So the singer looks at me and says....

[HurricaneJesus]

..."I'm pretty hung over. We're gonna have to tune to E flat tonight."

Oh joy.

 

[arthur rotfeld]

I'd go 1/4 step UP!

 

[mcgriff420]

I don't see a problem? Maybe you'll like it..

 

[GuitarsFromMars]

hungover?

 

[HurricaneJesus]

I don't see a problem? Maybe you'll like it..

I dunno. The extra slinkiness was nice, I guess but it really seemed to kill the dynamics.

 

[billm408]

In both the hard rock cover band and Thin Lizzy tribute, we tune down a half step. Much easier on the singer and I like the heavier rhythm tone.

 

[EricPeterson]

A lot of bands do that live. Actually I find the tone of my guitars tuned a half step lower rather infectious. I would leave them that way if it was easier to play along with other people.

 

[Brian D]

I suppose asking him not to get completely wasted the night before you play is out of the question? I mean, if you came in and said, "Man, I was on the keyboard at my computer all night and my fingers are toast. I'll have to skip the solos tonight", do you think you would catch some flack about it?



(No, I'm not really outraged. But it is kinda funny, if you think about it)

 

[Shredtrash]

Not a big deal IMO.

 

[dantedayjob]

This might sound bad, but I wouldn't do it. I'd tell him that my guitars are set up to be played in standard pitch and I wasn't going to muck with retuning them... it's his own damn fault for screwing up his voice, he needs to pull up his bootstraps and do his job.

 

[re-animator]

"and i'm badly in need of a manicure"

 

[Somniferous]

I think a guitar sounds better at a half step down. I dunno what it is about it, but it just seems more musical to me. I would also yell at the singer for being stupid and drinking heavily before a gig. I don't care who you are, that kind of behavior is very unprofessional.

 

[Tubes and Strings]

OTOH, to truly understand is to forgive... maybe his life kinda sucked and he just needs a break...??

I think a guitar sounds better at a half step down. I dunno what it is about it, but it just seems more musical to me. I would also yell at the singer for being stupid and drinking heavily before a gig. I don't care who you are, that kind of behavior is very unprofessional.

 

[scottywompas]

"Oh you're hungover? so sorry, here's a cup of coffee."

That would be my response.

Scott

 

[stratocat63]

I feel for you, that's really a prima donna thing to pull. If there are big time stakes, you may want to hang and deal with that, if it's not a life changing opportunity get far away asap (as soon as practical). But bottom line, do what you have to do to make the gig (one option might be lying, "hey, we are tuned down 1/2 step!", and some hair of the dog for the singer).

 

[squeally dan]

This might sound bad, but I wouldn't do it. I'd tell him that my guitars are set up to be played in standard pitch and I wasn't going to muck with retuning them... it's his own damn fault for screwing up his voice, he needs to pull up his bootstraps and do his job.

The problem with that is that people coming to a show won't even know that you are tuned 1/2 step down, but they will know if the singer sucks. I hate to say it, but I think we always have to accomdate the singer.

My singer said something simmilar about 4 years ago and we have been 1/2 step down since. No big deal. Once he was really hoarse and had us tune down a whole step. That sounded weird and my strings were rubberbands.

 

[Lightningrt]

Two years ago we sacked our singer, I became singer by default, I also upped my string gauge to .011 at the same time. I decided to tune down to E flat and haven't looked back since. We have a new singer now but still tune down and I really like it. Fortunately I don't jam often with other standard tuning dudes. If I do I choose a longer scale length guitar so the strings are still relatively slack. We don't have a keyboard player tho,. so it's not so bad.

 

[dr.morton]

Singer are much overrated in IMO.
I more and more prefer instrumental music.

 

[Telecaster62]

Your singer knows what E flat is? Amazing........:BEER

 

[Wooley]

This might sound bad, but I wouldn't do it. I'd tell him that my guitars are set up to be played in standard pitch and I wasn't going to muck with retuning them... it's his own damn fault for screwing up his voice, he needs to pull up his bootstraps and do his job.

This.

F**king singers.