Dropped tunings, backing tracks, Hendrix etc ..

Jimbo55

I am not sure whether what I am asking, is an issue or confusion in my head ....
Take for instance any Hendrix stuff, I believe like many other notables, he used a semi-tone dropped tuning on all strings.
I will focus on say, the lesser known instrumental 'pali gap' which I really like.
Backing tracks on YouTube, for this, are shown as in Bm - would these be Bm in normal tuning or the dropped, if this makes sense.
And where I am now further unsure, is if I jam a lead in Bm over these, should I be playing in dropped tuning (using 7th fret minor pentatonic say), or do I use standard tuning at the same place ????
Please tell me I am a numpty if the case .....

topdog91

I just searched YouTube for Pali Gap backing track, some are in Bm, some are in Bbm (which the original was in, playing in what looks like Bm but the guitar is tuned down half a step). There's no rule that "all backing tracks for a song are in the same key". So really, just play whatever you want and your guitar is tuned to.

PS I think you mean is this love or confusion.

Danny1969

Generally you say the song is played in X key but the guitar is tuned down X amount

So Brightside is in D but the guitar is tuned down a semitone. 

This is important with guitar because of the use of open strings

Jfingers

Just play it, if it sounds good keep playing it. If it doesn't then stop and try something else.

Jimbo55

Thanks for all advice, I just sometimes was thinking the notes weren't sounding quite correct - I may try more making my own simpler backing tracks on the same tuned guitar ....

daisie_guitar

No need to change tuning, you can transpose the backing track, lots of tools available. I'm using Guitar Rig's tape deck for that... (Also, you can download youtube BTs as MP3s, again, lots of online tools available, don't remember the one that worked best for me, but can look it up!)