like to just take a rock song and "strum it", I try to figure out what cool things I can do on the acoustic to do a rock song justice vs. just playing it the same way on acoustic (like taking advantage of open strings, capo, double stops, etc.) That being said, I am NOT a natural born singer. SO MANY songs I want to do (born on the bayou, hey tonight by creedence and a few others) are JUST out of reach...like...a HALF STEP out of reach. Most of the guys that do acoustic gigs locally tune down a half step, both the loosen the strings so they can do lead work easier, AND it puts some of those songs within reach. I want to be careful though...I get used to doing something in D flat and suddenly I'm at an open mic and they're in normal tuning and I can't do a song I've been doing by myself for months...maybe an unfounded fear? So what do you all think about tuning down a half step? Or maybe I could have TWO guitars .... one tuned down for certain songs, one not...maybe not worth the hassle but ... ?? I use a Taylor 314CE, and also would probably have my Tele for a little variety (maybe do some Keith Richards open G stuff) Thanks guys n gals. I'm scared, by the way, at doing my first solo...probably within 30 days from now. There's a duo that lets me take one of their sets to do 5-10 songs by myself, so I've got a little "solo" experience but I'll be setting my own stage up...and I've NEVER done that...phew! Last edited by srick; 09-02-2019 at 04:35 AM. Reason: Profanity deleted |
#2
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That’s awesome; I’m glad you’re getting out there. Your guitar skills are way beyond mine, but I do play lots of solo gigs so I do have some useful advice.
Here’s my advice—tune down if you want It’s your show so it doesn’t matter what others do or think. The only time it will even matter is if you’re playing with someone else who’s tuned standard. The audience doesn’t know and doesn’t care what your tuning is. They just want to hear their favorite songs. Don’t over think it; just play and sing and show some enthusiasm and the crowd will love it.
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2015 Martin D-18 1982 Martin HD-28 2013 Taylor 314ce 2004 Fender Telecaster MIM 2010 Martin DCX1RE 1984 Sigma DM3 Fender Mustang III v2 |
#3
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I know someone who tunes his guitar down a half step all the time. When he has to play with others (at a jam or open mic), he capos on 1.
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Mike My music: https://mikebirchmusic.bandcamp.com 2020 Taylor 324ceBE 2017 Taylor 114ce-N 2012 Taylor 310ce 2011 Fender CD140SCE Ibanez 12 string a/e 73(?) Epiphone 6830E 6 string 72 Fender Telecaster Epiphone Dot Studio Epiphone LP Jr Chinese Strat clone Kala baritone ukulele Seagull 'Merlin' Washburn Mandolin Luna 'tatoo' a/e ukulele antique banjolin Squire J bass |
#4
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Thousands of performers tune down. Though I've played and performed on stringed instruments for almost 50 years, I've never tuned down. I don't like not being in tune and I don't like lower string tension. I spent time as a youngster learning to play in every key. Since really getting into bluegrass I'm also now ok with using a capo.
Any audience you have is likely not going to care as long as it doesn't sound bad. |
#5
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Listening to CCR's recordings, my thought about "natural born singers" is that they weren't either, so nothing to worry about.
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"I've always thought of bluegrass players as the Marines of the music world" – (A rock guitar guy I once jammed with) Martin America 1 Martin 000-15sm Recording King Dirty 30s RPS-9 TS Taylor GS Mini Baton Rouge 12-string guitar Martin L1XR Little Martin 1933 Epiphone Olympic 1971 square neck Dobro |
#6
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Quote:
Like MikeBmusic says, if you have to play with people in EADGBE, just put a capo on 1. The alternative would be to transpose the chords, and use a capo some other way. E.g., if a song is in E, and you need to sing it in Eb, put a capo on 3 and use C chord shapes. Or a capo on 1 and play it in D. Or just take it a little further down, to D or C anyway, no capo. I understand that some songs need riffs or whatever that make use of open strings - and if they need the low E that's a problem. But otherwise there's always ways round the key issue for your voice, without necessarily tuning differently. For a player of your experience, transposition should hold no terrors!
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"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen. |
#7
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Do whatever you need to sing it properly.Voice is king.
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#8
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I also tune down 1/2 step. Definitely helps with some songs that are at the top of my range.
And why can't you also play 1/2 step down at Open Mics??? Unless you are jamming with others? And if so, capo at 1 and don't sing anything too high.
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Gear: PRS Hollowbody II Piezo, Martin HPL 000, PRS Angelus A60E, Martin 000-15M |