Hi, I remember reading here a while ago that most of you guys tune to Eb, instead of E. For those of you that do that and are able to read notes, how do you not get confused in finding where notes are? Did you stop playing in standard tuning altogether, did you just get used to both or is there some trick to it? Somehow my Rev seems to sound and feel better tuned down a little, might slap on some heavier strings though. Any thoughts?

It can be tricky, when reading. But, you'll get used to it. A few weeks of focused practice, and you'll have it.
You might go up 1 gauge. Say from 9s to 10s. Or, 10s to 11s.
Also, you may have to re-set all of your amp and pedals, to account for the low-mids, and the extra "push" your amp may get from the lowered tuning.

Swain, do you tune down all the time, so you have to switch between two types of reading? I should get back to that perfect pitch training thingy, if it doesn't help it won't hurt either, I guess. If I go up a gauge I'll be just like Robin Trower, 12's in E-flat

Honestly, I almost never read. Only for a job. Or, for teaching. I just tune down and play, when needed. But, I just mentally adjust when reading. E goes to Eb. A goes to Ab. D goes to Db. G goes F#, usually. B goes to Bb. I find that the F# is way more common, than the Gb. Hope this helps!

P.S.
I'd work on your relative pitch, more than your perfect pitch. It's more useful, I think.

quote:

Originally posted by Swain:
P.S.
I'd work on your relative pitch, more than your perfect pitch. It's more useful, I think.

It is, but I work on both. The main reason I'm working on my perfect pitch is because it will make it easier for me to read on guitar and to transfer playing styles between sax, keys and guitar. I play the most intelligently on sax, I play around with voicings a lot on keys and on guitar I play the most melodiously...

Working on your pitch whether it's realtive or perfect is only going help you be a better musician on any instrument no matter what ... so keep going with that of course.

As to reading if your tuned down a 1/2 step ... I regularly read trumpet, tenor sax (both in Bb), and bass clef parts as well as write out parts for those instruments plus alto sax (Eb). I know where all the notes are on the neck and I just adjust my position up or down as to the key I'll "actually be playing in", but read it as if I was in the key it's written in. Does that make any sense at all? Basically it's just "position" playing for me.

Guitar is really my only instrument but learning to write for other instruments has not only made transposition a lot easier, it's exponentially increased my general comprehension of music. It's very cool that you play keys, sax, and guitar. Oh, and for the record; I never tune down to Eb.