webfolk
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Post by webfolk on May 29, 2024 10:43:47 GMT
Last night, I went out to an acoustic session in a local pub. It was all good and we played some great tunes together. The one thing that bugged me was that the guy who was hosting the night had tuned his guitar down a semitone, This meant that sometimes it was almost impossible to jam along with him. No, it wasn’t that his guitar was old and the neck tension might have been too much. and I can understand why someone would perhaps tune it down a semi tone if it better suited their voice when they were performing on their own, But to tune it down a semi tone when playing at the session when other people are expected to join in seems to me to be very selfish. Either that or he didn’t want anybody else playing along with him. I’d be interested in peoples comments.
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on May 29, 2024 11:55:24 GMT
Seems a very odd thing to do! If it was 'guitar issues' I'd've expected them to capo on the 1st fret. I reckon you're right - it was so he could go solo (or he needs a new battery in his tuner) ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/3218224/images/rBu6Z_cEBMxaUS4Ea5Qu.gif)
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Post by borborygmus on May 29, 2024 11:58:17 GMT
Seems a very odd thing to do! If it was 'guitar issues' I'd've expected them to capo on the 1st fret. ...instead of the minus 1st fret! Not many capos can do that.
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webfolk
Strummer
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Posts: 45
My main instrument is: Fylde Goodfellow
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Post by webfolk on May 29, 2024 13:03:49 GMT
He did “capo 1” (other frets are available) some of the time but it still seems silly and also throws you off a bit if your trying to follow him!
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on May 29, 2024 13:43:56 GMT
Geoff, is this a guitar (and similar) only affair, or are there other instruments ( eg fiddles, whistles, melodeons etc) too?
Keith
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Post by fatfingerjohn on May 29, 2024 15:01:53 GMT
I'll have to own up to 'tuning down' half a step at times, partly to suit vocal on a few songs, but specifically when I played at a certain local folk club (now defunct) and there was a particular chap who insisted, without asking, to try to play along with other people doing their bit. I find it hard at times to concentrate on what I'm doing at the best of times in public but find this really annoying especially if I was trying to do something fingerstyle with a bit of feeling and he was just bashing away with what he thought were the right chords, strumming. Subtleties of e.g. major 7ths were just drowned out. (Using an alternative tuning also worked well too!🤣)
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on May 29, 2024 16:10:22 GMT
fatfingerjohn - Nice on FFJ. Maybe that's why the club you mention is now defunct?! No-one likes to be heavy with "rules" but either the situation is a jam-along for all or a performance for individuals/duos etc. Pity the club organisers didn't seem to be on top of that. The omnipresent strummer was very rude - wire cutters might have been the best solution! To be really sneaky in future, and to fool any smart-arse "accompanists", try tuning to "in between" any standard pitches... Keith
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Post by lavaman on May 29, 2024 16:42:32 GMT
I tune down a semi tone quite a lot. Sometimes to suit my singing but often to get the best sound out of the guitar. My Taylor Big Baby sounds better in Eb.
For a session where others are invited to join in then its easy to put a capo on at fret one
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webfolk
Strummer
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Posts: 45
My main instrument is: Fylde Goodfellow
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Post by webfolk on May 30, 2024 8:02:16 GMT
Geoff, is this a guitar (and similar) only affair, or are there other instruments ( eg fiddles, whistles, melodeons etc) too? Keith on this occasion there was an acoustic bass and a fiddle. I think the unnamed host does this all the time though. I cannot imagine him playing at many sessions where squeezy boxes and whistles are the norm. It could best be described as a contemporary jam.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on May 30, 2024 8:51:37 GMT
Geoff, is this a guitar (and similar) only affair, or are there other instruments ( eg fiddles, whistles, melodeons etc) too? Keith on this occasion there was an acoustic bass and a fiddle. I think the unnamed host does this all the time though. I cannot imagine him playing at many sessions where squeezy boxes and whistles are the norm. It could best be described as a contemporary jam. Thanks Geoff - gotcha. Sounds like the bloke is just being awkward/selfish/prima donna ish/or just doesn't think! I used to help lead a trad music instrumental session where flat keys were fairly frequent. Just wondered if that was the case here, but obvs not. Time someone set him straight I think! Keith
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