Originally Posted By: JohnJohnJohn
Originally Posted By: rharv
Yes and no
I'll let others expand on this ..
Em on guitar doesn't sound just like Cm .. quick example

well, if you are comparing an open Em to a Cm I'd agree there is some difference due to the ordering of the notes and perhaps quantity of each note in the set of 6 strings. but if I play the Em at the 7th fret as a barre or with a capo and then play the Cm at the 3rd fret I'd think they are identical (again except for pitch).


I'd still disagree.
The harmonics and 'feel' is still different. But I do not know enough to confidently point to references, so I hesitate to discuss.

Play an Em on and Cm on a synth (voiced the same) and you may find them very similar in feel. Mathematically calculated/adjusted pitch.

Do the same thing on a freshly tuned acoustic piano or guitar and there is a noticeable difference to me.
Start factoring in horns and other instruments with their own sonic characteristics and things get complex.

It's a rabbit hole I ventured down in my musically academic days and found very intriguing. Others here obviously can explain much better than I.

I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!