Hi there - not an idiot question at all!!

For the original recording of Hey Joe, Jimi was tuned to E standard (not Eb). So we've taught the song using E as well. I know Jimi is known for tuning to Eb, but for whatever reason, this particular song was recording in standard E tuning.

If you're guitar is tuned to Eb, and you play along with our lesson, it will indeed sound a semitone lower in pitch compared to the video - not very good.

One way to play along with our lesson using a guitar tuned to Eb is to place a capo on the 1st fret, and then play our transcription up 1 fret everywhere on the fretboard.

Hope this helps!

Mike