A Mark In Time

Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: H97 on June 08, 2015, 11:39:46 AM

Title: Guitar tuning of Cal soundtrack
Post by: H97 on June 08, 2015, 11:39:46 AM
Hi all,

If I play along with the Cal soundtrack, I notice something strange. I can perfectly play along with tracks like Father & Son and Potato Picking for example, but during the Long Road something strange happens: the easy melody (B A D B) doesn't sound at all like the recording! My guitar is tuned perfectly and given the fact that it is a Fender Classic 50s Stratocaster I don't think I will get out of tune when I touch it. Did MK tune his guitar a half (or quarter?) step up or down when recording The Long Road? It's impossible playing along with a track that's got a different tuning.
Title: Re: Guitar tuning of Cal soundtrack
Post by: 2manyguitars on June 08, 2015, 02:25:58 PM
Hi Hugo, just listened to it (first time in a while), its in the key of G but tuned down about half a semi tone from concert pitch. 

Drop your strings by that half a semitone and you should be able to play along fine!
Title: Re: Guitar tuning of Cal soundtrack
Post by: JF on June 08, 2015, 02:37:34 PM
I noticed that too but was wondering if it could have been due to tape speed variation ?
Maybe the speed for the final mix was different from the speed used during the recording ?
if it is the case, it would mean that it was played a little bit faster thatn what we actually hear

same happened for In the gallery, but the other way around (played slowler as heard on the final mix):
http://www.mk-guitar.com/2009/06/30/which-key-is-in-the-gallery-on-the-first-dire-straits-cd-am-or-bbm/ (http://www.mk-guitar.com/2009/06/30/which-key-is-in-the-gallery-on-the-first-dire-straits-cd-am-or-bbm/)
Title: Re: Guitar tuning of Cal soundtrack
Post by: H97 on June 08, 2015, 03:03:29 PM
Thanks for helping me out 2manyguitars, think I'll just tune up The Long Road to play with, I prefer the sound of a 'well tuned' B A D B over a dropped B A D B.
And JF, that could very well be! I don't think they dropped all the instruments used for the recording and detuning the recording afterwards would be pointless. Only thing I find strange is that it might have been recorded faster and they made a mistake when putting it on record, or that they didn't take the time to re-record it if they didn't like the sound  :think
Title: Re: Guitar tuning of Cal soundtrack
Post by: JF on June 09, 2015, 11:23:56 AM
Only thing I find strange is that it might have been recorded faster and they made a mistake when putting it on record, or that they didn't take the time to re-record it if they didn't like the sound  :think

maybe they liked the take, but found it too fast and wanted slow it a bit, but as the tune is a bit long (around 7' if memory serves) they were too lazy to record it again ?
or maybe they loved the take so much that they thought they couldn't play it again at the same level ? so they decided to do this way .... :think

of course, like many other facts, we will never know for sure... :-\
Title: Re: Guitar tuning of Cal soundtrack
Post by: H97 on June 10, 2015, 04:46:18 PM
Asked Guy about it, hope he will put time in a question not about the setlist or apologizing  ;D
Title: Re: Guitar tuning of Cal soundtrack
Post by: Ar (aka Enlight) on June 10, 2015, 06:34:41 PM
Asked Guy about it, hope he will put time in a question not about the setlist or apologizing  ;D

if he can re-cal   ;D

But it is indeed not usual for a band to play and record in a so called bb key , so i guess its done afterwards .
I hope Guy can explain the reason why
Title: Re: Guitar tuning of Cal soundtrack
Post by: Dutchessy on June 10, 2015, 06:52:19 PM
Asked Guy about it, hope he will put time in a question not about the setlist or apologizing  ;D

if he can re-cal   ;D

But it is indeed not usual for a band to play and record in a so called bb key , so i guess its done afterwards .
I hope Guy can explain the reason why


Guy:
Wow, you know I'm not sure why that is at all. I don't recall any tuning issues at all. Strange.
Title: Re: Guitar tuning of Cal soundtrack
Post by: Justme on June 10, 2015, 07:38:58 PM
Asked Guy about it, hope he will put time in a question not about the setlist or apologizing  ;D

if he can re-cal   ;D


LOL  :wave