A Mark In Time

Mark Knopfler Discussion => Almost Straits => Topic started by: Rolo on June 07, 2023, 03:30:23 PM

Title: Waterline and Sultans - Live with a telecaster tuned down a half-step
Post by: Rolo on June 07, 2023, 03:30:23 PM
Hello Folks.

It's funny how some songs works better tuned down a half-step and some songs don't.
My last gig was made playing my telecaster with heavy strings and tuned down a hs.

Incredible how the Straits songs changed for worse.
Those songs needed to be on regular tuning.
It's like that something was missing.  :-\

https://youtu.be/X6CCa6FiQk0

00:16:28 - Down To The Waterline
00:54:40 - Sultans Of Swing

I'll probably will never tune down a hal-step again  ::)

Title: Re: Waterline and Sultans - Live with a telecaster tuned down a half-step
Post by: dustyvalentino on June 07, 2023, 05:26:31 PM
I never really understood the point in tuning down in any case but maybe I'm not sophisticated enough.

Just buy lighter gauge strings?!
Title: Re: Waterline and Sultans - Live with a telecaster tuned down a half-step
Post by: Rolo on June 07, 2023, 05:50:43 PM
I never really understood the point in tuning down in any case but maybe I'm not sophisticated enough.

Just buy lighter gauge strings?!

Well, Hendrix, SRV played, most of the time, tuned down a half-step.
Beck used to do that between 89 to 99 and again with Bozzio and Hymas in mid 2000's.
Scott Henderson used his guitar tuned down for a period too.
Both of them says that, to play the blues, is better to tune down a half-step. But its not a common sense.
Some says that the Planet Earth rings a G#, so... who knows!

I think tned down strats sounds great. The 2 and 4 positions sounds a bit different.
Telecasters... i dont think so.
I was using a fresh set of 0.12. So, i doesn't want to change the strings. (I use 0.10)

But was a nice lesson: Do not do it again
Title: Re: Waterline and Sultans - Live with a telecaster tuned down a half-step
Post by: dustyvalentino on June 07, 2023, 08:39:03 PM
I never really understood the point in tuning down in any case but maybe I'm not sophisticated enough.

Just buy lighter gauge strings?!

Well, Hendrix, SRV played, most of the time, tuned down a half-step.
Beck used to do that between 89 to 99 and again with Bozzio and Hymas in mid 2000's.
Scott Henderson used his guitar tuned down for a period too.
Both of them says that, to play the blues, is better to tune down a half-step. But its not a common sense.
Some says that the Planet Earth rings a G#, so... who knows!

I think tned down strats sounds great. The 2 and 4 positions sounds a bit different.
Telecasters... i dont think so.
I was using a fresh set of 0.12. So, i doesn't want to change the strings. (I use 0.10)

But was a nice lesson: Do not do it again

Yeah, I just can’t see any sense to it all, but whatever makes anyone happy, it’s not hurting anyone!