Fire and Rain question

[mlb1399]

So I have been learning this song the last month or so. I think I have it down, but I just listened to it on the cd I bought and doesn't sound right. I was wondering, does he use a capo and if so, what fret?

Thanks.

[jwool]

Hey,

He absolutely uses a capo. I have the actual sheet music. I believe the proper key is one and one-half times up from standard (a capo at the third fret). Try that--it is a beautiful song.

[mlb1399]

Hey,

He absolutely uses a capo. I have the actual sheet music. I believe the proper key is one and one-half times up from standard (a capo at the third fret). Try that--it is a beautiful song.

Cool man. I kind of thought that. Thank you very much!

[Davy28]

One thing I should mention is that james taylor's guitar is slightly flatter than a standard with 3rd fret dapo, maybe even a half tone down, like paul simon, so be advised that if you play it along with the main studio version it will not sound in tune.

[jwool]

davy is correct. i remember reading an interview with taylor...i dont think he ever keeps his guitar tuned to normal pitch. he likes to at least tune it down one step and use a capo on the first fret. but i remember trying to play along with the cd, and it is in between two half steps. good luck .

[mlb1399]

So 1/2 step down?

[jwool]

keep your guitar tuned to concert pitch (standard). you can just put a capo at the third fret and it will be really close to what you hear on the record. It will probably be less than a quarter step off. If you want to play along with the record, you will have to manually tune your guitar to his recording. You see, his recording is somewhere in between steps from a guitar tuned to concert pitch. if you listen to his live record, i bet it is exactly 1.5 steps up (3rd fret).