Pat Metheny - Song For The Boys

[yonatanc25]

Hi WindsOfCreation, thank you for sharing!

I wanted to play this song myself, I don't have the music sheets though. Could you tell me what is the guitar tuning for this song? (I will play it by ear)

Thanks

-Yonatan

[WindsOfCreation]

@yonatanc25 Thanks for watching Yonatan!

I tuned my guitar as normal, except the middle two strings (3 and 4) are up an octave. I had to actually buy some new single strings (.009 and .013 I think) to do this. After that I tuned all the strings down 2 semi tones so they are as follows (low to high): D G C F A D.

Pat Metheny actually tunes his guitar down a fifth so the strings are A D G C E A, but he uses a baritone guitar for it. Any more questions let me know!

[daeuri]

@WindsOfCreation Please correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Pat Metheny play this song on a Baritone Guitar?

[jeanjcaron]

Did you re-tune your guitar to play this? Very nice job. I bought the tab book for this album but I can't say it's that helpful.

[WindsOfCreation]

@jeanjcaron Yeah I did re-tune. Kind of... haha. I just put some info about the tuning in the description.

I used the tab book to learn this song, but not every minute detail. I just used it to get a basic idea of what he was doing, then I filled in the gaps using my ear. That way it feels a bit more personal to me, rather than playing it straight off of the page.

[ianschneider]

The tuning is standard in proportion - one fifth low, and as noted the third and fourth strings are an octave high "baritone Nashville" tuning A-D-g-c-E-A.

Hal Leonard has a good transcription of same.

When you check pat playing this you get to see 1) how thick the 6 + 5 strings are, and 2) how he uses his thumb and gets a much deeper sound out of what are basically the same chord positions (exactly - great job on the video) as here. Thanks for this enjoyable + EDUCATIONAL video, chords clear!

[DejaVu1017]

This is really a amazing version of this song. I saw Pat Metheny in concert a few years ago and he played this, and I immediately fell in love with it, I hadn't heard it before that. Afterwards I spent such a long time trying to figure out the tuning for this song but couldn't get it for the life of me, I ended up using something like DGCGCD. Would you mind telling me what tuning you used please?

Very well done!! :D

[WindsOfCreation]

@DejaVu1017 sorry it's taken me so long to reply! I just stuck some info about the tuning in the video's description. Hope it helps. I'm so glad you liked it too, thanks!

[druuuxfr]

Awesome !

What tuning do you use ?

[dreamsofhaegum]

It's standard tuning, but 3 &4 are restrung an octave higher than normal with lighter strings and then it's all tuned a tone down. So I've been told. I think Pat has it tuned lower though.

[rebusd]

I wish more people wanted to do Pat's stuff

[OliVBee]

very nice !! wonderful use of your pick ... good sound too ... thanks for sharing ;)

[WindsOfCreation]

merci! glad you liked it

[ulfthegoon]

Can you play "On 4th Street?" There is not a single posting of that song on here. I'm surprised because it is a great album and that is the top song in my opinion.

[WindsOfCreation]

I'm afraid not! To be honest I usually listen to the album as a whole from start to finish, and never really look at the individual names of the tracks. I'll give that one a listen though. Whether I can play it is another thing entirely!

[ulfthegoon]

SWEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!

[Antichica]

Very very nice!!!!!!

[morningatmora]

You're really good.

[WindsOfCreation]

cheers!

[yazzzzzzalicious]

i love this :)

you have to teach me sometime yeah?

[JustusFriedolin]

me 2 :) ive got a guitar right next to me, it wants to get used

[FiatObscuritas]

really nice!!

[WindsOfCreation]

thanks!

[NotOrdinaryInGames]

Really awesome!!!

[WindsOfCreation]

Thanks!

[number1scatterbrain]

You might be able to use heavier-gauge strings, along with a bridge-saddle adjustment to prevent buzzing. Or, if you just happen to own a Roland guitar synthesizer, you can program presets for each string to change the pitch of each string down a fifth. Joni Mitchell does that in concert to save herself time tuning and re-tuning or switching from guitar to guitar.

[WindsOfCreation]

Yeah I've heard about Joni Mitchell doing that, but I've never actually seen or head it. I think I'll check it out after I've finished typing this!

I had to play this song for my end of year solo performance exam at university. I considered fitting heavy strings to the guitar and tuning it down to A, but I use the guitar for lots of other material, so I thought it wouldn't really be worth adjusting the the bridge and widening the nut just for one song. I'd love to try it on a baritone though.

[number1scatterbrain]

He (Metheny) plays it on a baritone guitar, or one that's tuned a fifth lower (I think). Good job, W.O.C., you nailed it.

[WindsOfCreation]

Yeah indeed he does use a baritone guitar tuned right down to A, and it sounds lovely and rich compared to mine. If I had one I'd use it.

Thanks for watching and commenting, much appreciated.

[jocclepossum]

Awesome [you show off] :)

[dreamsofhaegum]

Nice playing. I've got a Hofner just like the one on the wall behind you.

[vaiodon]

I'm sure I've dreamt of sleeping under a Hofner, just like that, hanging on a wall above my head.

[1tofujunkie]

You play it really well, could listen to lots more of you! x

[sixorsevenofclubs]

I just spotted a sex face.

[WindsOfCreation]

DID NOT

[methenybestfan]

What do you mean, don't understand

[WindsOfCreation]

they were making a joke about my tendency to pull faces when playing guitar, haha. I don't actually know who sixorsevenofclubs is though...

[VampQueen84]

amazing :)

[aemaghost]

8-)

i still find funny your reaction to my reaction to when you when played this to me.

[VampQueen84]

do u really want comments from the greek? :P

ahahha :p

[ishouldbeatwork]

skillz innit

[adamsebwolf]

This is not as good as Joey Jordison is on drums.

[WindsOfCreation]

damn