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RE: Standard Tuning in a band

Author: Eileen
Date: 2001-10-27 18:40

I play both guitar and clarinet. Some guitar-based songs are in particular keys to achieve a distinct sound. An open string has a different sound quality than a fretted string. Many blues (and punk rock) songs are written in E or A to take advantage of the sound of the open low E-string in the bass note of the chord. That droning effect is accentuated when the E string is tuned down to D. Many country songs are written in G or keys using G for the full ringing effect of using all six strings in the chord. (Some chords do not use all the strings). If a guitar player is playing slide, certain open tuning keys must be used.

What this means is that the guitar players may be reluctant to change the key if it alters the character of the song. If those qualities are not important, it is a simple matter on a guitar to use a capo (a clamping device which raises the key) to accomodate a singer or wind player. Most acoustic players use capos routinely; many electric guitar players do not. So I would make sure that you ask the guitar players to bring one along.

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