• Registered: 2007-06-04
  • Posts: 64

Topic: E A D g h e ??????

I am learning smells like teen spirit by Nirvana and it has the tuning as E A D g h e. How do you tune to that?

  • From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,069

Re: E A D g h e ??????

Hi deaken316 - I have also seen this odd notation.
I believe that 'h' is used by Scandinavians and Germans to symbolize 'b'.
Why?  I don't know, but I'm sure there are fascinating historical reasons . . .

So, basically you are looking at a standard tuning for your guitar: EADgbe
The upper-case letters denote a lower octave and the upper-case letters indicate a higher octave.

Does anyone know why the 'h' is used to symbolize 'b'?

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  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,662

Re: E A D g h e ??????

Sometimes h is used instead of b to elimate the possibility of one confusing b with the flat symbol.

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  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-08-01
  • Posts: 24

Re: E A D g h e ??????

Hi James,
you right with historical reason. In the past I don´t know when, think 1800 or so there was a mistake in translation of the note b.
Someone who had to translate it, read a h for an b and so it is in Germany the note b is for germans  h.

st800

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  • Registered: 2007-06-04
  • Posts: 64

Re: E A D g h e ??????

Thanks guys

  • etc_04
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  • From: OHIO
  • Registered: 2007-07-25
  • Posts: 204

Re: E A D g h e ??????

Pretty sure though the song is in standard tuning with all the strings are tuned down half a step, pretty sure Nirvana does it for all their songs

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  • Altex
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  • From: Goonellabah, NSW, Australia
  • Registered: 2006-12-13
  • Posts: 211

Re: E A D g h e ??????

In the film clip he plays it in standard tuning because you can see him playing the F on the first fret.

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  • From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Re: E A D g h e ??????

THE ANSWER IS: B chord.
I remember me seeing it in Germany, I am even convinced that this is common in Germany and some other countries
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