Recording a half-step up... stupid question

Question for you experienced studio people: Just for fun, I want to record a version of "Folsom Prison Blues" in Garageband, in my little home studio. I'll be playing one electric guitar, one acoustic, mandolin, and bass, along with a drum track.

Trouble is, I'm no Johnny Cash. I can't hit that low "E" note vocally, but if I capo up a half-step and play it in "F" I can do it.

So my question: Should I capo all instruments, or capo nothing and shift everything up a half-step in Garageband? Or, just sing my best in "E", and try to fix that one vocal note by shifting it down in GB?

I think I would go the capo route. I think it would make post production a lot easier.

Dan

Isn't Johnny Cash's Version in F? I've always played in the the key of F

Definitely play it in F (with or without a capo)- If you attempt to pitch shift without time-shifting you will likely wind up with some strange sounding artifacts in the recording. It'll be a much better recording without the shifting.

yeah, I figured that was probably the answer. Playing with a capo confuses my simple brain though :sad:

I always thought the original was in E; maybe I'll have to take another listen (although I've been playing it this way for a long time!)

You could just adapt it to the key of F without using a capo. Just play with it a little.

Dan

You cannot pitch shift an entire track a semitone and maintain any degree of believability.
The technology is getting better but it isn't that good, yet.

You could play with a capo, arrange for barre chords or inversions or simply tune the guitar up a semitone.

Capo, don't shift. Bits don't bend that way too well.

Absolutely capo the guitar and play other instrucments in F.

Aside #1: I'd be surprised that one-half tone would make that much of a difference in singing the song. If that low E is out of your range, F isn't going to be that much better. I'd try going up to G or A.
Or sing the E in a different octave. There's no law that says you have to sing it exactly like Cash did.

Aside # 2:

RE: Isn't Johnny Cash's Version in F? I've always played in the the key of F

Every guitar player I've met plays it in E.
The opening lick is off of a B7 chord (the V of E).

Every guitar player I've met plays it in E.
The opening lick is off of a B7 chord (the V of E).


Yep, it's played in E

or tune the instruments (at least the elec guitar) up to F

that way you will get a nice contrast with the instruments in standard tuning and you will still have the openess that the E position gives you.

Absolutely capo the guitar and play other instrucments in F.

Aside #1: I'd be surprised that one-half tone would make that much of a difference in singing the song. If that low E is out of your range, F isn't going to be that much better. I'd try going up to G or A.
Or sing the E in a different octave. There's no law that says you have to sing it exactly like Cash did.

Aside # 2:

RE:

Every guitar player I've met plays it in E.
The opening lick is off of a B7 chord (the V of E).

You're probably right about one-half tone not making it much easier for me. And, I was experimenting a bit today (singing in the car!), and I think you're right again, I can maybe sing it in E, but avoid that low E...

Anyway, thanks for all the responses!

Capos are really great things, I wouldn't hesitate to use one to make a song easier to sing (or play, for that matter). And if 1 fret isn't enough, go 2 or 3. Then see what it does to you for mando or bass, it might make for a fine mandolin song with no capo on the mando, if you moved it all the way up to G. Just a thought.

Aside #1: I'd be surprised that one-half tone would make that much of a difference in singing the song.

I play most of my songs with a capo behind the first fret. It makes a huge difference for me. It took me a long time to figure out that my voice is more suited to songs in keys such as -- Bflat, Aflat and F. I even began to realize that songs that I enjoyed singing along with on the radio were in these keys. My regular voice sounds better, my falsetto (or should I says "false"?) sounds better. If I was a truly talented singer, that probably wouldn't be the case, but the sad fact is that I'm not.

I just took a look a video of Cash playing "Folsom Prison Blues" in 1994 and he does it in E with a cap on the second fret. That's kind of weird. Maybe he did it so he had more rhythmic control over the high strings in the E chord (open D shape).

I play most of my songs with a capo behind the first fret. It makes a huge difference for me. It took me a long time to figure out that my voice is more suited to songs in keys such as -- Bflat, Aflat and F. I even began to realize that songs that I enjoyed singing along with on the radio were in these keys. My regular voice sounds better, my falsetto (or should I says "false"?) sounds better. If I was a truly talented singer, that probably wouldn't be the case, but the sad fact is that I'm not.

I just took a look a video of Cash playing "Folsom Prison Blues" in 1994 and he does it in E with a cap on the second fret. That's kind of weird. Maybe he did it so he had more rhythmic control over the high strings in the E chord (open D shape).

Could've just been that his voice couldn't go that far anymore.

Here's Johnny Cash playing it in F, using a capo, live at San Quentin...

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Cheers, Tim

So this meant, "You can play it in F, too..."

http://static.flickr.com/27/45718334_bcd57b061b.jpg

Am I the only one here that doesn't own a capo? I think I had one back when I was 7 or 8 and didn't know what a bar (yes, bar) chord was. I remember doing a session one time and somebody asked if i wanted a capo. You should have seen the looks on their faces when i said no.

I've played FPB in several keys. Haven't you guys ever worked with a girl singer?

The way I play it is the Jim Heath rockabilly-ish solo version, from some tribute album, and it's all open chord hybrid picking (as far as I can figure out anyway). So, I'd have to capo to play it that way and still hit the low notes vocally.