Van halen sound tuning down 1/2 step-Interesting finding

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nitro

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I noticed this yesterday in the studio,I have always tuned down 1/2 step also use fender XL150 strings(strings Ed used in the early days),its been said that Ed tuned down 1/2 step back then(early van halen sound,first album)anyway i was listen to van halen 1 on cd in the studio and i was playing along with the cd(running with the devil) and i noticed that Ed tuned different or they slowed down the tape when they recorded van halen 1 and the early stuff,give it a try and tune down 1/2 step and then play along with the van halen 1 cd and tell me what you think,tuning down 1/2 step is still not correct,or they tuned to regular tuning and then slowed the tape down,very interesting,I would bet no one has caught this............
 
It's been caught. :lol: :LOL:

Ed normally tuned for a 1/2 step down. But when in the studio, Michael would just tune to match Eddie, but Eddie never really tuned the guitar to a set tuning (other than being in tune with itself), it was what it was and he went with it. So where we anal players get ready to record we make sure our guitars are tuned to E, Eb, D, etc., Eddie didn't. To Eddie, if it sounded right, it was right.

If you really analyze it, I think it's just slightly a 1/4 tune off a half step in either direction. Or de-tuned 1/4 step from E. :lol: :LOL:
 
lol Machine head did a similar(ish) thing which I found from tuning my guitar down to Drop B and being confused. :lol: :LOL: The Blackenning is tuned to half way between drop B and C.
 
Could be the missing link(The Truth) to the early van halen sound........... :thumbsup:
 
nitro":31ql594w said:
Could be the missing link(The Truth) to the early van halen sound........... :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Nah, the missing link is Eddies hands. :yes:
 
Ed's tunings were all over the place back then. When learning VH songs I'd just listen for a good E A or D and tune to that.

....that always sucked with floating Floyds :doh:
 
IMHO Ed was tuned a 1/2 down, but the tape was sped up bringing it to around a 1/4 down.


the stuff i've read says they sped the tape up to brighten the recording back in the old days.
 
You could use simple software to adjust the spped as needed if you wanted to learn parts. I used to use a cd player that had a physical dial for adjusting speed. Actually had to use it on Highway to Hell when learning the Malcom stuff for a tribute band many years ago.
 
You mentioned "Runnin' With Devil". On that song and on "Unchained" and "Panama", maybe more songs, what Eddie does is to flat the B string just a few cents...
Do this, and if you play the song using the correct bar chord formation, (the way that he does it) the chords will sound massive. That's the EVH tuning "secret".
You can easily hear it on the harmonics on "Running with The Devil", he's flat on the B but that is intentional.
HTH
 
Death by Uberschall":lq4i1y66 said:
It's been caught. :lol: :LOL:

Ed normally tuned for a 1/2 step down. But when in the studio, Michael would just tune to match Eddie, but Eddie never really tuned the guitar to a set tuning (other than being in tune with itself), it was what it was and he went with it. So where we anal players get ready to record we make sure our guitars are tuned to E, Eb, D, etc., Eddie didn't. To Eddie, if it sounded right, it was right.

If you really analyze it, I think it's just slightly a 1/4 tune off a half step in either direction. Or de-tuned 1/4 step from E. :lol: :LOL:
Click to expand...
Funny. I have the same approach. I just make sure the guitar is tuned to itself, and it sounds good. Only, nobody calls me a genius or calls it a "secret tuning". They just call me a lazy asshole because the bass player has to retune to match me after he's already tuned using his tuner. Oh, when will they ever learn? I could very well be the next Eddie Van Halen! :D :lol: :LOL: :D
 
I have a similar approach to tuning.
I just play the opening to Van Halen's Pretty Woman.
Tune it to ear.
I am usually in about 1/2 step down from E 99% of the time when I do bother to check it with a tuner. :thumbsup:

Been tuning like this for YEARS. ;)
 
I never tune my guitars... In fact, they're missing strings and rarely get played.

It's my style, completely magical. I kill it every time :D

V.
 
Capulin Overdrive":2hvat4z7 said:
IMHO Ed was tuned a 1/2 down, but the tape was sped up bringing it to around a 1/4 down.


the stuff i've read says they sped the tape up to brighten the recording back in the old days.
Click to expand...
Interesting. That would explain why early Maiden stuff seemed to be a hair sharp from standard.
 
You guys wanna talk about changing speeds on the tape? Here's a great example, Goatsnake tune to G or something, actually I'm not sure if they tune to a specific note, but yeah, and they play really slowly, then speed it up. Atleast in this reccording.

 
Metallica's "Master of Puppets" is also I believe a bit sharper, closer to A=444hz IIRC.
 
TeleBlaster":1tbkn82e said:
You mentioned "Runnin' With Devil". On that song and on "Unchained" and "Panama", maybe more songs, what Eddie does is to flat the B string just a few cents...
Do this, and if you play the song using the correct bar chord formation, (the way that he does it) the chords will sound massive. That's the EVH tuning "secret".
You can easily hear it on the harmonics on "Running with The Devil", he's flat on the B but that is intentional.
HTH
Click to expand...

I don't think enough gets recognized about this. Tune your guitar with an electronic tuner and play these songs with the same chord shapes Eddie used, and your version will sound like crap. "Massive" is a great way to describe it. He gets it so the guitar literally sings and has that ultra-smooth sound, especially on the songs you mentioned. I like to tune like that, but at the same time you really have to alter your playing and avoid certain chord shapes and inversions.
 
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