Axl Rose/Tuning Down

[John Pasterczyk]

I have it on authority (A piano tech friend that has
tuned Axl's Piano in his house)that the piano is tuned
1/2 step low....because then as the guitarist plays in
the key of E there is only one black note on the
keyboard scale (of F) rather than 4 (in the key of E)
and "Axl only plays the white notes" (this quote
coming from his agent)

As a side note...Axl's piano bench is a harley on it's
axles (no tires)

As an extra side...hmmm, guitarists playing in E (an
easy scale for them), keyboards playing only white
notes....sounds like talent to me...

John Pasterczyk
Registered Piano Technician

Forwarded Message 

Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 19:34:53 -0700 
From: "John Musselwhite" <john@musselwhite.com> 
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> 
Subject: Axl Rose/Tuning Down 

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At 03:25 PM 11/20/04 -0700, Kurt wrote:

>The piano was tuned a half step flat because...
that's just the way 
Axel 
>has his pianos tuned.
>Why? Ask him.
>
>No one there could tell me.

More than a few modern guitarists, particularly Fender
Strat players it 
seems, like to tune a half or even full step low
because of the general 
effect it has on the guitar's sound in addition to
making it easier to 
do 
some wicked string bending without suffering the tonal
loss from using 
lighter strings. As well, some rock vocalists (like
me!) who can't hit 
anything higher than an F like tuning down because it
makes it easier 
to 
hit the higher notes when the band's playing in E, as
E is an easy key 
for 
guitar players.

Or maybe Axl (the correct spelling to make the anagram
work) just grew 
up 
with a piano that was a semi-tone flat and that's
where he's 
comfortable.

Either way it sounds like it was a cool gig!

                 John