Does this exist?

  • Thread starter Thread starter pdadda
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pdadda

pdadda

Captain Sea Boots
OK, I just thought of something that would be awesome to have. I play most of my guitar parts in standard tuning. However, some vocal parts are impossible for me unless I tune my guitar down 1/2 step. I only have one electric guitar when I play live (nd one acoustic), although I hope to expand as I get some money. Is there anything to run your guitar or bass through so that you can play in standard tuning but it will come out of the speakers 1/2 step down? I read something about a computerized, self-tuning add-on you can get on your guitar, but it costs a couple grand. I am looking for something cheaper than buying another guitar.
 
Learning the chords with the strings tuned down a half step seems to me like the cheapest way to go. You may just come out of it a little better player too!
 
I think what you are looking for is a pitch shifter. But the other post is right, learn to play it in a different key, it's not that hard
 
C'mon, you guitar players know that a different key can totally change the feel of a song. The timbre of the strings changes, the structure changes. Also, if you are playing something other than just chords, this can be very hard to do. For example, I have previously covered the Dashboard song "Hands Down" live. It relies heavily on open strings ringing. If you change the key, it doesn't sound right. I have heard other people change keys of songs live, and I almost always think it sounds wrong.
 
most of them can tune 100th of a step up or down. another suggestion is to tune the guitar down and use a capo on the 1st fret for the normal songs. Or tune the guitar daown and play all the songs that way.
 
I would tune a 1/2 step down, and use a capo for your standard tuning songs, ... or rent a second guitar for gigs. It might cost you about $20 or $25 for a night MAX.
 
futurestar said:
I would tune a 1/2 step down, and use a capo for your standard tuning songs, ... or rent a second guitar for gigs. It might cost you about $20 or $25 for a night MAX.
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Oooh...good one. I hadn't thought of the old tune down and use a capo. I wanted to jump in because a pitch shifter just ain't gonna work. It's not gonna sound anything like the original, and most won't be able to handle complex stuff like strummed chords. A really good pitch shifter will run you a couple grand. (Eventide)

A Hipshot bridge might be able to help as well. Even though it says they are for strat and tele, a friend of mine put a tele one on a Gibson SG.

Hipshot Trilogy

Another option is a Roland VG-88.
 
im confused as to why your not saving your money to get a second guitar than you can have alternatley tuned.
 
xfinsterx said:
im confused as to why your not saving your money to get a second guitar than you can have alternatley tuned.
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Dude this off thread, but what are you doing up at 3:30 in the morning? Just curious cause I haven't gone to bed yet, it's 6:30 am my time. Did sound last night for this band and things went a bit late, as they sometimes do with reggae/hip-hoppers who like to smoke :D . Live hip-hop. Good stuff.
 
Fair enough, but if you put your guitar through a pitch shifter, it probably won't sound like a guitar anymore. Just tune the guitar down 1/2 step. No biggie!

Or get another guitar. I have a Taylor 512 that I use exclusively for DADGAD work (or DADF#AD). It's a great excuse to cure GAS!

pdadda said:
C'mon, you guitar players know that a different key can totally change the feel of a song. The timbre of the strings changes, the structure changes. Also, if you are playing something other than just chords, this can be very hard to do. For example, I have previously covered the Dashboard song "Hands Down" live. It relies heavily on open strings ringing. If you change the key, it doesn't sound right. I have heard other people change keys of songs live, and I almost always think it sounds wrong.
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I had some terrible GAS last night..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................when i bought my new gibson hummingbird, (well, actually it is old, an original!) anyway, that will stay standard tuned, and my martin will probably be the guitar to mess with. two guitars is the way to go!

or at least rent one
 
Thanks a lot for the advice. I AM saving up for another guitar, but I want to get a really nice one, so it will be a while. That tuning down and using a capo for standard tuning seems like a great idea. I never even thought of that. Rather than use my brain, I tend to think, "How can I buy gear that will fix my problems?"
 
Why would he have to "learn" the chords with the strings tuned down? It would be the same chord shapes/fret positions/etc...

I guess I'm not sure why this thread is here. If pdadda has a song which is just a 1/2 step too high to sing, just tune down the guitar. No crazy pitch shifters needed, no learning new chords, no "changing the feel of the song" since the chord shapes will be the same....

Ahhhh, I'm just grumpy because it's 2:34 on Friday afternoon and I've been staring at the clock all afternoon waiting for 3:15... :(

ssscientist said:
Learning the chords with the strings tuned down a half step seems to me like the cheapest way to go. You may just come out of it a little better player too!
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gordone said:
Why would he have to "learn" the chords with the strings tuned down? It would be the same chord shapes/fret positions/etc...
:(
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Because, if he tunes the guitar down, the songs that he doesn't want to transpose will be 1/2 step flat also.
 
Problem with a capo is that it also changes the tone of the guitar, and affects the sustain, intonation...

Doesn't seem right to screw up your tone for all your other songs to sing one in a more comfortable range... Tune down
 
Don't know if anybody has played one since the '80s, but the Steinberger tremolo does this. You can change the pitch a number of steps down and lock it, and all of the strings are supposed to stay in tune.
 
The key here is that I am doing this live. Tuning down accurately between songs takes too much time when you only have one guitar.
MOFO, good call on the capo changing the sound. I tried this strategy, and it still didn't sound right. I'll just have to borrow a guitar until I can get another.
 
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