Player out of tune performance

[Harmonic]

Is there an "out of tune" pedal that a guitarist can just step on and get that out of tune sound?

 

[Tim S]

I’m a strong believer and adherent to “The Golden Rule”. If I had an opportunity to take the offending guitarist aside, I’d find something positive to say about his playing, but then ask “Was it my imagination, or was your guitar a little out of tune for the last set?”
There’s no reason to embarrass or shame the guy — we’ve all been there at some point (hopefully just during band practice).

Heck, if I knew I could do one thing to make an audience enjoy my work a little more, why wouldn’t I want to know about it?

But, if I don’t get an opportunity to speak privately with the offending guitarist, then I’ll stick around as long as I can stomach an out of tune band (which usually isn’t too long, unless the rest of the band is exceptional)

 

[msalama]

no reason to embarrass or shame the guy

Absolutely. if you can't be mannersly, be elsewhere.

 

[rarebreed]

An out of tune guitar, that's a big pet peeve of mine. As bad as my hearing is i can walk into a place where a band is playing and if a guitar is out of tune I can hear it. I have several casual friends that are okay to jam with but their guitars are never in tune.

 

[fjblair]

Honestly I'm amazed at how often I hear performers with out of tune guitars. I'm like how do you not hear that?

 

[rand z]

I'd probably (politely) tell them to check their tuning... or, just leave.

(It would drive me crazy.)


imo.

 

[Sparky2]

I would slip out of the club, and, out in the parking lot, change into my Moses costume, (robes, sandals, grey beard, and flowing grey hair).

I would stride back into the club with a stern visage, carrying a single stone tablet.

From the center of the dance floor, I would point directly at the guitar player, and then, dramatically, at the message on the stone tablet.

I would then turn and leave.



I'm gonna shut up now.

 

[Mike Eskimo]

Leland Sklar, the famous amazing bass player is on tour now with Lyle Lovett large band, and he films for his YouTube channel every venue they play at. The other day, the venue they were playing it was this huge, retail hotel courtyard monstrosity out in Colorado that happened to have an Eagles cover band playing outside.

They were just about to start but they ran to the back of the stage when Leland walked around and they all had a nice exchange and pose for pictures and tell him how much he means to them as musicians, etc.

And then they started playing and - they were amazing.

I don’t like the Eagles. Or rather, I never need to hear the Eagles ever again, but if a band is playing those songs, have singers that can sing, players that can play, and - be perfectly in tune.

(And they had all those bases covered.)

The tuning part is the easiest one. All the dots are green? You’re in business !

Oops, there’s an orange one? Tuneup! A red one? Tune down !

You literally could have a four-year-old tune all your guitars, and they would love to do it, and it would come out just the same as if you tuned those instruments

If theyre a band that you happen to see that considers themselves professional, or they’re not just a bunch of hacks or a dad band? I see no problem with telling them tactfully were privately or whatever.

 

[badinfinities]

Is there an "out of tune" pedal that a guitarist can just step on and get that out of tune sound?

A chorus pedal with bad settings.

 

[FendrGuitPlayr]

I'd just leave.

 

[4pickupguy]

Is there an "out of tune" pedal that a guitarist can just step on and get that out of tune sound?

Don’t need. It’s in the hands

 

[charlie chitlin]

Actual conversation:
-Hey...do you guys ever tune your instruments.
-**** off, man...this is Punk Rock!

 

[ZackyDog]

By the way...

John's Rickenbacker 325-12 (3/4 scale 12 string) was out of tune on the opening song, Twist And Shout. I'm pretty sure that he resumed the concert with his 6-string Rickenbacker 325.

 

[scottser]

That's the sort of thing you won't get thanked for, unless you're actually asked for your opinion.

 

[regularslinky]

I would want to know if I was out of tune. I mean, I would already know unless I couldn't hear myself, but I have had gigs like that on occasion. I would assume the guitarist can't hear himself, and gently tell him. What he does with that info is up to him.

 

[brookdalebill]

If I stayed to listen at all (I’d probably just split), I’d be tempted to yell “Tune that thing!”

Years ago, a friend told me I sang flat.
He was right, now I studiously guard against it.
He did me a great favor.

 

[teletail]

Honestly I'm amazed at how often I hear performers with out of tune guitars. I'm like how do you not hear that?

I went to see a friend sitting in with a band years ago. They weren’t bad musicians, they just didn’t give a damn. Sloppy, didn’t know the songs well, wrong chords, skipped intros, cheap sounding equipment. Anyway, they start to play Elvis’ Love Me Tender and the guitarist hits a big fat chord to get started and it literally made me cringe it was so out of tune. Instead of stopping and tuning, he just starts singing. It was awful. Maybe the worst thing I’ve ever heard.

 

[Sparky2]

I didn't take the time to hunt down the video, but I recall seeing it years ago.
Fleetwood Mac, performing the song Dreams.

John McVie's bass was terribly out of tune.
I wondered at the time, "Can't they hear that? Or is their hearing shot from too many years of touring?"

 

[THX1139]

When I mixed we would keep a few spare tuner batteries in the tool box and on a band break casually mention we had tuner battery spares if they needed them. Actually worked a couple times.

 

[Lou Tencodpees]

I remember playing an outdoor festival years back on a hot summer day. Our bass player was using his old semi hollowbody Ric and it sounded really out of tune. We had a singer who was, how shall I say this, prone to extreme mood swings. In the middle of a song, I leaned into him and asked "Is is just me or does Rob sound a little out of tune?"

Well, this triggered him, he scolded me for my negativity and advised me that I deserved an *** kicking. I backed up and mockingly charged him with my guitar.

First and only time I was physically threatened on stage...by a bandmate.