99
13 posts
Dec 04, 2010
8:54 AM
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I am supposed to sit in with a band on Tuesday nite. The bass player says they tune down a half step on most of their songs to help the singer. My question is that if a song is in E and tuned down a half step, what key is that and do I still use an A harp for second position. Truthfully, where does this put a harp player accross the board on all songs tuned this way and how can I use the circle of fifths to figure this out. Thanks
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Joch230
340 posts
Dec 04, 2010
9:14 AM
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Well if they are tuned down a half step and they play a song normally in E, then they are really playing in Eb so you would need an Ab harp for second position.
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shanester
295 posts
Dec 04, 2010
9:16 AM
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E down a half step would be Eb, you'd need an Ab for 2nd pos.
Count down half step on scale to determine key, and count counterclockwise on cirq' d' fifths to determine what key to use for what position
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Shane
1shanester
"Keep it coming now, keep it coming now,
Don't stop it no don't stop it no no don't stop it no don't stop it no no..."
- KC and the Sunshine Band
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mercedesrules
73 posts
Dec 04, 2010
9:20 AM
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.....And I am a little worried about "most of their songs". Does this mean that they have several guitars on stage? No one (I know of) completely retunes their guitars between songs. They could use capos, however. Take your full harp set and figure the harp based on what concert key they say the song is actually in.
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nacoran
3343 posts
Dec 04, 2010
1:32 PM
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Like Mercedes says, ask them what key they are actually playing in. They may have to think about it. Not all guitar players will know off the top of their head, but hey, you don't walk up and start playing and expect them to guess the key on the first bar.
Or, pump the room with a helium mixture before the show. The hard part will be to get the mixture just right so the singer needs to have them tune back up to normal. (Does helium work that way? I've heard conflicting theories about whether it's effecting the vocal chords or if it is changing the way sound is transmitted. If it's changing the way the sound is transmitted it will throw off your harp too...)
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Nate
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99
14 posts
Dec 04, 2010
2:37 PM
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Thanks for the information. I just didn't know that a half step down would put me in a flat for that key. I like the helium idea. It would be cheaper than to get a set of harps in the flat keys.
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harmonicanick
1018 posts
Dec 04, 2010
2:50 PM
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Think on yer feet and think quick; I find a lot of (young) guitarists dont know what key they are playing in; that is to say they will say a key but it is not what they say.
If it sounds wrong just stand back, shake your head and let them get on with it. You dont want to be remembered as the player who sounded ****
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bluemoose
431 posts
Dec 04, 2010
4:09 PM
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I would think rather than tuning down a competent band would change key to suite the singers vocal range.
I'd be tempted to give it a pass and tell them to give you a call when they get serious. Bit harsh but the alternative is buying A-flat, D-flat, E-flat, F-sharp. You'll use an A-flat or E-flat now and then but it's pretty rare to need a D-flat or F-sharp.
But then it's a playing opportunity. Grin and do it but reinforce how much more awesome it would be in standard tuning.
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MBH Webbrain
FerretCat Webbrain
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swampboy
33 posts
Dec 05, 2010
7:57 AM
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It's fairly common for guitar players to tune down a semi-tone, it gives a darker tone and helps out the singer. Also anyone with a serious Hendrix/ SRV fixation may tune down to replicate their hero.
Just pick a harp 1 semi-tone lower than you normally would!
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