Hey OldBluesman! SRV question

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 52 Location: Delawhere

Saw in the Christmas post that you got the SRV in Austin DVD. I bought it for myself when I was picking up some DVDs for my wife and kids. It's an awesome disk; it's two Austin City Limits shows, one from '83 and one from '89.

I noticed something weird I wanted to check with you on. Everything is a 1/2 step flat. Stevie's playing in E and A, but I'm playing along (just rhythm) in Eb and Ab. Did he really tune down a 1/2 step, or is that a by-product of recording/making the DVD? I tried to figure it out by watching the keyboard, but it was too fast.

Guest

Every body tunes down a half step. Industry Standard. Easier to sing. Check the first Van Halen albums. Wink

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 52 Location: Delawhere

I did not know that (he said, sounding exactly like Johnny Carson).

I believe you, but I can't see where a 1/2 step would make that much of a difference vocally. It would make a huge difference to horns though. E and A are F# and B for trumpet and tenor sax. Uncomfortable keys to play in, brutal keys to solo in. Eb/Ab are F/Bb, much nicer for the horn guys.

Thanks for the info.

Guest

Stevie tuned down 1/2 step Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Bb,Eb...mostly due to the guage strings he was using 13-56s, he later changed to 11.5-56s according to all I have read and in talking to Rene Martinez, Stevies guitar tech and the guy who built my lipstick Strat for me.

Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 218

yes it does make it a little easier to sing with all tuned down a half step as we found with our band.....plus, I find it to sound warmer, deeper, and more full.
all my guitars are tuned to drop Db and I string 11-56. Keep in mind, most are short scale guitars unlike the longer strat scale that SRV used. Although, my Hamer Mirage is a strat scale and that also has the 11-56. Even if I went to Standard E, a half step down....I'd still use heavy strings, probably 10-52 or heavier. I am the only guitarist in the band and I notice a big difference with larger strings.