I learn from books that come with CDs, and the examples I play typically sound higher pitched than the same tune from the CD. It's quite a dramatic difference. These are typical Hal Leonard type lesson books with music and tab, and a recording for the song.

I'm not sure what's different between their equipment and mine, and the settings.

For example, I am using Greg Koch's Hal Leonard book on Blues Guitar. Since Mr. Koch is likely playing a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster, his basic equipment is probably similar to my Stratocaster and Mesa amp (although he would likely be using a Fender amp too.)

When he plays the song, for example, Sittin' On Top Of The World, the opening notes on the two high strings sound about two octaves lower than when I play it. The lower notes sound a lot more similar to the recording.

So the difference seems to be in the sound of the B and high E strings.

I've tried several adjustments, but can't seem to fix this problem.

Can you give me an idea of what the difference is, and how I can fix it?

It's not just with this particular book. It's all of them, and I have several.

Thanks!

I was thinking maybe he was reading the tabs upside down? Playing the wrong string?

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I got a black cat bone, I got a mojo too.

I have the same CD, and yes it is different (tone) than what I am playing. The CD may be "mixed", where as you and I are hearing (us) through our amps (mono) Just keep in mind, that these Books and CDs are only learning guides.
Good Luck and have fun

Bill

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

I'm not reading the tab upside down. I've got the right melody. It's just a different pitch.

When you mentioned "mix". Is that a process of altering the sound of the recording?

The problem is not just for that book, but it's particularly conspicuous with that one.

I too use these books and the CD's that come with them. I have noticed differences in the octaves as well from a standard playing standpoint. I just chalk it up to the different equipment used (there's vs. mine), more than likely different pick ups used, different tuning (I have been playing around in standard A440 a lot lately, so everything that I play sounds a lot higher pitched than normal to me at least). I have been able to tweak around and match the pitch pretty spot on though, but mostly I play it the way my ears like it. Also remember theres is most likely mixed and you are listening to it through your CD player/DVD player/TV speakers/radio speakers/PC speakers, etc, etc. and what you are playing is being heard dirctly through your guitar to your amp to your ears right at you, so this can also be a likely octave difference in sound to your ears.

Hope this helps, remember, play the tone/pitch/octave that sounds good to you.


hotrod

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1983 Gibson Explorer 1 (main axe)
2004 Fender American Standard Stratocaster (Butterscotch on ash 1 piece maple neck and fretboard) (my baby)
2008 BC Rich Assassin neck thru(fun toy)
Peavey 5150 212 combo (early model) FREAKIN CRUNCH MONSTER!

Check and see if he is tuned down a half step. I have two Greg Koch DVDs and on both he is tuned a half step down to Eb. This is the only thing that could make sense to me.

Or an open alternate tunning...

I'll take a shot at this, when I was younger if a person were to copy their favorite album to casette to use in the car stereo there would be a ohm mismatch and the speakers would overdrive. Maybe it's that type of problem. Are you playing through your amp or stereo... I have several HL learning cds and I don't know what it sounds like in my stereo but what I do is copy the cd to my computer then I put it on an MP3 player and then plug that into my amp. I get ok results. Any difference between me and them I assume to be about 100,000.00 dollars of equipment.

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