"Tuning" Keyboard To Dropped C?

[MinorKey]

Hi there,

I want to play a couple of songs on my keyboard, the only catch is that I don't know in what key I should learn them because, well... It's a metal band and the guitars are tuned to dropped C (D5, A4, F4, C4, G3, C3). The band has a keyboardist and I suppose, that his synth(s) are tuned down as well, but I don't know, and have no way of finding out, whether it's one or two steps.
What approach would you choose? Because of that C3, 2 steps down seems like the more logical option (to me anyway), but I'd be interested to know what you guys think..

[OpAmp]

Hi,

Euhm...
If you know the note sequence to play, try to use transpose down/up. This way you can keep playing the same physical keys, while they sound lower/higher while keeping the intervals between the notes.

Else, you try to play really in a lower or higher key, but that is more difficult. (Exercise your scales... )

I would go for the scale that is the easiest to play and use the transpose function. Especially metal, it can go fast.

Remark also that apart from the C3, other strings are only tuned down 1 step versus standard tuning. Why the difference for the low string compared to the others? Same reason as my previous point: much easier to form quickly major/power chords on the neck of the guitar.

A similar approach on a keyboard is maybe possible (i.e. redefine the pitch per key to have easier chords) but seems quite exotic to me...

Ciao.

[billbaker]

Drop C aside, you're playing a step down from the normal E tuned guitar chord as you form them. You want to make sure that your chords take into account the accidentals of the repitched scale - 2 sharps for D vs. 4 sharps for E, etc.

It's really no different than playing along with a capo'd guitar, which I do often enough to make it an issue I'm familiar with. I don't generally care what they're playing; whether they've capo'd to third fret and are playing A or down to drop-C and play the D form [x-x-0-2-3-2] you're still playing a C on keyboard. I just learn the tune and it's in a key I'm given, and I can transpose as needed if we need to accommodate a singer with a different range, or a transposed instrument.

IMO key of the instrment doesn't figure into it -- repitched or naturally off pitch instruments (like Eb Alto Sax] -- they should know what concert pitch is and if you do guitar and keys you should know by the second time you play it that it's fingered G on guitar and sounds F on piano.

This is an instance where knowing a number system, rather than pitch (letter) names comes in really handy. The root is the root for any instrument, and the relationships between chords are expressed in numbers. A 1-4-5-1 progression is always that, regardless of key or instrument or tuning/transposition -- once each player establishes what the root key is you can just refer to the numbers and never have to bother with the letter/accidental of the various instruments.


BB

[MinorKey]

Thanks for taking the time to answer, guys.

[billbaker]

@ minorkey,

I went back and re-read your original post.

I'm realize that I was making an assumption in my reply, but it would be really unusual for any keyboard player to transpose his instrument to match the guitars even if they were re-tuned; after all, guitarists may play with any number of alternative tunings.

You, the keyboard player, just play it in concert pitch and its not an issue for you unless they have no clue what notes (concert pitch) they were actually playing [which may be the case] and they try to tell you. [Or if you're the guitarist and only know the alt-tuned (played) key.]

As a keyboardist who has learned guitar as well the only impact drop tuning has on me is if I "read" the guitarist's hands for chord or key clues -- which is to say if I'm just learning a tune, or lost in the arrangement. In that case a visual cue would need to be transposed by me. Only if I ask "what chord is next" would I expect the guitarist to tell me, and he should know concert (actual) key and be able to say "Gm7" if that is what it is - even if he's fingering an A minor and drop-tuned.

The main reason to for guitarists to drop tune or alt tune is to make certain riffs or chords more playable. My own experience is that I'd just as soon learn it in a new key (...any key... all keys... as a jazz player and accompanist for singers I do that all the time) and be able to play with anybody.


BB