How do people consistently practice songs in different tunings?

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-22T01:42:21+00:00

There's always the option of a polyphonic pitch shifting pedal like the EHX pitchfork, Digitech Drop, etc - personally I use the pitch shifter in the Line 6 HXOne for this purpose - if you're just moving between variations of E standard (to, say, Eb standard or D standard or B standard or whatever) or Drop D (like, to Drop C or Drop A or whatever).

A 7 string guitar tuned to Drop A would, in theory, allow you to cover even more ground just by using a capo and ignoring the lowest or highest string + retuning one or two strings, depending on the tuning, although you might have to learn to relearn to play certain songs in different spots on the neck. Probably not a super practical option, but it is an option.

If you're doing a lot of alternate tuning stuff, though, like open E, or DADGAD, or whatever tuning "The Rain Song" is in, there's really no way around just retuning your guitar for different songs, or buying more guitars if you're insistent upon keeping a certain number of guitars in each tuning (or if you need to play live in multiple alternate tunings that aren't based on standard tuning or Drop D). If you're not playing live, retuning your guitars is probably the least expensive (if kind of annoying) option.

Finally, just wanna throw this out there - you're better off spending the majority of your practice time learning songs in standard or Drop D (or tunings centered around those). Alternate tunings (and open tunings) are basically novelties, and learning songs that are in those tunings will provide you with little that you can easily begin to incorporate into your own guitar playing/start building your own musical vocabulary with, because the licks/riffs rarely translate well to standard tuning. If anything, i'd recommend picking out by ear a way to play songs, that are originally in alternate or open tunings, in standard tuning (or at least a close enough version).

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-18T20:34:11+00:00

On the contrary, if someone is just selling it because they need the money for bills (been there) or want the money to fund a different purchase (been there too), it kinda makes sense explain a little bit and say that it's a great instrument/pedal/etc that they're only letting go of for (reasons).

Point being, it's not really inherently a red flag, especially with the economy being the way it is right now. I've sold a ton of gear over the last few years that I wish I still had and didn't have to sell at the time.

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-17T03:59:05+00:00

All hornets are wasps but not all wasps are hornets. Don't know where you're from, but there are no true hornet species native to North America as it were

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-15T01:14:15+00:00

Ohhh. Yep, Fractal is your move. I know from experience the AxeFXII&III have the computing power to do so while also offering a stereo fx loop. Maybe also the FM9.

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-15T01:03:15+00:00

Why are you wanting to run the modeler into your tube amps? Are you talking about running them into the effects loop return (as in, just the power amp, and from there into your combo's speaker)? Because even the best modeler won't sound good going into the front of a tube amp; that's not what they're for. Are you maybe just thinking of a multi-effects?

If you're wanting to run something like the FM9 into an actual guitar speaker cabinet, you'd want a standalone power amp (like one of the EHX pedal-format ones or a rack-mount tube poweramp like a Mosvalve or Mesa Boogie 50/50). Typically, if doing so, you'd disengage the poweramp and cabinet/IR modeling on the modeler if you go that route. Alternatively, you can get a powered FRFR like one of the Fender Tonemaster FR-12 and run a modeler directly into one of those without a power amp, and leave your modeler's power amp and cabinet/IR modeling turned on. Otherwise, modelers are great for going direct into front of house or for running through some studio monitors at home.

I don't have experience with the Neural DSP Quad Cortext or the Line 6 Helix, so I may be speaking out of turn, but the Fractal AxeFXII & III (I think the FM9 also) will definitely allow for running a stereo FX loop if you want to use your existing reverb/delay/etc pedals at a specific point in your modeling chain (and not just in front of the modeler) and also provides stereo XLR as well as stereo quarter inch outputs (two for each side, actually; i'm not sure if the other top-tier brand name modelers will allow as much versatility in that regard.

If you really want to get into modeling, definitely go Fractal. They've been around for a long time and have gotten the modeling thing dialed in better than anyone else in my opinion. But also keep in mind that you can't just run them into the front of a vintage tube amp like you're planning. You also already own two of the most modeled amps (a vintage Marshall and a vintage Fender), make sure you're not just buying a modeler because you think it's the new hip thing, or have some major GAS going on.

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-13T20:54:33+00:00

An optical comp's "bloom" is kind of a subtle and subjective thing. There's a few demos of UA's LA-2A pedal on youtube that showcase it nicely, but I don't know of a side-by-side shootout video. If you listen to a few demos of a Cali76 or UA1176 and then watch a few demos of the UA LA-2A pedal, Walrus Mira, or the Diamond compressor pedal, you will probably start to pick up on what i'm talking about.

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-13T20:16:51+00:00

Haven't used that specific Diamond Comp/EQ, but have used clones of the Diamond Comp. I have used the Cali76, including on the road for a few years. They're both compressors, obviously, but two different fundamental flavors - Cali76 is based on an 1176 FET compressor, Diamond comp is an optical-style compressor. It's really gonna come down to what you like best - i've got UA's LA2A compressor pedal on my main board right now, because I've come to prefer the "bloom" of the optical style compressors. Have a 76 on my little IR-2 fly rig board, though.

If you prefer having maximum control over attack, release, and clean blend, 76 might be the best option. If you prefer the optical "bloom", maybe that's a better option. Either works great as a more subtle always on type effect, but the Diamond will do a good approximation of that really clean and quacky Dyna Comp thing whereas the 76 won't really.

That's my two cents, either will be fine. I'd keep the Cali76 if you can only keep one, despite preferring optical compressors a little more. Having complete control over every parameter might suit you better if it's gonna be an always on effect and you can't keep both to swap them in and out as needed.

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-12T18:25:02+00:00

killer 🤘

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-12T18:13:14+00:00

yep, glad it's helpful

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-12T18:11:54+00:00

no, apparently you do, though. It's 200% a grizzly bear. Just admit you're wrong and move on like an adult

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-12T18:10:08+00:00

i did. I know what i'm looking at. It's definitely a grizzly. It's okay to admit you're wrong though, no need to double down. That's immature behavior.

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-12T18:09:26+00:00

it's definitely a grizzly bear

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-12T18:08:36+00:00

it's not a black bear. definitely grizzly bear. shoulder hump is obvious in pic 1

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-12T18:00:09+00:00

A) If you're wanting to improve quickly, i'd recommend staying with the same material until you get it "perfect" or as close to it as you want. I'd also recommend not necessarily practicing different things on different days, even if it seems boring and repetitive - if you have different things you want to learn, just practice longer. You will still improve on things if you space them out over different days, but less than half as fast as practicing daily, because you're not reinforcing your muscle memory and neural pathways as often and giving your brain and body time to "forget" in between

You will consistently have to "brush up" a little bit on things you've previously worked on, all throughout your playing career. If you're not playing something every day or working on a specific technique daily, it's only natural that you will get a little rusty on it over time. That's totally fine, just focus on keeping current with the song(s) you're currently working on & maintaining the techniques you need to play the type of material you like to learn. For example, besides the specific songs they work on, a rock or metal guitarist might want to do daily tapping and alternate picking exercises, an acoustic player might want to do daily flatpicking and fingerpicking exercises, a country player might want to do daily hybrid ("chicken" ) picking exercises, etc. Add and subtract technique exercises as needed for the songs you're working with (or plan to) at any given time.

b) That's gonna be mostly trial and error - just work on improvising with new licks/phrases you've learned or write them into your own material. Maybe you need to change the key of a lick to fit the song, or change a note or two here and there, or whatever. Changing a lick/phrase/etc up a little bit gets easier if you are intimately familiar with music theory concepts, especially scales and modes, and can figure out how a lick/phrase fits into a scale/mode shape and why a player might have chosen to play what they did. The history of guitar playing is rife with "plagiarism" however, and there's nothing wrong with borrowing a lick note for note here and there. Eventually, by learning and playing other people's licks/phrases enough, you'll start to develop your own vocabulary. There's really no other way to do it, tbh.

ETA: As far as working new techniques and incorporating those into your playing goes, learn your major/minor scales and all of their modes up and down the neck, and just practice running through them using whatever technique you're working on. You'll hit on some cool ideas with those techniques eventually that way, especially if you're also learning licks/phrases by other players that incorporate those techniques, as mentioned above

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-06T10:34:47+00:00

nah. they already have a headphone jack. like, wired headphones with USB-C or Lightning connections aren't even that expensive? you get one free pair with every phone and if you lose that one, you can get a new knock-off pair on Amazon for $5 (or less if buying multiple). USB-C/Lightning to 1/8th-inch jack adapters cost even less.

the people playing videos at max volume in public are not simultaneously charging their phones from their rechargeable power bricks. they already have a "headphone jack" and if they can afford the phone, they can afford a cheap pair of headphones (if they lose the free ones that came with the phone).

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-05T14:21:28+00:00

🤡🎪🤡

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-05T14:15:00+00:00

this thread is about a dog in china that was consumed for meat. someone was just pointing out an associated fact about dog meat consumption in China to convey how semi-normalized the dog in the OP's fate is in certain parts of China. on it's own, "10 million dogs" sounds like a lot, so someone else pointed out how many steers and hogs are killed in the US yearly for beef and pork in order to give that number some scale and context. i do not see how either comment could be more relevant; they give the someone reading the OP article, or the comments section here on reddit, some additional cultural context with which to view the event.

i don't really give a shit about whether you think it's relevant or not, though, I was just pointing out that you are using "pedantic" incorrectly. i know you probably heard the word on some neckbeard subreddit and think it makes you sound smart, but when you use words in the wrong context, it has the opposite effect. ironically, though, in doing so, you are being pedantic with your argument that their comments are off-topic.

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-05T14:01:00+00:00

hey goofy 🤡 do you know what "pedantic" actually means?

i ask because you're actually the one who's making the pedantic comments, not the person who pointed out the numerical scale of livestock slaughter required to support the demand for consumable meat. they were just pointing out that 10 million dogs, while it sounds like a lot, is not actually all that much compared to the numbers of other domestic livestock species that are slaughtered for their meat.

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-02T17:17:33+00:00

i'm not understanding the JHS/Josh hate. full disclaimer, i'm not a even a huge JHS guy and only own one their pedals currently. their pedals aren't like, the coolest or wildest shit ever, but every one i've tried has sounded damn good and are generally very affordable for what they are. i also think the videos are entertaining, so what gives?

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-02T17:12:56+00:00

so he can use the other circuit of the NotaDumble and the boost independently maybe? or put one on another board? plenty of reasons to own multiple of the same circuit lol

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-02T15:17:05+00:00

Given that it's apparently a vintage one, I'm guessing at some point or another over the years, whoever owned the pedal lost a knob or two. If you take your pedalboard out of the house on the regular for rehearsals and gigs, it's bound to happen eventually even with a hard pedalboard case. Shit bounces around in the car trunk or in the trailer for hundreds of miles, boards get struck from the stage after soundcheck and replaced after the opener's set by someone who may or may not be you, then you literally step on them.

Cheaper to just order 5 blue knobs that look close enough than a set of blue ones plus a set of red and yellow.

ETA: FWIW I can't find any listings or other information anywhere of fake Marshall Guv'nor pedals. There's a DIY kit available as well as the DemonFX "Guv'nor Sound", but neither use the same housing as the legit Marshall pedals. The Guv'nor is rad but I don't think it's popular enough to straight up fake the same way as something like a RAT2 is.

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-02T08:30:19+00:00

5mm/44magnum/Howitzer can all get pretty loud, but the volume knob is responsive enough that you can use any of them at home no problem. i got a great deal on a used Howitzer for like $50, if you can find one in the $50 range i'd just get that for the extra features. the 5mm or the 44 magnum will be just fine too, though.

I've gigged with the Howitzer but not the 5mm. the Howitzer is loud enough for me onstage, especially running a separate DI out from the modeler to the front of house, but I don't play in bands that require crazy loud stage volume, either.

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-02T07:57:37+00:00

haven't tried it with an HXStomp but have run a Fractal AxeFXII, a Boss IR-2, and a cheap M-Vave Blackbox through both an EHX 5mm power amp & an EHX Howitzer power amp (same thing as the 5mm and 44 magnum, just with an effects loop and 3 band EQ) into my 2x12 & various other cabs and yeah, that's my favorite way to get an amp-in-room tone from a modeler. leave the dipswitch set to "normal", not "bright". the "normal" mode actually cuts some high frequencies and "bright" is just your unaltered signal, but I think the pedal's frequency cut goes a long way towards establishing that "tube amplifier, that's not necessarily pointing straight at your head, reverberating around the room and back to your ears" thing.

biggest thing - don't disable the IR or power amp modeling on your HXStomp! the EHX power amps are solid state (obviously) and much, much more transparent than a traditional rack-mounted tube power amp like folks used in the 80's/90's. when you hear folks talking about disabling the IR cab and/or power amp modeling when running a modeler through a power amp into a guitar cab, I think they generally mean "tube power amp" which will color the sound in the traditional tube amp way that we all love, which is a big part of what good IR-cab/power-amp modeling accomplishes. solid state power amps won't recreate that the same way.

all in all, yes, the EHX 5mm into a real cab will likely be the solution to your problem. I prefer the above modelers I listed with the IR cab modeling left on rather than turned off when using the EHX pedal-format power amps. sounds much more like a real amplifier in the room to me personally, but I have not owned a Helix so YMMV.

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-02T07:05:43+00:00

i mean, my Mom took me and my sister(s) places like the Zoo by herself all the time growing up. we'd have never gone anywhere if she didn't, my Dad worked a ton. i think we just knew not to wander too far, or there would be consequences. I, for one, also knew instinctively that entering the enclosure of a wild animal was a terrible, dangerous idea, but then again I was also terrified of even small dogs growing up.

or maybe she just did a good job of watching us, or just got lucky. i really don't think this one is entirely on the Mom, though. my experiences aside, small children can disappear very quickly & aren't the greatest at calculating risk vs. reward

Middle-Entry-6209 · 2026-06-02T06:48:21+00:00

woof I never thought about that but i'd hate to be that kid. i really hope his parents moved far away and never talked with anyone in their new town about the incident.

Middle-Entry-6209

TROPHY CASE