I Don't Understand Why These Chords Don't Work

[8uha]

Greetings,

I am teaching myself how to play the octave mandolin and learning about chords for the first time (I played violin as a youth).

I have had success using guitar chord guides for popular songs. But recently I purchased an official book of guitar music for Coldplay which includes the song Fix You as seen here:

http://www.onlinesheetmusic.com/fix-...aspx?type=list

The problem that I have is that when I play the chords as written they do not go along with the music. However when I put a capo on the first fret, and play the chords a full step down (for the E chord written in the book, I play a D chord with the capo) they work perfectly.

Can somebody explain what is happening here?

Thanks for the help, I am pretty weak on music theory, and slowly trying to learn more.

[Ed Goist]

If you look at the little box up at the top of the chord chart (just to the left of the chord tabs), you'll notice that both guitars are supposed to be tuned a half-step flat when playing the song.

[Mark Robertson-Tessi]

If you want to play along, you have at least a few options:
-tune your mando down by a half step and play the chords as written.
-rewrite the chords a half step lower (Eb, Gm, Cm7, Bb, etc.) and play them on a standard tuned mando
-capo on the 1st fret, and rewrite all the chords a whole step lower (D, F#m, Bm7, A, etc.)
-run the song through a pitch shifter to raise it half a step and then play the chords as written

Cheers
MRT

[JeffD]

If you look at the little box up at the top of the chord chart (just to the left of the chord tabs), you'll notice that both guitars are supposed to be tuned a half-step flat when playing the song.

I hate it when that happens.

[Bertram Henze]

Unless they had to do this to accommodate some other weird instrument involved, malicious sadism is the only explanation. I'll say it's a conspiracy of Jazz musicians...

[onassis]

Unless they had to do this to accommodate some other weird instrument involved, malicious sadism is the only explanation.

It's an unfortunate (and unbelievably annoying) tendency amongst some to tune down a half step. My belief is that it's purely to be contrary and bothersome. I refuse to believe that half step makes any difference in the final product. But then, it's their song, not mine, so who am I to complain?

[Barry Wilson]

it's commong to be able to play in E when the singer can't sing that high... try a free download player kalled karafun (google it). it's a free karaoke player but has a slider for pitch and does one step at a time. I use it to learn songs like this, or to transpose songs too high for me to sing and learn by ear to play it lower.

[8uha]

Ah, now I understand what that box if for...I always wondered.

Thanks to everyone for helping me understand!

[Andy Morton]

Audacity (free) also has a pitch changing facility that is located in the Effects tab.

Andy

[craig.collas]

The answers to the question where great but a voice is missing, often when these questions would come up the knowledgeable and generous voice of John McGann would chime in and share an insight. RIP John every blessing as you go on your pilgrim journey.

[terzinator]

Some Norman Blake songs are like a quarter-step out of tune. THAT is maddening.