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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Electric → Tune down 1/2 step?????WHY????
Theme to Godfather Guns n' Roses The guy posting says to tune down one half step...Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb. My question is Why? You end up with exactly the same thing just one fret further up the neck. If there is some kind of reason for this, would someone please explain it to me.
Thanks,
Tom
It's tuning DOWN, not up. If you were goin up, the tuning would be F B Eb G# C F, and it would say capo first fret.
There's several possible reasons for tuning down half a step. Here's some of them:
To change key so that the singer doesn't struggle so much on the high notes.
To make string bends easier for the guitarist.
To enable the use of slightly heavier gauge strings without compromising the possiblity of string bends.
To get a deeper - heavier sound.
To be different to everyone else.
To copy your idols e.g. Hendrix
To make it awkward for other guitarists to play or transcribe your tunes - so that they have to keep retuning the flipping guitar depending on what they're playing.
There's several possible reasons for tuning down half a step. Here's some of them:
To change key so that the singer doesn't struggle so much on the high notes.
To make string bends easier for the guitarist.
To enable the use of slightly heavier gauge strings without compromising the possiblity of string bends.
To get a deeper - heavier sound.
To be different to everyone else.
To copy your idols e.g. Hendrix
To make it awkward for other guitarists to play or transcribe your tunes - so that they have to keep retuning the flipping guitar depending on what they're playing.
Guitaristhelp pretty much covered it... I sometimes tune down a 1/2 step to get a "darker" tone...especially for slide work. Also when playing a lot of church stuff that's written in flats I can play along in a guitar friendlier chord.
There's several possible reasons for tuning down half a step. Here's some of them:
When playing a lot of church stuff that's written in flats I can play along in a guitar friendlier chord.
That's the one for me.
Dm
Thanks for the answers. I appreciate it.
Tom Beals
I agree with all those reasons...very good. But many groups just do it because their lead singer can not hit the notes with standard tuning. A perfect example would be Van Halen. With Roth, they tuned down a half (and sometimes a whole) step because his range was different than Sammy's (where most of the time they tuned standard). While this is only one reason alternate tuning is used, there are many more. That lower, deeper sound is one. Then look at Alice in Chains...their tuning (like on Man in the Box) is Drop-D (both E strings) and an F in there too. Alternate tunings make for some awesome sound...and an easier time for a lead singer...
Rock on!
Guitar chord forum - chordie → Electric → Tune down 1/2 step?????WHY????
