Tuning to E flat for songs originally written that way -do you do it?

EagleMoon · #1 02-05-2010, 05:23 PM

My band is getting ready to start playing a few songs that were originally written in E flat and we've been having the discussion about whether to tune down or transpose up to E. . I think changing the song to E instead kind of changes the way the song feels, but am willing to tune down if needed. I was just wondering what people generally do. I can certainly buy a D-Tuner, which I've been thinking of doing.

John Wentzien · #2 02-05-2010, 05:26 PM

Not worth it for a half-step down.
It will throw your "ear" off after a while....

electracoyote · #3 02-05-2010, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleMoon

My band is getting ready to start playing a few songs that were originally written in E flat and we've been having the discussion about whether to tune down or transpose up to E. . I think changing the song to E instead kind of changes the way the song feels, but am willing to tune down if needed. I was just wondering what people generally do. I can certainly buy a D-Tuner, which I've been thinking of doing.

Hey Eaglemoon, my band does this too. We do 1st set standard tuning, and put most of our Eb tunes in 2nd set, then 3rd set back to standard tuning.

Though I have a fiver and a D-tuner on another bass, I go with two 4-strings, one tuned standard, the other tuned Eb. I don't think it matters between the D-tuner or Eb tuning, just personal preference. I would imagine there are songs where, due to the way they are played, the Eb tuning might give you a feel more faithful to the original, but I can't think of one off the top of my head.

We considered just playing everything in standard tuning, but for the purists in the band and the audience, we decided not to. Eb tuning serves its purposes of making bends easier for the guitards and giving the vocals a half step advantage. And I get to show off another bass at the gig.

Whatever you and the band decides, I'm sure you'll be fine. Good luck!

WalterBush · #4 02-05-2010, 05:36 PM

I didn't detune for Eb-tuned songs when I played guitar in a cover band. After a while, I stopped detuning for anything, and just tuned my guitar baritone and relearned all the tunes we did in the original key (Eb or otherwise).

For bass, I just gave up on four strings. I only own one four-banger now, and it's a Steinberger with the DB bridge. One flip and I'm in dropped-whatever.

A half-step tuning difference might make bends easier for guitarists, but so does a different setup or lighter strings. The only reason I'd consider for adding a layer of complexity to a gig by bringing extra axes is playing in a different key for the singer's benefit.

walker rosewood · #5 02-05-2010, 05:36 PM

another option.... www.morpheusdroptune.com/

4001 · #6 02-05-2010, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

Not worth it for a half-step down.
It will throw your "ear" off after a while....

OMG!! That happened to me.
When I was listening to songs in my head, I would make note of the notes I'm hearing to myself and then check it against the real versions and the real ones would be a half step higher.

Freakey....

Vic Winters · #7 02-05-2010, 05:42 PM

We started out standard only but we're slowly making the change to Eb. It's much easier to sing, with and in a way you can "cover more ground" with less instrument changes. For example, a guitar tuned to drop D and a half step can do both drop D and drop C songs fairly convincingly.

John Wentzien · #8 02-05-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4001

OMG!! That happened to me.
When I was listening to songs in my head, I would make note of the notes I'm hearing to myself and then check it against the real versions and the real ones would be a half step higher.

Freakey....

I've seen this with guitards so many times it makes my head spin..
If you never want to play with any other instrument than guitar...go for it..at your own peril.

troy mcclure · #9 02-05-2010, 05:49 PM

In the band I play in currently we bring 2 guitars/basses to gigs.. we play some songs in Eb so we change guitars.

EagleMoon · #10 02-05-2010, 05:51 PM

Thanks for the tips guys. I'm still a bit torn about what to do. I've also got to do a bit of singing on these songs and I'm so used to hearing them in the original key that I'm a bit concerned about just playing them (and therefore singing them) in E instead.

Honk'n_down-low · #11 02-05-2010, 05:56 PM

I have always tuned down - placing the songs in the set where you can do this easily helps.

Some songs need the Eb IMO and the half step can help vocally - but does not matter as much if you have the range.

John Wentzien · #12 02-05-2010, 05:57 PM

Half a step isn't much...but it's enough to screw with your bass set-up.
Unless you put bigger strings on...too much flabby "slop" if you ask me.

Quit smoking and hit the "1/2" step higher on vocals IMO!

eddievanbassman · #13 02-05-2010, 05:59 PM

I always play in a half step down

**DougD** · #14 02-05-2010, 06:03 PM

Flat tuning is pretty standard in Gospel music. If I'm playing my 4 string in a Gospel situation it's always tuned to Eb. If I'm playing my 5, 6 or 7 string I don't bother because there no need.

John Wentzien · #15 02-05-2010, 06:04 PM

Try sitting in with any other instrumentation with that tuning. "especially with charts"
Piano, horns, harmonica etc. You're pooching yourself..for real!
Just making something "harder" than it needs to be!
This is just my opinion BTW>>

EagleMoon · #16 02-05-2010, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

Half a step isn't much...but it's enough to screw with your bass set-up.
Unless you put bigger strings on...too much flabby "slop" if you ask me.

Quit smoking and hit the "1/2" step higher on vocals IMO!

I don't and never have smoked, plus I'm a woman so it's not a matter of the higher step up bothering me, other than it changing the way the song sounds...and adjusting mentally to the song.

I'm just wondering what people generally do. We have about 4 songs out of our setlist that are in E flat tuning. So I didn't know if people just tuned down, or not.

Darkstrike · #17 02-05-2010, 06:53 PM

Always tuned down, never found it to sound right in E, music or singing.

EagleMoon · #18 02-05-2010, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Always tuned down, never found it to sound right in E, music or singing.

That's kind of what I'm thinking. Do you use a D-Tuner, tune the whole bass down or just the E string?

John Wentzien · #19 02-05-2010, 06:59 PM

There's no way I could hang with all of the different scenarios I run across if I tuned E-flat.
A-440 is the standard for a reason...

John Wentzien · #20 02-05-2010, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleMoon

I don't and never have smoked, plus I'm a woman so it's not a matter of the higher step up bothering me, other than it changing the way the song sounds...and adjusting mentally to the song.

I'm just wondering what people generally do. We have about 4 songs out of our setlist that are in E flat tuning. So I didn't know if people just tuned down, or not.

A=440 is not gender biased.