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

EagleMoon

EagleMoon

Jul 13, 2007
12,819
1,310
Phoenix, Arizona
#1
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.
 
#3
EagleMoon said:
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.
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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. :D

Whatever you and the band decides, I'm sure you'll be fine. Good luck!
 
#4
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.
 
#7
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.
 
#8
4001 said:
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....
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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.
 
#10
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.
 
#16
John Wentzien said:
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!
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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.
 
#20
EagleMoon said:
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.
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A=440 is not gender biased.:D
 

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