HOCKEY TALK and alittle on Friga's Whale

Voted Worlds #1 Most Loonatic Fanbase

Moderator: Andrew

HOCKEY TALK and alittle on Friga's Whale

Postby Carlitto H@kk » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:00 am

I'm curious about the 1/2 step experiment in the UK.
For Neal and Ross this is pretty simple; no change in playing, just
alittle extra work for their techs.
For a long time I thought that The Whale was pretty much
gutted and just a synth/workstation in a big, fancy shell but
was told other-wise a few weeks ago in here. You see,
that would've made the 1/2-step drop pretty simple for Friga if
they ever chose to do it because it would've just been a few button-pushes away.

But if The Whale hasn't been gutted, how is Friga accomidating the new tuning?
I know Friga can play anything but I would think it'd take awhile for him to get
completely accustomed to 'playing' everything a 1/2-step down; totally different
chords, getting his 'fingers' to break 27 year-old habits.

Can you actually 'tune down' a piano, in essence, like you would a guitar?
I mean, that would make complete sense. No changes in 'playing', no re-learning anything.
Just curious...
Anyone know?
Jeff, you lurking? :)
Last edited by Carlitto H@kk on Sat Mar 03, 2007 9:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
Welcome to Terminus... You hungry?
User avatar
Carlitto H@kk
Stereo LP
 
Posts: 2891
Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2006 3:27 am
Location: Home & Well

Re: Is Friga taking The Whale down a half-step?

Postby Rockindeano » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:11 am

Carlitto H@kk wrote:Can you actually 'tune down' a piano, in essence, like you would a guitar?


I am not sure, but I know you can tune a piano, but not a fish.
User avatar
Rockindeano
Forever Deano
 
Posts: 25864
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:52 am
Location: At Peace

Re: Is Friga taking The Whale down a half-step?

Postby Granny » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:13 am

RockinDeano wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:Can you actually 'tune down' a piano, in essence, like you would a guitar?


I am not sure, but I know you can tune a piano, but not a fish.


what happened to the sunglasses? they were cool!!!
Carol



Image
User avatar
Granny
Stereo LP
 
Posts: 2651
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:35 am
Location: Ocean City, MD

Re: Is Friga taking The Whale down a half-step?

Postby Carlitto H@kk » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:13 am

RockinDeano wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:Can you actually 'tune down' a piano, in essence, like you would a guitar?


I am not sure, but I know you can tune a piano, but not a fish.

I thought I'd get at least 2 replies before that
joke got dropped! :lol: :lol: :lol:


Love the new Av, BTW.

You happy with your trade-deadline moves?
I think the Pens did ok. We'll see.
Welcome to Terminus... You hungry?
User avatar
Carlitto H@kk
Stereo LP
 
Posts: 2891
Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2006 3:27 am
Location: Home & Well

Postby Todd H » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:19 am

When did they announce they would be tuning down half a step for the UK tour? I must have missed it when I was busy dodging tornadoes down here in Georgia.
User avatar
Todd H
Ol' 78
 
Posts: 108
Joined: Tue Jul 11, 2006 1:30 am

Re: Is Friga taking The Whale down a half-step?

Postby lights1961 » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:23 am

RockinDeano wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:Can you actually 'tune down' a piano, in essence, like you would a guitar?


I am not sure, but I know you can tune a piano, but not a fish.


Probably one of REO's best Albumbs...



Rick
lights1961
Compact Disc
 
Posts: 5362
Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 7:33 am

Re: Is Friga taking The Whale down a half-step?

Postby Rockindeano » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:29 am

lights1961 wrote:
RockinDeano wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:Can you actually 'tune down' a piano, in essence, like you would a guitar?


I am not sure, but I know you can tune a piano, but not a fish.


Probably one of REO's best Albumbs...



Rick


Yeah, their best IMO....The Flying Turkey Trot is a great tune.
User avatar
Rockindeano
Forever Deano
 
Posts: 25864
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:52 am
Location: At Peace

Postby Gibby » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:29 am

This is the first I've heard of the tuning down as well. Maybe they aren't gonna do it for every song and keep the piano in tune for stuff with Deen and use the digital boards for anything tuned down. If the entire set is going down a half step then I would assume any new material would be written down a half step - or - watch for many guitar changes throughout the '08 show.

Great idea to take a little heat off of Jeff's pipes but a minor bitch for the guitar player that has to keep switching axes from E to Eb depending on the song.
User avatar
Gibby
45 RPM
 
Posts: 242
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:12 am
Location: Approaching Uranus

Re: Is Friga taking The Whale down a half-step?

Postby Rockindeano » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:31 am

Carlitto H@kk wrote:
You happy with your trade-deadline moves?
I think the Pens did ok. We'll see.[/size]


Hell yes I am happy...Smolinski will add some forecheck and a little scoring, and we got that Steve perry lookalike Brent Sopel back from the Queens...he was a 'Nuck before. We are set for the big push.

With Luongo in Net, I say Vancouver is going to the Stanley Cup, and once there, win the whole fucking thing.
User avatar
Rockindeano
Forever Deano
 
Posts: 25864
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:52 am
Location: At Peace

Postby Rockindeano » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:33 am

Now, I can add a little insight to the setlist.

I do know Kevin Elson didn't particularly like the way Jeff sounded on BGTYT or Only the Young. So, perhaps they tuned those bad boys down. Need to confirm that.
User avatar
Rockindeano
Forever Deano
 
Posts: 25864
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2004 2:52 am
Location: At Peace

Re: Is Friga taking The Whale down a half-step?

Postby RedWingFan » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:34 am

RockinDeano wrote:
lights1961 wrote:
RockinDeano wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:Can you actually 'tune down' a piano, in essence, like you would a guitar?


I am not sure, but I know you can tune a piano, but not a fish.


Probably one of REO's best Albumbs...



Rick


Yeah, their best IMO....The Flying Turkey Trot is a great tune.

Gary Richrath was the man. My favorite guitarist, great writer. Say You Love Me or Say Goodnight is a better tune though
Seven Wishes wrote:"Abysmal? He's the most proactive President since Clinton, and he's bringing much-needed change for the better to a nation that has been tyrannized by the worst President since Hoover."- 7 Wishes on Pres. Obama
User avatar
RedWingFan
Digital Audio Tape
 
Posts: 7868
Joined: Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:37 pm
Location: The Peoples Republic of Michigan

Postby Carlitto H@kk » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:36 am

Gibby wrote:This is the first I've heard of the tuning down as well. Maybe they aren't gonna do it for every song and keep the piano in tune for stuff with Deen and use the digital boards for anything tuned down. If the entire set is going down a half step then I would assume any new material would be written down a half step - or - watch for many guitar changes throughout the '08 show.

Great idea to take a little heat off of Jeff's pipes but a minor bitch for the guitar player that has to keep switching axes from E to Eb depending on the song.


Jeff mentioned it in here last week.
He didn't elaborate on songs or if it would be for the entire set.

As for Neal swapping guitars, I hope he does!
The CLPs are cool as hell but I like seeing
him tear up with the Strats every now and again :)
He did alot of guitar swaps with SS. I imagine there was
some Drop-D and possible Eb going on there.
Welcome to Terminus... You hungry?
User avatar
Carlitto H@kk
Stereo LP
 
Posts: 2891
Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2006 3:27 am
Location: Home & Well

Postby ohsherrie » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:39 am

Jeff talks about it on the second page of this thread, JSS needs to pass to Deen on "Keep on Runnin'" .
User avatar
ohsherrie
Digital Audio Tape
 
Posts: 7601
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 12:42 pm

Re: Is Friga taking The Whale down a half-step?

Postby RedWingFan » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:41 am

RockinDeano wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:
You happy with your trade-deadline moves?
I think the Pens did ok. We'll see.[/size]


Hell yes I am happy...Smolinski will add some forecheck and a little scoring, and we got that Steve perry lookalike Brent Sopel back from the Queens...he was a 'Nuck before. We are set for the big push.

With Luongo in Net, I say Vancouver is going to the Stanley Cup, and once there, win the whole fucking thing.

Well it would be about time, wouldn't it? Anyway, sorry Deano you're going to have to wait another year. The Wings got Berpussi. The Wings upgraded as well, Luongo :roll: HASEK :!: Maybe next year dude :D
Seven Wishes wrote:"Abysmal? He's the most proactive President since Clinton, and he's bringing much-needed change for the better to a nation that has been tyrannized by the worst President since Hoover."- 7 Wishes on Pres. Obama
User avatar
RedWingFan
Digital Audio Tape
 
Posts: 7868
Joined: Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:37 pm
Location: The Peoples Republic of Michigan

Postby stevew2 » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:50 am

I am a piano tuner/tech by trade. You you can tune a piano to any pitch. Most tuners{like me} use an electronic device to help them. The device I use can be set to any pitch.Many pianos I tune have been havent been tuned in many years and arent able to be brought all the way to pitch on the first tuning. So I have to tune a piano flat sometimes.If you are a musician and a great pianist like Friga it would sound like shit to the ear to play a piano a half step flat. I doubt he would even do such a thing.Im sure he could tranpose and play in diferent keys, but it wouldnt be fun,I bet he would say "fuck it". Friga dont play around.
User avatar
stevew2
MP3
 
Posts: 13073
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:20 pm
Location: Maryland

Re: Is Friga taking The Whale down a half-step?

Postby Carlitto H@kk » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:51 am

RedWingFan wrote:
RockinDeano wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:
You happy with your trade-deadline moves?
I think the Pens did ok. We'll see.[/size]


Hell yes I am happy...Smolinski will add some forecheck and a little scoring, and we got that Steve perry lookalike Brent Sopel back from the Queens...he was a 'Nuck before. We are set for the big push.

With Luongo in Net, I say Vancouver is going to the Stanley Cup, and once there, win the whole fucking thing.

Well it would be about time, wouldn't it? Anyway, sorry Deano you're going to have to wait another year. The Wings got Berpussi. The Wings upgraded as well, Luongo :roll: HASEK :!: Maybe next year dude :D


You're smokin' crack! The Wings won't get past teams like Nashville, San Jose or the Ducks let alone take down the Canucks in 7.

In the East, you are now looking at the Islanders possibly making a run but I think it's gonna be Buffalo or New Jersey.
At least my Pens should be able to get to the second round. That'd be great for this young team.

How 'bout them kids???
First time since a young Edmonton team in the 80s w/ Gretz has a team had
three 20+ goal scorers ALL under the age of 21!
Crosby - 19
Malkin - 20
Staal - Turned 18 in training camp and leads the league w/ 6 Sh goals!

PHENOMINAL!!!
Welcome to Terminus... You hungry?
User avatar
Carlitto H@kk
Stereo LP
 
Posts: 2891
Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2006 3:27 am
Location: Home & Well

Postby Marc S » Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:42 am

As a longtime pianist/guitarist I'm not convinced a semi tone down from concert pitch would sound out of place, I also can't imagine that even a player as awesome as him would want to transpose and play arrangements into different keys after playing them for 25-30 years or so? I can only assume its a proper piano in that huge housing, if not its a piece of piss to do digitally. Tranposing piano is very tricky unless one sight-reads everything, on guitar its a doddle as you are just shifting up and down frets. They are more likely to tune all of Neals guitars down a semi-tone as songs like Stone in Love are based around open G and D and would not sound like the original. I'm going to Nottingham on Monday so will see how it all hangs!
User avatar
Marc S
LP
 
Posts: 404
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:13 pm
Location: UK

Postby (Crazy)Dulce Lady » Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:46 am

stevew2 wrote:I am a piano tuner/tech by trade. You you can tune a piano to any pitch. Most tuners{like me} use an electronic device to help them. The device I use can be set to any pitch.Many pianos I tune have been havent been tuned in many years and arent able to be brought all the way to pitch on the first tuning. So I have to tune a piano flat sometimes.If you are a musician and a great pianist like Friga it would sound like shit to the ear to play a piano a half step flat. I doubt he would even do such a thing.Im sure he could tranpose and play in diferent keys, but it wouldnt be fun,I bet he would say "fuck it". Friga dont play around.


agreed.

The only possible way I see if when Jonathan is playing guitar. but then Neal and Ross would have to re-tune back up the half between songs. or, Jonathan plays everything on synth and just pushes the transpose button and plays as usual. or Jon plays everything a half step down which would involve mucho sharps or flats. yikes. the whale could be an electronic whale, which would make this possible, but I sure thought it was an bondafide acoustic piano. retuning would be a nightmare and probably whack Jon's ears. who tunes the whale between shows? all that moving around would blast the tuning.

I am not seeing this for performance. maybe for re-recording the GHs??
Image
Image
User avatar
(Crazy)Dulce Lady
Stereo LP
 
Posts: 3504
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:52 pm
Location: Lost In The Translation

Re: Is Friga taking The Whale down a half-step?

Postby RedWingFan » Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:58 am

Carlitto H@kk wrote:
RedWingFan wrote:
RockinDeano wrote:
Carlitto H@kk wrote:
You happy with your trade-deadline moves?
I think the Pens did ok. We'll see.[/size]


Hell yes I am happy...Smolinski will add some forecheck and a little scoring, and we got that Steve perry lookalike Brent Sopel back from the Queens...he was a 'Nuck before. We are set for the big push.

With Luongo in Net, I say Vancouver is going to the Stanley Cup, and once there, win the whole fucking thing.

Well it would be about time, wouldn't it? Anyway, sorry Deano you're going to have to wait another year. The Wings got Berpussi. The Wings upgraded as well, Luongo :roll: HASEK :!: Maybe next year dude :D


You're smokin' crack! The Wings won't get past teams like Nashville, San Jose or the Ducks let alone take down the Canucks in 7.

In the East, you are now looking at the Islanders possibly making a run but I think it's gonna be Buffalo or New Jersey.
At least my Pens should be able to get to the second round. That'd be great for this young team.

How 'bout them kids???
First time since a young Edmonton team in the 80s w/ Gretz has a team had
three 20+ goal scorers ALL under the age of 21!
Crosby - 19
Malkin - 20
Staal - Turned 18 in training camp and leads the league w/ 6 Sh goals!

PHENOMINAL!!!

Yeah the young guys are impressive, but 1 goal only counts as 1 goal, even if you're 15 yrs old. Enjoy them now before the team bolts! (not wishing it on you, I hate teams moving) Anyway time will tell about the Wings. If they win this it this year it'll be 4 cups in 10 years. Not too shabby
Seven Wishes wrote:"Abysmal? He's the most proactive President since Clinton, and he's bringing much-needed change for the better to a nation that has been tyrannized by the worst President since Hoover."- 7 Wishes on Pres. Obama
User avatar
RedWingFan
Digital Audio Tape
 
Posts: 7868
Joined: Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:37 pm
Location: The Peoples Republic of Michigan

Postby lights1961 » Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:05 am

ohsherrie wrote:Jeff talks about it on the second page of this thread, JSS needs to pass to Deen on "Keep on Runnin'" .


:-) funny shit, sherry!! I wont have a cow either on that, here either today!!

Still blizzardy in Iowa...I 80 was still closed this morning west from Des Moines to Omaha.

By the way--- Time for me to Fly was a great tune!!


Rick
lights1961
Compact Disc
 
Posts: 5362
Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 7:33 am

Postby WalrusOct9 » Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:36 am

I know it looks like a real piano, but I don't think it is. If you watch the Vegas DVD, he plays it on several songs, but with different piano sounds ("Be Good To Yourself" is a good example).

I'm sure someone knows a lot more about his setup than I do (I'm a guitarist, not much of a keyboard player), but I've seen other keyboards that look like pianos but still have lots of electronic buttons and sounds and such. I always just guessed it was an electric piano housed in a grand piano shell just for visual effect. But I'm pretty sure a real piano can't make the 80's sound he uses on "BGTY."
-Steve C.
User avatar
WalrusOct9
Cassette Tape
 
Posts: 1491
Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2002 1:13 pm
Location: Nashville

Postby stevew2 » Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:47 am

I know they have a piano tuner on the road with them. I wish it was me
User avatar
stevew2
MP3
 
Posts: 13073
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:20 pm
Location: Maryland

Postby strangegrey » Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:48 am

WalrusOct9 wrote:I know it looks like a real piano, but I don't think it is. If you watch the Vegas DVD, he plays it on several songs, but with different piano sounds ("Be Good To Yourself" is a good example).


It *is* a real piano. In fact, back in 01, during the arrival tour, I got to watch it get tuned up while standing right next to it. It has midi triggers somewhere in the lever mechanism of each key, so that Cain can plug the piano into some variety of controller/keyboard....and get keyboard sounds out of it as well....then control a mix (whether he or Elson does this, I have no idea) of both the piano, the midi triggered sounds from the piano...and any other keyboards Jon is playing.

As for tuning down, as mentioned above....it's not a big deal for a piano to be tuned up or down a 1/2 step. No different than tuning a guitar (only alot more strings to tune)...simply losen the keys down until you're not at A440, but 1/2 step down. When I saw the whale get tuned in 01, I was told that they tuned the thing before every show. Which is just nuts, I have my piano tuned (which is, I think, the same general make, model as The Whale...but black) every 6 months to a year. I suspect that the act of moving the piano every night is enough to warrant rechecking the tuning....

As for Neal and Ross, simply having different guitars tuned to concert pitch or 1/2 down would solve any problem. IIRC, Higher Place is played with drop-D tuning. If you look back to the 2001 DVD, Neal pulls out the green PRS for that one....but plays another guitar for the rest of the show.

Has anyone confirmed whether or not they are tuning down for the whole show? or just a few songs?
Image
User avatar
strangegrey
Stereo LP
 
Posts: 3622
Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:31 am
Location: Tortuga

Postby JSS » Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:54 am

We have the 'B' rig out here which includes a different kit for Deen & the baby Whale for Jon which is a smaller scale 'shell' piano that has a module inside...so no, it is not a 'real' piano but the mama Whale is! That's the one used on the Leppard tour.
User avatar
JSS
Certified Rock God
 
Posts: 339
Joined: Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:03 pm

Postby WalrusOct9 » Sat Mar 03, 2007 5:02 am

Heh...JSS to the rescue again. :lol:
-Steve C.
User avatar
WalrusOct9
Cassette Tape
 
Posts: 1491
Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2002 1:13 pm
Location: Nashville

Postby StevePerryHair » Sat Mar 03, 2007 5:09 am

JSS wrote:We have the 'B' rig out here which includes a different kit for Deen & the baby Whale for Jon which is a smaller scale 'shell' piano that has a module inside...so no, it is not a 'real' piano but the mama Whale is! That's the one used on the Leppard tour.


So, the inside of the mamma whale is a real piano? One that needs tuned each time it's moved? Not electric inside?
User avatar
StevePerryHair
Digital Audio Tape
 
Posts: 8504
Joined: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:07 pm
Location: Mickey's World

Postby dcvader » Sat Mar 03, 2007 5:19 am

JSS wrote:We have the 'B' rig out here which includes a different kit for Deen & the baby Whale for Jon which is a smaller scale 'shell' piano that has a module inside...so no, it is not a 'real' piano but the mama Whale is! That's the one used on the Leppard tour.


I remember hearing about 2 rigs at one point. Maybe it was the Gens. tour, both rigs were used? Depending on date scheduling, it's easier to deal with "back to back", long distance gigs with 2 sets of equipment.

I think this may have been on JC's site, not sure.
User avatar
dcvader
Cassette Tape
 
Posts: 1153
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 2:29 am

Postby ohsherrie » Sat Mar 03, 2007 5:27 am

strangegrey wrote: one....but plays another guitar for the rest of the show.

Has anyone confirmed whether or not they are tuning down for the whole show? or just a few songs?


Jeff just answered that in the other thread too. He said they've changed their minds and explained why. Of course it makes perfect sense too.
User avatar
ohsherrie
Digital Audio Tape
 
Posts: 7601
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 12:42 pm

Postby (Crazy)Dulce Lady » Sat Mar 03, 2007 6:39 am

JSS wrote:We have the 'B' rig out here which includes a different kit for Deen & the baby Whale for Jon which is a smaller scale 'shell' piano that has a module inside...so no, it is not a 'real' piano but the mama Whale is! That's the one used on the Leppard tour.


I noticed from the Sheffield pics that Deen was behind a DW kit, not the painted scarab basses.
Image
Image
User avatar
(Crazy)Dulce Lady
Stereo LP
 
Posts: 3504
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:52 pm
Location: Lost In The Translation

Postby (Crazy)Dulce Lady » Sat Mar 03, 2007 6:47 am

stevew2 wrote:I know they have a piano tuner on the road with them. I wish it was me


for sure. I wonder if they need any melodic flute interludes? 8)

I'd have to wash sox, dust the whale and make sandwiches the rest of the time, tho'.
:lol: :lol:
Image
Image
User avatar
(Crazy)Dulce Lady
Stereo LP
 
Posts: 3504
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:52 pm
Location: Lost In The Translation

Next

Return to Journey

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 32 guests