Musical Question About the Live Versions of "Jump"

[AT]

On 1984 "Jump" is in the key of C. (Ed did a lot of keyboard songs in the key of C) From the bootlegs I've seen of the 1984 tour, Ed also played it live in the key of C. For the short time they did it on the 5150 tour I don't know what the approach was. (Did Ed play all keys and no guitar like in 1984?) They didn't play "Jump" again until the FUCK tour when the keyboard parts were sequenced. As is evident on the Right Here, Right Now album, for that tour they did "Jump" in the key of D--a whole step higher. In fact, the whole band actually played in standard E guitar tuning for the FUCK tour and not a half step down as they often had in the past. For the Balance tour the band was a half step down, but "Jump" was still a whole step higher (the key of C# in that instance). For the III tour they were again a half step down, but "Jump" was a half step lower than the original recording--in B. For the '04 tour they were back to the half step down but with "Jump" again in C#--same as the Balance tour.

So my assumption is Sammy wanted to do "Jump" higher, most likely to better accommodate his range. Has anyone ever heard an explanation for the key change beyond that? It would affect how both Eddie and Mike played the song, and I wonder if they had a preference (?).

[muffdiver]

Yeah, I don't think they tuned down with Sam......not that I can think of,...
Is that what your askin'....???

[muffdiver]

It had to be to accomodate Sam........Cuz you said they were back to the original way with Gary....

[AT]

Yeah, I don't think they tuned down with Sam......not that I can think of,...
Is that what your askin'....???

What I was saying is, they always played "Jump," with Sam on vocals, a whole step higher than their guitar/bass tunings. Has Sammy or anyone associated with VH ever given an actual explanation why?

[VanHalen2079]

to tell you the truth nobody probably ever asked them but its more than likely to accomadate his vocal range.

[muffdiver]

Yes, I would not beg to differ on that.....

[VanMan2000]

Sammy has stated on more than one occasion that the stuff that Roth sang was actually too low for him to sing properly, hence the key change.

[muffdiver]

He wasn't always wearing his cup I guess....

[Blind Lemon Loons]

Ize wondah...what key Bad B. Young played it in when Roth rothed the country on the radio ala O' Brother Where Art Thou...live acoustic sets on the radio...warm-up gigs for the Roth/Hagar Tour '02 nah nah yezz...:debil: