#16
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I do it all the time. With age, I've found my falsetto ability and range (particularly at the high end) has declined, so I have modified a fair number of songs - either by transposing or using a capo. Sometimes it takes a little work to find out what key works for me, but I have NEVER, EVER heard anybody say: "Hey - you're singing that in the wrong key!"
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#17
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Don't worry about losing some guitar licks by capoing. People would rather hear good vocals with steady guitar than pitchy vocals with more ornate guitar work.
I hate capos and hardly ever use them, so I transpose a lot of stuff. Works fine for me.
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Roy Ibanez, Recording King, Gretsch, Martin G&L, Squier, Orange (x 2), Bugera, JBL, Soundcraft Our duo website - UPDATED 7/26/19 |
#18
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There's no getting around the fact that it sucks to be a baritone.
It's a false dichotomy whether to transpose or use a capo. I sometimes do both.
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1 dreadnought, 1 auditorium, 1 concert, and 2 travel guitars. |
#19
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It was great when I sang bass in a quartet decades ago. Now, not so much...
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#20
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Not in my book. |
#21
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But then, I can rock the Johnny Cash version of "Hurt" like you won't believe! Makes them tenors jealous! Key change all you want. And like JonPR suggest, make them your own. I'm an old guy, and for some reason I'm trying '60 girl group stuff. Of course I don't sing them as originals, I have fun with them at my vocal own range. And, yeah, "These Boots Are Made For Walking" takes on a different feel when I sing it. |
#22
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Most definitely change the key. And if you are using ultimate guitar .com, it is super easy to find a capo/key combination that will work for a given song.
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#23
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A lot has has changed about my singing, and there is always pain, but the most irritating thing is that I have gone down at least two tones. I used to sing most of my Jimmie Rodgers songs in E with a capo on IV - but now they have to be in D or C. I have never worried about original keys; that is really unimportant . It is far more important to sing in the key that suits your voice - nothing worse than listening to a strained voice (apart from an out of tune/time voice maybe!) There are plenty of famous lower voices that are loved, and voices naturally lower as one ages anyway.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#24
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Nobody has ever complimented our duet on our guitar licks... We have received many compliments on our vocals.
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Nothing bothers me unless I let it. Martin D18 Gibson J45 Gibson J15 Fender Copperburst Telecaster Squier CV 50 Stratocaster Squier CV 50 Telecaster |
#25
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That depends on the music one is singing, and how one sings it, doesn't it?
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#26
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I'd argue singing in a key you can't sing in is the cardinal sin.
Yeah, some tunes with identifiable guitar parts...you might lost some signature licks. This is where downtuning or capoing up and singing lower can help you keep the chord shapes and their built in "licks" intact. |
#27
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I agree with you. Transposing is fine unless a song has a signature 'lick', solo passage, or chord position/progression associated with it which is burned into the brains of the public. Then capos or tuning can save the day.
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#28
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I often change keys to fit my voice. The only chance someone ever notices is another musician. And this is a big pet peeve of mine - some musicians seem to think you must play in the original key and to do otherwise somehow makes you less of a musician. I actually think the opposite. Trying to always play in the original key, unless every song fits your range perfectly, is foolish and less "professional" because you aren't delivering the best performance you could. Glad to see so many on here standing up for playing in the key that best fits your voice.
All that said, I do duo gigs with a good buddy who has perfect pitch (and an amazing range). He insists we do the songs he sings lead on in the original key, but he can do it well. It's funny though, if I start a song in the wrong key (because I should be capo 3 and am at capo 2, for example), he immediately knows it and stops me!!! I'm jealous of his ear.
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2010 Taylor 814ce 2008 Taylor 816ce 2008 Taylor 426ce LTD (Tasmanian blackwood) LR Baggs Venue Ditto X2 Looper TC Helicon H1 Harmony Pedal Allen & Heath ZED 10FX LD Systems Maui 11 G2 Galaxy PA6BT Monitor iPad with OnSong JBL EON ONE Compact (typically only used as a backup) My Facebook Music Page My YouTube Page |
#29
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Our audiences are just stunned by our guitar wizardry, that's all
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#30
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Mine too! It explains why half of them sit there open mouthed in disbelief, and the other half are unconscious. Some of the ones still awake have their hands over their ears because it's all just too good to bear!
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"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen. |