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Was "I'm Only Sleeping" recorded in Em or Ebm? I always thought it was recorded in Em and slowed down, but I was listening to the demo on Anthology 2 and now I'm not sure. Would the bass have been tuned down with the guitar? At some point I am going to learn the bass, but need to figure out what key to learn it in.

A lot of what you end up doing is going to depend on several variables:
1. Are you playing in a Beatles tribute band where authenticity is the whole point?
2. Are you going to be playing in a band where the interest is in reinterpreting "I'm Only Sleeping" in an original fashion?
3 Are you learning this tune just for your own pleasure?

If the answer is #2, then you need to consider what key the singer, whether you or some one else is comfortable singing in. That should be the deciding factor.

If the answer is #1, then you'll have to listen carefully, and do the necessary study.

If the answer is #3, then learn to do it in both keys. And have fun!

Hope this helps, or at least gives some food for thought.
JimK

Can't speak for the bass, but with the original studio recording I can play right along with the song in Em, tuned down a half step.

My gut sense is that they recorded the song tuned to concert pitch (A = 440 Hz) in Em and the tracks were slowed down on the board to add a drowsy effect. There can be quite a sonic difference between playing something tuned down a half step and playing it at regular pitch and then slowing it all down. Consider the effect of that on drums and vocals, too. Of course, I have no idea whether the drums and/or vocals would have been added after the guitar and bass parts were slowed down and I'm also not certain if my initial premise is true. So there you go. Glad to help.

Sorry, it's the Beatles. Anything is possible. I'll check Lewisohn and a few other sources tonight and I'll post what I find (if anything).

There's no doubt the recording was a result of pitch change through an oscillator. The RTB book says the rhythm track was recorded at 56 cycles, or -2 in pitch when played at normal speed. The half step is about the closest way to assimilate their recording, unless you have an oscillator lying around. A reel to reel wouldn't hurt either.

nukebass wrote:Was "I'm Only Sleeping" recorded in Em or Ebm? I always thought it was recorded in Em and slowed down, but I was listening to the demo on Anthology 2 and now I'm not sure. Would the bass have been tuned down with the guitar? At some point I am going to learn the bass, but need to figure out what key to learn it in.

In the anthology liner notes it says that particular recording was made after the master recording was made. I think that released version was recorded in Em and then slowed down to Ebm and they were maybe going to record it again but with the guitars tuned down half a step but abandoned the idea and kept the version they had already finished.

JM82 wrote:

nukebass wrote:Was "I'm Only Sleeping" recorded in Em or Ebm? I always thought it was recorded in Em and slowed down, but I was listening to the demo on Anthology 2 and now I'm not sure. Would the bass have been tuned down with the guitar? At some point I am going to learn the bass, but need to figure out what key to learn it in.

In the anthology liner notes it says that particular recording was made after the master recording was made. I think that released version was recorded in Em and then slowed down to Ebm and they were maybe going to record it again but with the guitars tuned down half a step but abandoned the idea and kept the version they had already finished.

That makes sense. I should have read the liner notes. Thanks!

Not only is the xylophone "demo" of IOS available on Anthology 2, but also take 1, which reveals John and George on their J-160Es (and maybe Paul on his Epiphone Texan?) tuned somewhere between E and E flat. Anyway you look at it, they weren't in exact concert pitch and probably slowed it down like others have suggested.

Scastles wrote:There's no doubt the recording was a result of pitch change through an oscillator. The RTB book says the rhythm track was recorded at 56 cycles, or -2 in pitch when played at normal speed. The half step is about the closest way to assimilate their recording, unless you have an oscillator lying around. A reel to reel wouldn't hurt either.

The RTB book (p.293, table) also says, that the vocal track was recorded with 45 cycles/sec and the mixing was done at 47.75 cycles/sec.

So they started with the (acoustc) guitars and drums, recorded with 56 cycles/sec, pretty fast played (in F#m), to be slowed down 2 half steps (by playing it back with the normal 50 cycles/sec). The rhythm track was now in Em.

Now my speculation:
this slowed down version was considered to be O.K., now in Em. So, bass and backwards guitars were added at normal speed. Open e-strings could be used.


The complete vocals were recorded in a 45 cycles/sec mode, sung very slow to the rhythm track.

And, again my speculation: speeding the vocal track up 2 half steps ( by playing it back in the desired 50 cycles/sec mode) was considered to be a little bit too Mickey Mousey .

As a compromise they mixed it at 47.75 cycles/sec. So, eventually, the complete song was again slowed down (almost) a half step.

This gives all in all:
Rhythm track slowed down 3 half steps, bass and backwards guitars slowed down one half step and vocals were speeded up one half step for the wanted Lennon-vocal-jangle.

Any Questions left?

to your original question:
why not playing it in Em at normal pitch in the speed we are used to.

Wolfgang