Chords & alternate tunings - help needed

[The General]

Hey guys -

our band plays "Stay a Little Longer" by the Osborne Brothers. Country song, it's okay to play. Eh, sometimes in a band you've gotta play a few songs you don't necessarily like to get along, you know?

Anyway, the basic rhythm guitar chords are G--G--Em--C thru the whole song. Pretty easy, but my problem lies in the fact that the song is played tuned down a half step. The G & C chords I've just been playing as barre chords moved down to the 2nd fret (E & A string based, respectively). My problem lies with the Em, which I can't just move down 1/2 step and play. I've been playing it as a barre down on the 6th fret (A string) which sounds okay, but a little bit too high compared to the other notes.

Is there a way to play the Em lower on the fretboard, say around the 2nd/3rd frets, that will sound good? Is the attached diagram an acceptable alternative?

Obviously, I could tune down the guitar and play normal. I would be okay with that, but our drummer freaks out over dead space and doesn't allow time between songs to change guitars, much less tune down. Our front people aren't real great at engaging the crowd and filling the dead air, so the drummer ends a song, waits 5 seconds, then starts counting for the next one. I already change guitars for one song, and they all freak out on me. Therefore, almost every song we play that's tuned down I have to find a way to play it without changing from standard tuning.

Sorry if this is an elementary question, still learning chord theory. thanks.

 

[SWeAT hOg]

Hey guys -

our band plays "Stay a Little Longer" by the Osborne Brothers. Country song, it's okay to play. Eh, sometimes in a band you've gotta play a few songs you don't necessarily like to get along, you know?

Anyway, the basic rhythm guitar chords are G--G--Em--C thru the whole song. Pretty easy, but my problem lies in the fact that the song is played tuned down a half step. The G & C chords I've just been playing as barre chords moved down to the 2nd fret (E & A string based, respectively). My problem lies with the Em, which I can't just move down 1/2 step and play. I've been playing it as a barre down on the 6th fret (A string) which sounds okay, but a little bit too high compared to the other notes.

Is there a way to play the Em lower on the fretboard, say around the 2nd/3rd frets, that will sound good? Is the attached diagram an acceptable alternative?

Obviously, I could tune down the guitar and play normal. I would be okay with that, but our drummer freaks out over dead space and doesn't allow time between songs to change guitars, much less tune down. Our front people aren't real great at engaging the crowd and filling the dead air, so the drummer ends a song, waits 5 seconds, then starts counting for the next one. I already change guitars for one song, and they all freak out on me. Therefore, almost every song we play that's tuned down I have to find a way to play it without changing from standard tuning.

Sorry if this is an elementary question, still learning chord theory. thanks.

Play everything tuned down. Nobody will notice. Vocals will be that much less strained. Or, bring two guitars, which I think of as a must for any type of gig (backup is a must!)

 

[The General]

Play everything tuned down. Nobody will notice. Vocals will be that much less strained. Or, bring two guitars, which I think of as a must for any type of gig (backup is a must!)

I don't think the other guitarist would be too keen on tuning down. He also sings, and has a fairly high range. I could ask, but keep in mind I'm mostly a passenger on this bus. My input is generally quickly dispelled since the rest of the band has been together for years. I'm definitely the proverbial step-child. Out of 70+ songs, only 1 was one I picked. Oh well, I'm still having fun and learning.

I always bring 2 gits, sometimes 3 so I can play my Tele. One is usually tuned down for Sweet Child, which is too hard to transpose on the fly so I have to use one that's tuned down. I guess I will just have to practice switching guitars faster!!

 

[WhiteEpiLP]

Get an a b switch and plug both guitars in to the amp and switch with a press of a button.

 

[JonR]

the song is played tuned down a half step.

Why? Can't the singer shift up a half-step?

 

[The General]

Why? Can't the singer shift up a half-step?

ah, no. long story, and I can't sing anyway, so can't really say anything bad other than it's not an option.

I tried that alternate chord, it sounded ok. I may just live with it, or just have a down tuned guitar nearby and try quick change. The A/B is a good idea too.

thanks.

 

[JonR]

ah, no. long story

I'm all ears!

I'm just trying to imagine why you need to play it in the key of F#/Gb, and not G... especially if you don't tune down for anything else.

The only things I can think of are:
(a) a singer who is at the top of his/her range already in F# - so G would be a step too far;
(b) you're playing with other guitarists who are tuned a half-step down all the time;
(c) the guitar part has big bends that you need looser strings for;
(d) you're using the original track as a backing in some way;
(e) you do too many damn songs in G already!

 

[The General]

I'm all ears!

(a) a singer who is at the top of his/her range already in F# - so G would be a step too far;
(b) you're playing with other guitarists

(a) is sorta correct. that's half the problem. and she's married to the drummer, who basically runs the band. The other guitarist sings, and his range is much higher than hers. The singers choose most of our songs, and since she picked this particular song she gets to sing it. Her voice is good, just low in register, kind of a classic, smoky low bluesy voice.

(b) the other guitarist who does 99.999% of the lead work learns/plays songs by ear. The original song is played 1/2 step down, that's how he learned it, so that's how we play it. He has 1 guitar, always tuned to standard tuning, and he just plays whatever notes/chords he needs to play to sound like the original. We do play other songs tuned down, like VH "Ain't talkin bout love" (A,C,G) but I can play that all as power chords and just move them 1/2 step down easy. The Em I just haven't been able to do that as simply as other chords.

His technique is sometimes a PITA for me, especially when we are first putting in a new song. He plays it sharp or flat depending on how he hears it, and I have to fit to that. A lot of times I ask him "are you playing that as C#" and he can't really tell me. I just have to watch how he plays.

Remember, as the newbie, I have almost no input on the music. I just sorta have to fit in. So, I can't ask the other guitarist and bassist to move the song up or down in pitch, they just tell me how they are going to do it and I make it work. Again, not complaining its just how it is. I still have lots of fun, and it's my first band so it's all good learning experience. They aren't mean about it, just like to do it their way.