Musician Gear & Tech Discussion

Much of the music was written by Ray Jackson whom is our front man.
Though many of the >20 original songs we play and will be recording were written in collaboration with all members of the band and originating ideas from individuals both in and outside the band.
Yes, Ray also plays guitar.
You are invited to check out both my BandMix site as well as our website at the address below.
Be forewarned however, the music we have posted is crudely recorded at best. Studio date pending as are our professional photos.
We hope to really start pushing our mission into the public this year.

Nothing wrong with crudely recorded.... I can get the grand scheme of what you're trying to do. Sounds not too bad. I do think the half step down would give it a little more edge. What is Ray's reasoning for no half step? Our singer Aaron has at time tried to push for drop D, to which I have fought back that I just don't see where drop D can do much you can't do otherwise - almost a cheater tuning, but half step down (Eb) I really like - still have full scales available without much different and gets that deeper crunch. Perhaps he's worried about his vocals adjusting to the detuning or the trouble of switching guitars from one song to the next?

I just recently started playing and singing at the same time. So far everything I've written solo has been tuned half step. I tuned down one day to learn a cover and when I went to sing something else I just left it tuned that way and I liked the way it sounded.

Then again I am in no way a "musician"... I'm just a singer that likes to pick at the guitar.

Nothing wrong with crudely recorded.... I can get the grand scheme of what you're trying to do. Sounds not too bad. I do think the half step down would give it a little more edge. What is Ray's reasoning for no half step? Our singer Aaron has at time tried to push for drop D, to which I have fought back that I just don't see where drop D can do much you can't do otherwise - almost a cheater tuning, but half step down (Eb) I really like - still have full scales available without much different and gets that deeper crunch. Perhaps he's worried about his vocals adjusting to the detuning or the trouble of switching guitars from one song to the next?

Ray just don't like the sound.
The guys feel we have that signature sound working, don't want to change it.

Hey Chris, I'm no musician either.
I just play the guitar.

Hmmm sans - no offense but sounds like Mr. Ray is stuck in a rut way of doing things - never hurts to branch out and try something different!

sans - I wrote a pretty good lil tune with a flat G string, while the rest was tuned standard. It's pretty cool when you hammer into an Em & then follow it up with a D add9 by only holding the 3rd fret of the 2nd string. Of course, playing a G or a C in the tune is a bit more of a challenge, but I can pull it off pretty well.

Sans: We drop a half step for A-high E and a step and a half for low E. So from low to high it's: D flat, A flat, D flat, G flat, B flat, and E flat. It takes some time to get used to, but it opens up other opportunities that can't be done in standard tuning no matter where you're at. The only thing that I don't like about it is that it messes up scales and modes with your low string.

I'd say DO IT and see what you guys think about it. Like Mike said...you may have to re-intonate, but I kind of doubt it since you're only talking a half step. If you go a whole step or more, then you would most definetly have to re-intonate. Changing gauge of strings also affects this...

Thanks for all the input guys.
We did give it a shot.
But to be honest, with us going to studio in two weeks to work on the CD.
Now is not the time to be making major organizational changes.
It's been tough. We've not had a full rehearsal now in three weeks due to Ray's relocation and Tony's surgery.
Tomorrow were supposed to be back at it.
Keep yer fingers crossed !!

Question sanshouheil - why is your singer determining key of guitar riffs? Does he play guitar too? Seems kind of odd...

he's got a point. have the singer sing in e standard and everyone play in d standard. :facepalm: