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Post subject: SRV licks without tuning down?
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:11 am
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Here's a question that will reveal my general musical ignorance.

I really enjoy watching the SRV-inspired instructional videos that Anthony Stauffer posts on his excellent site, StevieSnacks (http://www.steviesnacks.com). Like Stevie Ray, Anthony tunes his guitar down half a step; i.e. Eb instead of E, etc.

So here's the question: What if I keep my guitar in standard tuning instead of tuning down? If I play the licks with the same fretting as Anthony, my version will be sharp relative to his. Is that okay, or will it sound stupid? The alternative would be to play everything one fret lower (which causes problems with open strings and anything on the 1st fret).

I should point out that I don't necessarily want to sound just like SRV--not that I ever could--I just want to learn some general blues techniques. Any advice on this subject will be appreciated.


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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:05 am
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I don't see what difference a pitch higher will make. I change keys for the same songs all the time. If I play with someone on a harmonica, I'll often have to change keys to a song, just to match the harmonica tuning of the harmonicas the other person has on hand. I've also adjusted the key to a person's singing voice too.

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Post subject: Re: SRV licks without tuning down?
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:27 am
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[quote="russianracehorse"]

I would defer to the SRV followers on the forum but I would venture to say that, in general, his tuning reflected both the string gauges he preferred and the tonal quality he pursued. Additionally, I was under the impression that SRV tuned to D but I will stand corrected if not so.

For you own purposes, any song can be played in any key. Unfortunately, the 'truth' of a particular sound is captured by the original key and the neck positions in which it was born. Yes, you will be relatively sharp to your teacher.

Case in point: "Satisfaction", which I must have sung 'literally' a gazillion times in the key of A forty years ago and, which my vocal range cannot attempt at the age of 66. Nor does that signature riff seem to work as well in any other key.

Doc

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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:54 am
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SRV I believe tuned to Drop D
IE: DADGBE

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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:00 am
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peterp wrote:
SRV I believe tuned to Drop D: i.e: DADGBE



Thank you........

Doc :wink:

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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:08 am
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peterp wrote:
SRV I believe tuned to Drop D
IE: DADGBE


Not to belabor the point, but that's not accurate. SRV's standard tuning is Eb. According to Fenders Players Club website (http://www.fenderplayersclub.com/artists_lounge/hall_of_legends/stevie_ray.htm), here is Stevie Ray's setup info:

Guitar: '59 Fender Stratocaster with the vibrato bar anchored off the bass end of the bridge and four springs tightened all the way up; rosewood fretboard; jumbo frets.

Tuning: Tuned down one half-step (Eb).

Slide tuning: Tuned G string up to Ab, other strings left the same.

Strings: Heavy

Picks: Played with pick and finger; used the round end of the pick.

Amps: Various

Recording: Almost all done "live" in the studio with very few overdubs of solos or vocals.


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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:17 pm
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peterp wrote:
SRV I believe tuned to Drop D
IE: DADGBE


Stevie played 1/2 step down to Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb, eb.
Tommy Shannon played a full step down to D, G, C, F

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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:44 pm
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If you want to play Eb stuff, but don't want to change your tuning from E, just play everything 1 fret back from where they/it says to play...Should work out for everything other than open notes...

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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:34 pm
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russianracehorse wrote:
peterp wrote:
SRV I believe tuned to Drop D IE: DADGBE
Not to belabor the point, but that's not accurate. SRV's standard tuning is Eb.

Double thankyou...

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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:57 pm
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Thanks to everyone for the input. I'll just try to learn as much as I can from the StevieSnacks videos, whether they're exactly same pitch as the originals or not. One nice thing about the blues is that it don't have to be perfect... 8)


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