Weird thing last night

[dlew919]

Was gigging, but couldn’t hear music. Thought my guitar was out of tune. Nope, most it went out was about 6c on the low e which I don’t use that much. Couldn’t pitch harmonies. And the backing tracks and my duo partner sounded … it’s hard to describe. It’s like I couldn’t hear the structure if melody and harmony. I don’t have perfect pitch, so it was more than not finding the key. My guitar playing was fine, apparently, because I could play the notes, even though they sounded … out of key or something. I just stayed in position And used familiar scales and chords

I couldn’t find the groove nor the key. I’ve been playing professionally for decades so it’s not that. This morning and today I’m back to normal…

Has anyone else had this experience?

 

[pixeljammer]

That's really odd. It may just be a glitch, but, if it's doable, you might talk to your GP and maybe a neurologist, just in case.

 

[dogmeat]

one of my last gigs the keyboard player (very professional, semi name player) says Tom (me),,,, you need to tune. no.. the guitar is fine,,, I'm just not playing well. that cycled another time, and nope, it really was me... I was "carp" that night, and could not get on top of it

 

[drewg]

I had a head injury in a bike accident a few months ago and high pitched sounds really were painful afterwards. I’m not a doctor and don’t know much of these things, but if your hearing changed so much so quickly, you might want to get checked out. It could be a lot of things though, air pressure, temp, fatigue, stress. But it wouldn’t hurt to get checked by a doctor.
Let us know if you figure it out…

 

[Fluddman]

I wouldn't stress about it too much unless it happens regularly - hopefully it doesn't.

Just like how some nights you are 'in the zone'; some nights you aren't. Mostly you are in between!

Cheers

 

[ClashCityTele]

Was the PA or a monitor at head height on your side of the stage?
I played 2 or 3 gigs where a monitor was facing me at head height.
The 2nd gig my ears started to buzz then I went totally deaf in my right ear for last 3 songs.
Next gig, I stood sideways facing the drums when it got bad.

 

[Dave Hicks]

That's happened to me more than once, but not very often. I was convinced I was out of tune (I wasn't singing, though) but checking the tuner, or with the other players, indicated I wasn't. It never lasted very long.

D.H.

 

[Kandinskyesque]

Quite a few gigs I used to play I'd get pitching problems.
A combination of the monitor position and the pa sound hitting the wall at the back of the venue.
I'd begin to worry about my vocal pitching.
I ended up sticking one of those rubber grommets that swimmers use in one ear so I could hear my vocals through bone conduction.

 

[LedZeppelinOne]

Humans aren’t digital microprocessors that operate exactly the same every time.
I can hear a difference almost every time I play, without a single adjustment to either amp or pedals.
Sometimes I sound amazing, sometimes completely terrible. (Although the latter is more common with my advancing years )
However a quality health check is not wasted time!
peace x.