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DGNR8 · . Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4209 Location: DC Area

I was watching this video of some 1990s hair farmer doing Jimi Hendrix guitar lessons. The dude looked like an ugly relative of Tom Petty with split ends. But he knew what he was doing and was getting the sound with a RI Strat through a 68 Marshall head, Crybaby, Muff, and a little chorus. My only complaint is that he didn't slow it down enough to walk me through, and the close-ups of his fingers were at an odd enough angle I couldn't always tell what was happening.

Here's my question--why did Jimi tune down a half step? What does that buy? Wouldn't it be easier to play a stock tuning if it's going to be that close? It's fascinating to see how he played certain things, and how relatively simple it is, not counting the speed. The real art was writing it in the first place, and doing things that hadn't been done before. I imagine many players have been as expansive over the long haul, but he was one of the very first pioneers. Same shit happens in the art world, or anything.
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cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1148 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

A lot of times it's easier for the vocals if you tune down a half step. I don't know if that's why Hendrix did it.
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Mages · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject:

wow, an ugly relative of tom petty?? that's pretty ugly.

analogsystem · . Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 214 Location: Seattle

Because when you tune down a half step everything sounds bigger and the guitar is easier to play as well. A lot of Neil Young acoustic songs are standard intervals but the whole guitar tuned down a whole step. It just sounds a lot fuller and bigger to hit that low d or d# than e. Try it sometime....I think a lot of blues guys do it too.
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Will · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 2:45 am Post subject:

Also, light gauge strings didn't come out until about '72 or so. Whole step bends on 11s suck.

Curt Mitchell is a laugh riot - he's so painfully misinformed, yet at the same time regrettably talented. I think those videos were shot in his mom's garage.

DGNR8 · . Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4209 Location: DC Area

You fucking know that dude for my description? That's awesome. Good description, too. His fingers know more than he does.

Has there ever been a guitar designed and sold at a non-standard tuning?
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NickS · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject: Re: Half step

Will · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject: