14 Comments

One of the best songs on a dandy of an album.

I’ll have to try that down tuning trick. It’s pretty common for electric players to do it but I’ve never played around with it on acoustic.

Expand full comment

I enjoy it most when there’s no capo…for obvious reasons.

I find the first position D chord (which is actually a C in pitch) sounds so good. Loose. And dead strings add, in my opinion.

Expand full comment

I became a dead string proponent as well after Jeff Tweedy mentioned it multiple times over the years. This is like a PSA. “The more you know…”

Expand full comment

Sounded good. Just curious why you detuned a whole step and put the capo on the fourth fret rather than leaving the guitar in standard tuning and put the capo on the second fret. Would that have necessitated different chord shapes?

Would love a Pernice Brothers songbook!

Expand full comment

good question. I always have my guitar detuned a whole step. For the most part I like the slackness of the strings. It seems to mitigate the harsh (to my ears) top end of the higher strings.

When you put a capo on all bets are off. I wanted the open chord forms in that particular key. I could have tuned back up & out capo on fret two. Same effect. But I didn’t feel like tuning up & detuning to my usual D.

Expand full comment

Thanks, Joe. I think it’s in E, which suits your voice so well!

Expand full comment

Now I’m confused. Capo 4 playing C form would be an E like you say—if the guitar is tuned to standard tuning. By my “standard” is to drop everything a whole step. Therefore, capo 4, C form would be a D.

Expand full comment

You are correct, Joe. It’s in D with the guitar tuned down a whole step.

Expand full comment

“You are correct, Joe” is curiously unfamiliar to me.

Expand full comment

Ah, right. I forgot about that now-not-so-secret Pernice recipe. It is in D - and again so suits that voice of yours.

Expand full comment

Nice way to wake up. Thanks, Joe.

Expand full comment

Now go back to sleep. You guys should play Toronto in February. Balmy

Expand full comment

Just "shared" this on fb.

Expand full comment

Love, love it. Has your son inherited your gifts?

Expand full comment