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da_joka
Lokahi
361 Posts |
 Posted - 11/19/2011 : 1:26:46 PM
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I just got Troy Fernandez's Hawaiian Style Ukulele vol. 1. I noticed that the recording for TNC is exactly 1/2 step higher than standard tuning. Does anyone know why? Did Troy do this for all of his songs on the CD? Do you think that he played it in standard tuning, then stepped it up after recording it, or does he like playing in (Ab Db F Bb)?
Tanks eh!
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If can, can. If no can, no can. |
Edited by - da_joka on 11/19/2011 1:27:14 PM |
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ricdoug
`Olu`olu
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2011 : 12:07:32 PM
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| A lot of musicians tune to each other's instruments, instead of using tuners. I.E. Hey Pete, lemme' hear your A string. Ric |
It's easier to ask for forgiveness, than permission! |
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Trev
Lokahi
United Kingdom
265 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2011 : 04:27:31 AM
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The liklihood is that he's done it deliberately, before recording it. There are a couple of possibilities as to why.
1) Playing in Db/C# and related keys suits his singing better.
2) The uke might have sounded better with the strings a bit tighter.
Did you know that until recently, the most common uke tuning in the UK was up to AD F#B? This is no longer the case - most people who play uke these days have taken it up since the internet was created, and get their chords of web sites, most of which are American, and therefore favour the G C E A tuning. My Alison started off with the higher D-ish tuning, but now exlcusively uses the C-ish Standard Hawaiian tuning. |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2011 : 08:08:09 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Trev
The liklihood is that he's done it deliberately, before recording it. There are a couple of possibilities as to why.
1) Playing in Db/C# and related keys suits his singing better.
2) The uke might have sounded better with the strings a bit tighter.
Did you know that until recently, the most common uke tuning in the UK was up to AD F#B? This is no longer the case - most people who play uke these days have taken it up since the internet was created, and get their chords of web sites, most of which are American, and therefore favour the G C E A tuning. My Alison started off with the higher D-ish tuning, but now exlcusively uses the C-ish Standard Hawaiian tuning.
Hi, Trev! Good to hear from you.
2 other things: 1)in the old days, when a song had to fit in a 3 1/2 minute 78, the engineers would speed them up (or slow them down) to fit; 2) When I got my first uke, back in 1952, the books I got with it (May Sinhgi Breen - 50 Famous Hits For Ukulele) advised using A D F# B - not so uncommon then. |
keaka |
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Trev
Lokahi
United Kingdom
265 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2011 : 12:22:11 AM
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Hello Jack! 1952? Surely you're too young to remember 1952?
Yeah, if it's an old recording, there's every chance that the speed has been changed, either by accident or design, during the recording process.
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da_joka
Lokahi
361 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2011 : 05:57:29 AM
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Thanks for da info! I wen learn ukulele in 4th grade, and was in GCEA tuning. Maybe tuning higher is how Troy get's his bright sound. I tink I goin try tuning mine up jus fo fun.
shootz, happy thanksgiving everybody! |
If can, can. If no can, no can. |
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Kapila Kane
Ha`aha`a
USA
1051 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2011 : 01:06:29 AM
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A month late, and with holidays, probably at least $30 short...
but two bits...
I agree with the relative tuning theory ( "let's tune to George's G note") the singers comfort, and string tension too.
But also, on recordings done since tuners became really common--seems we had em in the 70's!--but they're smaller and cheaper now...so everyone has access to 'em, and especially any place set up to record...
But I'm convinced solo artists like Ozzie and others do some 1/2 step up or down tuning tricks, not just for the physical feel of the strings, but to add to the sonic variation (is this called Psycho-Acoustics?) on a recording.
hence, when we listen, your ears and mind DON'T get 5 tunes in taropatch G and 5 in C...
It can get a nice shift from tune to tune.
Gb, G, Ab, C, B, and C# without a capo.
I really like the remote key feelings/sounds and the sonic shift from tune-to-tune you get on Ozzie's first Dancing Cat solo cd. And almost all are in a G or C tuning.
Of course there's "tape" speed...
which on older recordings before would have changed pitch, and speed..and we've done it now and then to record fiddle to a vocal in Db and Gb, but there are limits, speed (if using analog tape) and quality issues if carried too far...but a half step up or down pretty ok, although it drives me nuts to play open Gb and Db and hear everything sounding "off".
Final thought is some commercial records did analog speed ups at some point in production to give the final product a faster, perkier tempo for radio airplay!
And Paganini was known to sometimes tune his violin a half-step higher for brilliance and mystery on solo pieces. As if he needed it.
Guess the recording approaches and decisions made during recording could be questions for Ozzie or Mr. Winston...
G W was just here, but didn't get down to the Denver concert, but will go next time especially if hear a little slack is on the program!
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Edited by - Kapila Kane on 12/22/2011 01:22:31 AM |
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Recordings in different key?
