List of Pro Guitar songs with *Alternative Tunings*

[daveyvandy]

Of course, this also means that the game will mute all of the notes of the instrument that you're playing, but if you're playing aloud, that might actually be desirable .

I don't have a capo. So, is there any need for a capo other than not having to re-tune all the strings for particular songs? I'm a guitar newb, so maybe I'm missing something here?

So you can't use a capo while playing songs in this game?

[mikeyts]

I don't have a capo. So, is there any need for a capo other than not having to re-tune all the strings for particular songs? I'm a guitar newb, so maybe I'm missing something here?

Basically, that's what a capo is for. It's a clamp to permanently barre the strings on some fret, which changes the tuning of the open notes. Every fret adds half a tone to the note of a string, so that full-step up tuning (F# B E A C# f#) is equivalent to a capo on the second fret. You could alternately just retune all of the strings.

So you can't use a capo while playing songs in this game?

Not if you care about the game keeping track of your playing accuracy. You're going to have to add the number of the fret where the capo is to the numbers on the chart--when it says to play a string at fret 2, you need to play it at fret 4. Since you're not playing where it told you to play, it won't count the note you play and it will mute the note in its playback of the song.

If you're playing plugged into an amp with the mute off, your numeric and star scores are going to suck anyway since you won't be able to maintain a streak for more than a few notes. But the mistakes it registers will be overstrums, which won't affect the percentage score.

[daveyvandy]

Basically, that's what a capo is for. It's a clamp to permanently barre the strings on some fret, which changes the tuning of the open notes. Every fret adds half a tone to the note of a string, so that full-step up tuning (F# B E A C# f#) is equivalent to a capo on the second fret. You could alternately just retune all of the strings.

Not if you care about the game keeping track of your playing accuracy. You're going to have to add the number of the fret where the capo is to the numbers on the chart--when it says to play a string at fret 2, you need to play it at fret 4. Since you're not playing where it told you to play, it won't count the note you play and it will mute the note in its playback of the song.

If you're playing plugged into an amp with the mute off, your numeric and star scores are going to suck anyway since you won't be able to maintain a streak for more than a few notes. But the mistakes it registers will be overstrums, which won't affect the percentage score.

Thank you so much for the explanation! For the tunings listed, I'll start showing them all without capo comments - since you cannot play in-game with the capo.

Also, I've tuned my guitar pretty well so that there is barely a difference with or without the mute on. The potentiometers near the batteries are the key to success Of course, I play on medium/hard - so I cannot say anything for accuracy on Expert (fast strumming, chord craziness, etc.)

[osteofight]

Thank you so much for the explanation! For the tunings listed, I'll start showing them all without capo comments - since you cannot play in-game with the capo.

If you would, I'd like both capo and non-capo information. I like to play my non-Squier guitar alongside RB3. This thread is a great go-to guide for me.

[n00b09]

My Own Summer is in Drop C#, half a step down from Drop D.

Always thought Killing Loneliness was in standard tuning will have to check.

EDIT: Just watched a bunch of live vids for Blue monday - New Order, there's no cappo.

[dantenoc]

EDIT: Just watched a bunch of live vids for Blue monday - New Order, there's no cappo.

No, but they must be doing some processing to the instrument's sound (either straight transposing or a more complex chorus effect). At any rate, play along with a real guitar and you'll see it sounds awful as charted, but put a cappo on the 8th frett and it will now sound in tune.

[ottoparts]

Interesting. It sounded a wrong in standard tuning, but I'll give it another try.

Ya, it's not proper standard, it's off a little, but not by a half step.

[jwebb1970]

While as a long time guitar player I have not felt the need to pick up the Squier or Mustang (hell, I can play most RB tunes on my own already - or at least be able to fake it pretty well), I have been considering a Roland VG-99 system.

Now, IIRC, Pro Guitar w/ the MIDI box can be played via a guitar w/ the Roland synth pickup & some sort of mathcing synth/VG device, yes?

VG-99s ability to give you any alternate tuning WITHOUT TOUCHING THE TUNING KEYS could come in handy should one of these alt tuning Pro Guitar tracks pop up while also playing thru an amp.

Obviously this is not a cheap option for RB perfectionists. Just curious if this idea will fly, as I am planning on picking up a VG-99 - and if I were gonna tackle Pro guitar, I'd rather use an instrument of a much better build then the Squier (sorry kids, I'm spoiled when it comes to guitars that are not plastic w/ 5 buttons)

[mikeyts]

While as a long time guitar player I have not felt the need to pick up the Squier or Mustang (hell, I can play most RB tunes on my own already - or at least be able to fake it pretty well), I have been considering a Roland VG-99 system.

Now, IIRC, Pro Guitar w/ the MIDI box can be played via a guitar w/ the Roland synth pickup & some sort of mathcing synth/VG device, yes?

There have been reports that you can connect the MIDI out of something like the VG-99 to the Mad Catz MIDI Pro Adapter (MPA) just like the Squier or Mustang. However, the Squier and Mustang send MIDI messages when you change the position of your fingers on the frets, which the game uses to draw the fret-hand "position wave" at the smash bar on the highway; the wave provides visual confirmation that you're fingering the correct frets before you strum without your having to take your eyes off the screen. A "conventional" MIDI guitar system will not send this information, so you won't see that, but if you are holding the right frets and stumming the indicated strings as the notes pass the smash bar, you will hit them. (Your guitar has to be in standard tuning and the synth set to send NOTE ON/NOTE OFF events for each string on separate channels, channels 1-6 for strings 1-6, e-E).

I haven't tried this myself--I've just seen a YouTube clip of someone doing it.

"Not cheap" is an understatement. The VG-99/GK-3 pickup combo e-tails for $1500 from stores like Musiciians Friend and Guitar Center. Then you have to have it installed on your guitar (or do it yourself if you're handy like that).

[daveyvandy]

Made a format change to the list so it's much easier to find songs with similar tunings - I'll try and add some capo information in there later when I have some time.