Tuning Down Question

[Judd]

Please bear with me.

I know virtually nothing about music theory..all I know for
sure is I love strumming and pickin my guitar.

However, if I tune down my guitar a 1/2 step from standard tuning., what
key am I playing in if someone asks.

I'd like to try an accompany myself with a harmonica..is this possible if
I've tuned down the guitar the 1/2 step? Are there any harmonicas tuned
down similarily.

I appreciate the info I've picked up here. Thanks Wade, and the others in
the group for responding to some of my posts that must seem, at times
to be rather primitive. :)

[Judd]

Post by Judd
Please bear with me.
I know virtually nothing about music theory..all I know for
sure is I love strumming and pickin my guitar.
However, if I tune down my guitar a 1/2 step from standard tuning., what
key am I playing in if someone asks.
I'd like to try an accompany myself with a harmonica..is this possible if
I've tuned down the guitar the 1/2 step? Are there any harmonicas tuned
down similarily.
I appreciate the info I've picked up here. Thanks Wade, and the others in
the group for responding to some of my posts that must seem, at times
to be rather primitive. :)

...

G flat...is this possible???

[don hindenach]

Post by Judd
G flat...is this possible???

sure! it's just F#, talked about differently

[Frank Lynch]

On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 19:51:31 -0500, in a clarity of expression

Post by Judd
Please bear with me.
I know virtually nothing about music theory..all I know for
sure is I love strumming and pickin my guitar.
However, if I tune down my guitar a 1/2 step from standard tuning., what
key am I playing in if someone asks.
I'd like to try an accompany myself with a harmonica..is this possible if
I've tuned down the guitar the 1/2 step? Are there any harmonicas tuned
down similarily.
I appreciate the info I've picked up here. Thanks Wade, and the others in
the group for responding to some of my posts that must seem, at times
to be rather primitive. :)

...

Well, unless you start playing your guitar in "Db," (really C) Ab
(really G), and so on, I would think you'd have trouble finding
harmonicas.

Try a whole step down: that's what Neil Young used to do, if you look
in his old books, and he often played harmonica with his acoustic
guitar.

Frank Lynch
The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page is at:
http://www.samueljohnson.com/

[paul asbell]

Post by Judd
Please bear with me.
I know virtually nothing about music theory..all I know for
sure is I love strumming and pickin my guitar.
However, if I tune down my guitar a 1/2 step from standard tuning., what
key am I playing in if someone asks.
I'd like to try an accompany myself with a harmonica..is this possible if
I've tuned down the guitar the 1/2 step? Are there any harmonicas tuned
down similarily.
I appreciate the info I've picked up here. Thanks Wade, and the others in
the group for responding to some of my posts that must seem, at times
to be rather primitive. :)

...

Fair question, Judd... but the answer isn't a simple one.

The guitar, when tuned in "standard" tuning, can play in ANY of the 12
keys. The keys of C, A, G, E, and D are especially convenient, and
therefore common ones. Generally, acoustic guitarists who AREN'T using a
capo are playing in one of those keys practically all the time.

tuning down a 1/2 step simply means that every string is a 1/2 step
lower than it normally would be.... but all the fingerings guitarists
use to make chords still sound fine. The chords they're playing are
simply 1/2 step lower than they normally would be.

So... such a guitarist would be playing most, or all, of his pieces in
B, Ab, Gb, Eb, and Db now... whether he's aware of it or not.

It's POSSIBLE to find harmonicas for some of those keys... though I
doubt they're common. If you DO find harmonicas in said keys, you're all
set.

Note- for blues-style harmonica style (often called "cross-harp") things
are a bit different. For example, to play in the key of B "cross-harp",
you're gonna need an E harp. For the other 4 keys mentioned above,
you'll need Db, B, Ab, and Gb harps.

Glad you asked, I'll bet...:)



Paul


Paul Asbell
***@paulasbell.com
www.paulasbell.com

[Steve Comeau]

Post by Judd
Please bear with me.
I know virtually nothing about music theory..all I know for
sure is I love strumming and pickin my guitar.
However, if I tune down my guitar a 1/2 step from standard tuning., what
key am I playing in if someone asks.
I'd like to try an accompany myself with a harmonica..is this possible if
I've tuned down the guitar the 1/2 step? Are there any harmonicas tuned
down similarily.
I appreciate the info I've picked up here. Thanks Wade, and the others in
the group for responding to some of my posts that must seem, at times
to be rather primitive. :)

...

Hi Judd,

Given that you're using the same chord shapes and positions as you did
before you tuned the guitar down, then every song you play will be in a key
1/2 step down from before. So if you were playing a song in G, you're now
playing in G-flat (Gb) or A-sharp (A#). If you were playing a song in E,
it's now in E-flat or D-sharp. And so on...

Yes, you can buy harmonicas in all twelve keys. Check out this link for
starters:

http://www.harpdepot.com/hoh-dia.cfm

I know you're probably confused, but guitars aren't tuned to a key. Rather,
you play a song using a progression of chords, or series of notes (scales)
that are in a given key. That said, lots of folks here use open tunings
where the guitar is tuned so that it plays a chord when strummed open. But
that's another subject.

Typically, the first chord or last chord of a song directly or indirectly
tells you the key of a song. Here's some examples using simple three-chord
song progressions:

Key - Chords
A - A, D, E
C - C, F, G
D - D, G, A
E - E, A, B
F - F, Bb, C
G - G, C, D

So, a simple song in the key of G using the chords G, C and D is now in Gb
on your guitar and the chords are Gb, B and Db. Because you tuned down 1/2
a step, all of your chords are likewise down 1/2 a step.

By the way, the Beatles often tuned their guitars down 1/2 a step. If
you're into playing along with their recordings, songs like "Hey You've Got
to Hide Your Love Away" and "Yesterday" are much easier to follow a 1/2 a
step down.

All the best,

Steve Comeau

[Judd]

In article <dNydnRU0j6W5e7vdRVn-***@comcast.com>, ***@comcast.net
says...

Post by Steve Comeau

Post by Judd
Please bear with me.
I know virtually nothing about music theory..all I know for
sure is I love strumming and pickin my guitar.
However, if I tune down my guitar a 1/2 step from standard tuning., what
key am I playing in if someone asks.
I'd like to try an accompany myself with a harmonica..is this possible if
I've tuned down the guitar the 1/2 step? Are there any harmonicas tuned
down similarily.
I appreciate the info I've picked up here. Thanks Wade, and the others in
the group for responding to some of my posts that must seem, at times
to be rather primitive. :)

Hi Judd,
Given that you're using the same chord shapes and positions as you did
before you tuned the guitar down, then every song you play will be in a key
1/2 step down from before. So if you were playing a song in G, you're now
playing in G-flat (Gb) or A-sharp (A#). If you were playing a song in E,
it's now in E-flat or D-sharp. And so on...
Yes, you can buy harmonicas in all twelve keys. Check out this link for
http://www.harpdepot.com/hoh-dia.cfm
I know you're probably confused, but guitars aren't tuned to a key. Rather,
you play a song using a progression of chords, or series of notes (scales)
that are in a given key. That said, lots of folks here use open tunings
where the guitar is tuned so that it plays a chord when strummed open. But
that's another subject.
Typically, the first chord or last chord of a song directly or indirectly
tells you the key of a song. Here's some examples using simple three-chord
Key - Chords
A - A, D, E
C - C, F, G
D - D, G, A
E - E, A, B
F - F, Bb, C
G - G, C, D

...

Thanks Steve , I really appreciate the info and I'm much less confused
now. I've searched online and I did find that harmonicas are sold in all
12 keys...so I'd have to get myself several harmonicas as long as the key
is sharp or flat.

[misifus]

Post by Judd
Please bear with me.
I know virtually nothing about music theory..all I know for
sure is I love strumming and pickin my guitar.
However, if I tune down my guitar a 1/2 step from standard tuning., what
key am I playing in if someone asks.
I'd like to try an accompany myself with a harmonica..is this possible if
I've tuned down the guitar the 1/2 step? Are there any harmonicas tuned
down similarily.
I appreciate the info I've picked up here. Thanks Wade, and the others in
the group for responding to some of my posts that must seem, at times
to be rather primitive. :)

...

Some people who tune down do so to suit their voices better. If
so, that won't help with a harp. Others tune down for lower
tension, and then capo up to get back to more common pitches. If
you tune down a half step and then capo on the first fret, you'll
be back where you want to be for the harp.

-Raf

[Mike brown]

Post by Judd
Please bear with me.
I know virtually nothing about music theory..all I know for
sure is I love strumming and pickin my guitar.
However, if I tune down my guitar a 1/2 step from standard tuning., what
key am I playing in if someone asks.
I'd like to try an accompany myself with a harmonica..is this possible if
I've tuned down the guitar the 1/2 step? Are there any harmonicas tuned
down similarily.
I appreciate the info I've picked up here. Thanks Wade, and the others in
the group for responding to some of my posts that must seem, at times
to be rather primitive. :)

...

What key chord shapes are you using ?

If you are using C, F, G7, then your actual sound will be B, E, A#7.

MJRB

[A Nengineer]

Post by Judd
Please bear with me.
However, if I tune down my guitar a 1/2 step from standard tuning., what
key am I playing in if someone asks.

It depends on what chords you are playing.

For example, if you are playing a song with a C-F-G chord progression (or
variation thereof), you would actually be playing in the key of B Major
(instead of C Major, in standard tuning).

[Sheldon]

I think everyone has explained the "key" thing quite well, but as for the
harmonica, why not just get a chromatic?

Not sure how you're going to play guitar and push the button on the
harmonica at the same time, but I can only solve one problem at a time.

Post by Judd
Please bear with me.
I know virtually nothing about music theory..all I know for
sure is I love strumming and pickin my guitar.
However, if I tune down my guitar a 1/2 step from standard tuning., what
key am I playing in if someone asks.
I'd like to try an accompany myself with a harmonica..is this possible if
I've tuned down the guitar the 1/2 step? Are there any harmonicas tuned
down similarily.
I appreciate the info I've picked up here. Thanks Wade, and the others in
the group for responding to some of my posts that must seem, at times
to be rather primitive. :)

...

[Steve Comeau]

Post by Sheldon
I think everyone has explained the "key" thing quite well, but as for the
harmonica, why not just get a chromatic?

Because everyone knows that you look way cooler with an ammo belt guitar
strap stuffed with a blues harp in every key! :-)

Steve

Post by Sheldon
Not sure how you're going to play guitar and push the button on the
harmonica at the same time, but I can only solve one problem at a time.

Post by Judd
Please bear with me.
I know virtually nothing about music theory..all I know for
sure is I love strumming and pickin my guitar.
However, if I tune down my guitar a 1/2 step from standard tuning., what
key am I playing in if someone asks.
I'd like to try an accompany myself with a harmonica..is this possible if
I've tuned down the guitar the 1/2 step? Are there any harmonicas tuned
down similarily.
I appreciate the info I've picked up here. Thanks Wade, and the others in
the group for responding to some of my posts that must seem, at times
to be rather primitive. :)

...

[sycochkn]

I guess you buy all 12 harmonicas

Post by Sheldon
I think everyone has explained the "key" thing quite well, but as for the
harmonica, why not just get a chromatic?
Not sure how you're going to play guitar and push the button on the
harmonica at the same time, but I can only solve one problem at a time.

Post by Judd
Please bear with me.
I know virtually nothing about music theory..all I know for
sure is I love strumming and pickin my guitar.
However, if I tune down my guitar a 1/2 step from standard tuning., what
key am I playing in if someone asks.
I'd like to try an accompany myself with a harmonica..is this possible if
I've tuned down the guitar the 1/2 step? Are there any harmonicas tuned
down similarily.
I appreciate the info I've picked up here. Thanks Wade, and the others in
the group for responding to some of my posts that must seem, at times
to be rather primitive. :)

...