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Post subject: Have we been listening to Robert Johnson at the wrong speed?
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:34 am
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I realize this is not a Fender related topic, but I found this article a very interesting read.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicbl ... nson-blues

Is it possible that we have been listening to the "King of the Delta Blues" by 20% too fast? Recordings of other artists may have had the tempo changed during the mastering process. Bands like The Doors, Miles Davis, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan immediately come to mind. Does this explain the reason for us having to alter our guitar’s tuning from A440 to figure out some of our favorite songs?


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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:41 am
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Exactly,way back when I was learning licks from records,I would tune to the song,many different things come into play on tape.
One example that comes to mind is Ramblin' Man from the Allman Brothers,I can't remember if you have to retune to play along but have heard the band members say that a tape machine in the studio was faster than it should have been,and that's why Dickey Betts' vocals sound higher than usual.


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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:43 am
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Could explain why his voice is so high pitched.

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Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 4:11 am
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Chuck Berry was a big fan of this technique, to make himself sound younger. It's why Johnny B Goode is in Bb. He played it in A, the speed up raised the pitch.

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Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:09 am
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Well huh. I just dropped two Robert Johnson tracks ("Come On In My Kitchen" and "Sweet Home Chicago") into Audacity and reduced the speed by 9%. They really do sound better.

Next they'll tell us we have to slow down our Chipmunks records too! :shock:

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