Player out of tune performance

[pi]

Maybe the guitarist was in tune but the rest of the band wasn't?

 

[Toto'sDad]

Two things you can't tell 99% of guitar players. 1. They are too loud. 2. They are out of tune. If they can't tell themselves, you can't either. There are many wasted efforts in life, but this is a constant.

 

[elpico]

Is the player named Jimi?

To be fair, putting a slotted nut on a guitar with a vibrato wasn't his bad idea. Can't believe they're still doing it 60 years later, but if people keep handing them money, guess I can't blame them.

 

[stxrus]

If it became a big issue I’d just leave.

 

[Happy Enchilada]

Two things you can't tell 99% of guitar players. 1. They are too loud. 2. They are out of tune. If they can't tell themselves, you can't either. There are many wasted efforts in life, but this is a constant.

Yeah, but you can't blame THIS on the sound guy ...

 

[memorex]

Depends on the circustances. Twenty years ago, I saw Kenny Loggins in Las Vegas, and there was a tune where he started the song by himself. He picked up a guitar that had an alternate tuning and started playing, and it was so out of tune, it was cringeworthy. About 30 seconds into the song, he just stopped, apologized to the audience, and had his guitar roadie bring another one out that was tuned, and he started over. Everyone applauded.

 

[Chubias]

I once saw a bluegrass band where the frontman was a total Bill Monroe clone - big white hat, blue suit, Gibson mandolin. He played just like Bill. Sang like him, too - but a half step off from the band and backing vocals. For the whole set.

D.H.

Hey, I wasn’t that bad!

 

[Toto'sDad]

Yeah, but you can't blame THIS on the sound guy ...

The sound guy knows this, that's why he has that big old console! I don't know man, some things even the sound guy can't fix.

 

[dogmeat]

... yeah... he owns the bar

 

[tele_savales]

I've been in a band with a kid who couldn't tune his own bass. That didn't last very long.

 

[Gardo]

No need to point it out. I really doubt he would appreciate being told.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

It's a weird hypothetical for me as the only time I go to a venue, brewpub, etc., is when I have a gig. ( just always been like that)

BUT, being out of tune ( me, or any bandmate ) bugs me.
During our sets
(as a bandleader) if I, or someone else is out of tune. I will say between songs, " Hey folks, give us a second to check our tuning..." No big deal

So, being the way I am, If I did go out,
I would tell the guy ( nicely)
"You need to tune up..."

It ruins the music

 

[AAT65]

I've been in a band with a kid who couldn't tune his own bass. That didn't last very long.

Well, Rick Wright used to tune Roger Waters’ bass for him when Pink Floyd were starting out. He managed all right in the end…!

 

[2HBStrat]

I recently saw a band for a set, and the guitar player was out of tune,
pretty bad. The entire set.

I asked my wife if I should tell him. Well as a musician I usually
let the player enjoy the night, out of tune, too much distortion, or too loud, etc.
Perhaps to a sound engineer if they have one or too loud. But that is about it.
Common musician courtesty.

But what say ye..

No, I would never go up and tell someone in another band that they are out of tune. I do, however, tell our band leader if he is out of tune, or I might say "Let's all check out tuning" to be polite. It's usually him, though.

 

[Masmus]

As far as being too loud, I used to rent a large sound system out and a club owner came running up to us during a show yelling at us to turn the guitar down and then we pointed to the channel he was in and that it was on 0.

 

[notmyusualuserid]

No need to point it out. I really doubt he would appreciate being told.

I'd really love to know what the approach would be.

Random member of the audience "Hi, do you know you're a bit out of tune?"

Or

Random member of the audience "Hi, I play guitar too. Do you know you're a bit out of tune?"

I think in either case, my reaction would end in 'off', if I was feeling charitable (unlikely, I've just been told my playing sucks), a withering stare. Or I could just beat them unconscious with my TU-3

 

[loudboy]

My first pro gigs were weddings at 19 and playing with veteran musicians. One night the band started quickly and I didn’t get to tune fast enough and was VERY slightly flat with the group but in tune with myself. On the break I got a stern talking to by one of the vets (“you were out of tune!”) with me saying “I ran outta time as they counted off first song” to which he said “I don’t give a sh*t! Tell them to stop and make sure you’re in tune so you can be professional.” Ouch!! I won’t lie it was a bit tough on the ego but I learned how to play with these “cats”.

You will never find an audience who will give you a hard time for being in tune. You can joke around a little - "They told me they tuned this thing at the factory!" or "We tune because we care about you folks - not like some places we play.'

Well, Rick Wright used to tune Roger Waters’ bass for him when Pink Floyd were starting out. He managed all right in the end…!

And then he handed it over to Gilmour, to record the part. <g>

 

[4pickupguy]

My first actual “professional” band had a clear distinction between rehearsal and “showtime” and they were serious about it. One of the reasons you have to not be drinking on stage is things like timing, pitch, lyrics suffer LONG before you think they do. My timing is bad enough dead sober. I would never tell someone their timing sucks or they’re out of tune at a gig. It’s simply too late at that point. It ain’t practice, it’s showtime. A missed note, a dropped or repeated lyric, etc are going to happen, but there is a line between oops and “you suck, you’re fired”.
All that said, there is also a difference between musicians and entertainers. Entertainers are much more fun to watch, and can get away with murder. If your perfectly setup strat breaks a string and you can work it into the act, that’s entertainment. We’ve all seen the famous Stevie Ray strat change video.

There is no pedal that will fix my timing but there is one that will tune my guitar, so not being in tune these days is pretty basic. If you can’t hear that you’re out of tune AND you can’t bend or intonate, AND you’re on a powerful hallucinogen you end up here:



I’ve always considered this video as the ultimate “Stop playing! You’re making it worse!” example.

 

[notmyusualuserid]

My first actual “professional” band had a clear distinction between rehearsal and “showtime” and they were serious about it. One of the reasons you have to not be drinking on stage is things like timing, pitch, lyrics suffer LONG before you think they do. My timing is bad enough dead sober. I would never tell someone their timing sucks or they’re out of tune at a gig. It’s simply too late at that point. It ain’t practice, it’s showtime. A missed note, a dropped or repeated lyric, etc are going to happen, but there is a line between oops and “you suck, you’re fired”.
All that said, there is also a difference between musicians and entertainers. Entertainers are much more fun to watch, and can get away with murder. If your perfectly setup strat breaks a string and you can work it into the act, that’s entertainment. We’ve all seen the famous Stevie Ray strat change video.

There is no pedal that will fix my timing but there is one that will tune my guitar, so not being in tune these days is pretty basic. If you can’t hear that you’re out of tune AND you can’t bend or intonate, you end up here:



I’ve always considered this video as the ultimate “Stop playing! You’re making it worse!” example.

Were Big Brother and the Holding Company ever in tune?

 

[msalama]

Were Big Brother and the Holding Company ever in tune?

They weren't even a band in my book. Give musical instruments to a bunch of random chimpanzees, and they'll play better than those louts straight off.