Hi guys, I was wondering if any of you knew what Chris' guitar is tuned to when he plays Life In Technicolor and Violet Hill live. It isnt standard tuning. Its a different tuning because right after he plays Life In Technicolor he goes into Violet Hill on the same guitar, so the tunning has to work for both songs. Its confusing. I really need your help. THANKS!!! :)

It is standard tuning, however he uses different chords live

Live is indeed standard tuning.

The standard tuning chords are c#m and in this video the first chord is not that chord. That chord in standard tuning has a bar chord on the 4th fret and then an a minor . Like this:

 

 

look at this video and the first chord does not look anything like this. I am sorry if I am causing any trouble. I am just confused.:confused: Look at his fingers at about 1:53 in this video:

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnhbHef8928]YouTube - Coldplay - Violet Hill (live in Amsterdam)[/ame]

 

 

He is in like the ninth fret or somewhere around there. ???:confused:???

sigh...*prepares basic music lecture* its the exact same chord, just played five strings higher on lower strings. The 9th fret on the E string has the same pitch as the 4th fret on the A string, same with the rest. He's playing the exact same C#minor chord notes. Play x46654 then play 9(11)(11)(9)(9)0 They should sound the same and they're both tuned the same.

What about this life in technicolor video. The chords for standard tuning are F#m, Dmaj7, and then A. But it looks different in this video at about 1:15. I do get what you are saying though. Do the same rules apply for Life In Technciolor?

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzicbYXOhPA]YouTube - [HQ] Coldplay Life In Technicolor Sound Relief (best quality)[/ame]

 

 

If I am wrong, I am REALLY Sorry. I did not mean to cause trouble. If someone could just explain these chords for Life In Technicolor, I would be GREATFUL!!!

it's just that he plays some kinda open chords for LIT, they are like the normal chords but instead of playing them complete he plays the b and e strings (the two first strings) open.

What about this life in technicolor video. The chords for standard tuning are F#m, Dmaj7, and then A. But it looks different in this video at about 1:15. I do get what you are saying though. Do the same rules apply for Life In Technciolor?

 

 

If I am wrong, I am REALLY Sorry. I did not mean to cause trouble. If someone could just explain these chords for Life In Technicolor, I would be GREATFUL!!!

 

 

No problem, the same rules apply and it is the exact same thing. Chris doesn't like playing regular open chords, he likes sliding up and down the neck. So instead of playing Dsus2 as xx0230, he actually holds the higher frets 10(12)(12)11)00

As before, the 10th fret on the E string is the same pitch as the open D string. Same goes for the next three strings. He also plays the A chord 577600 instead x02220. same thing. same chords, same tuning, just different ways of playing it. ;)

Ok. I get it. Thanks for explaning it to me. Again, I am sorry for all the arguments I have caused. :) Just one more question, what would the F#m chord look like?

Oh this was an argument than my late uncle earl was a bazooka. Glad we could help out! :D

The standard tuning chords are c#m and in this video the first chord is not that chord. That chord in standard tuning has a bar chord on the 4th fret and then an a minor . Like this:

 

 

look at this video and the first chord does not look anything like this. I am sorry if I am causing any trouble. I am just confused.:confused: Look at his fingers at about 1:53 in this video:

 

YouTube - Coldplay - Violet Hill (live in Amsterdam)

 

 

He is in like the ninth fret or somewhere around there. ???:confused:???

 

In this video the top E string is detuned to a C# so the opening chord 'rings' a bit more. I'm pretty sure the tuning for LiT on record is different to how it is with the Violet Hill tuning.

In this video the top E string is detuned to a C# so the opening chord 'rings' a bit more. I'm pretty sure the tuning for LiT on record is different to how it is with the Violet Hill tuning.

I have a Violet Hill Live chords post somewhere in The Instrument Room here, search for it and try that, it is how he plays it(for sure!)

THANKS, that is exactly what I wanted!! :)

open chords with the tuning E A D G C# C# is how its done :)

Stephan, is this the thread:

http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48565

I am still confused about the tuning. I have read that people say it is standard tuning, I have read that is is EADGBC#, and I have read that it is EADGC#C#. Can anyone help me out. I do know that the chords are right. But the tuning is what I am confused about. Thanks!!! :) Which one is right????

It doesn't really matter a whole lot, but looking back and comparing...I think the e very well could be tuned to c# in both these songs. I'm sure the b stays the same, but I'm not hearing an e on the studio versions, so they may be right.

Im 100& sure it's standard tuned.

Well, it wa's in the begin playing Violet Hill live.

Maybe they changed it now..

It's definately not standard tuning. Listen to these acoustic versions and you'll see ;)

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BVcnbUOL1g]YouTube - Violet Hill Acoustic Version[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCyoROkqZRw&feature=related]YouTube - Chris Martin Life In Technicolor ii 1/29[/ame]

 

For my money its still EADGC#C# Chris likes to use this ringing effect of 2 strings with the same pitch it can also be heard in GPASUYF tuning.

It's definately not standard tuning. Listen to these acoustic versions and you'll see ;)

 

 

For my money its still EADGC#C# Chris likes to use this ringing effect of 2 strings with the same pitch it can also be heard in GPASUYF tuning.

mmm Lit II are different to album and early live versions

mmm Lit II are different to album and early live versions

 

If you have the mp3 of the acoustic version of Violet Hill where Chris talks at the beginning he mistakenly plays the chords off Lit II. Since at concerts Lit and Violet Hill are played in succession and they are both played on the same acoustic guitar then one can assume that Lit/LitII/Violet Hill are all the same tuning.

So if it is standard tuning, could someone look at videos of life in technicolor and find out the chords for it the way Chris plays it. We could actually find out the right tuning to. For example, If it is standard tuning and we find out the chords for LIT and play it and it doent sound like LIT than we can asume that it isnt standard tuning, Then we can just repeat that with the C# tuning and see what sounds like LIT more. ??????

you hold the chords the exact same no matter the tuning.

 

I believe I gave you all the main chords except the end of each verse with goes.

 

esus2---------E

 

022200----022100

oh, thats what that meant. I didnt know what you were trying to say. ok

So is this Violet Hill Tab Right?

 

 

C#m 9 11 11 9 9 0

 

C#m 9 11 11 9 9 0 was a long...

B9 7 9 9 8 0 0 remember...

A 5 7 7 6 0 0 snow, white

F#m 2 4 4 2 2 0 snow

 

A 5 7 7 6 0 0 when the future..

B9 7 9 9 8 0 0 carnival...

C#m 9 11 11 9 9 0 show..

B9 7 9 9 8 0 0 low

 

G#m 4 6 6 4 4 0 If you

A 5 7 7 6 0 0 love

G#m 4 6 6 4 4 0 me

E6 12 14 14 13 0 0 won't you

C#m 9 11 11 9 9 0 let

B9 7 9 9 8 0 0 me

C#m 9 11 11 9 9 0 know

 

outro

I took my love down to violet hill

A B9 C#m G#m E6 C#m B9 A

 

There we sat in snow

A B9 C#m G#m A

 

All that time she was silent hill

A B9 C#m G#m E6 C#m B9 A

 

If you love me won't you let me know

G#m A G#m E C#m B9 C#m