Pitch/Semitone Help

Audacity Help Forum Windows
1

I would like to accomplish the following:

  1. I would like to take a song that is played 1/2 step down and change the key or pitch so I can play along to that song in standard tuning. I.e. Most Guns 'N Roses tunes are tuned 1/2 step down, but I want to learn the tune using the same positions on the neck but in standard tuning. So, if Slash busts a solo from the 12 fret, I want to mimic that in standard tuning on the 12th fret(it’s a PIA to swap between tunings, especially when I’m practicing 40 tunes). How would I convert the tune to “standard” tuning (E)? I don’t care about the actual quality of the sound, I just want to practice against the guitar parts.

  2. Let’s say a tune was in the key of C (standard tuning) and I want to drop that to F (standard tuning) - how many semitones would that be? I get confused between B and C (is that 1 semitone or 1/2?) - you know, where there are no sharps/flats between the notes. Could someone explain how I would get from C to a lower F (I’m assuming minus semitone). Would it be C - B - Bb - A - Ab - G - Gb - F for minus 7 semitones?

2

The Change Pitch effect allows you to enter the from/to keys, the number of semitones up or down, the frequency change, or a percentage change.

I get confused between B and C (is that 1 semitone or 1/2?) - you know, where there are no sharps/flats between the notes.

I’m not a musician…

Sharps & flats are just “note names” and the “space” (or difference) between Eb and E is the same as between E & F. One semitone or one half-step between notes.

3

Thanks for the quick reply.

Based on that, if I understand correctly, I would change a 1/2 step tuned down tune to standard tuning by +1 semitone. Thanks again. Sweet Child O’ Mine, here i come! :slight_smile: