How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

[rudygeorge]

I was reading the guitar tab for the song Take my breath Away by Berlin and I noticed that it said to tune the guitar 1/2 a step down. How do I tune 1/2 a step down?

Rudy D.

[Chameleonfong]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

Normal tuning is E,A,D,G,B,E
1/2 step down is Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Bb,Eb


Fong

[jazzman]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

If you use a tuner, Put you finger on the first fret of each string and tune normally. some tuners have a calibration mode so you can set it to be down a half step.

Without a tuner, assuming you tune using the 5th fret method, use the 4th fret of the low E and tune the A with that. Then tune the low E to the A. Then tune the rest in the normal way. Please post any problems and I will try to help you more!

[chopper45hd]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

is this the same as drop D? my tuner is the korg ga-30, it has a button that says flat would i use that to tune like normal with one flat symbol?
or how would you tune to drop D with a tuner?

[toejam]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

[ QUOTE ]
is this the same as drop D? my tuner is the korg ga-30, it has a button that says flat would i use that to tune like normal with one flat symbol?
or how would you tune to drop D with a tuner?

[/ QUOTE ]
For tuning to Drop D, all you do is tune down the low E string one step to D. The five other strings you keep in standard tuning. You'll essentially have two D strings so you can play one-finger power chords. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

On a tuner with a flat symbol, that means you're tuning all strings down a half step. With a double flat symbol, you'll be tuning all strings down a full step. Standard E tuning is, high to low, E, B, G, D, A, E. In D tuning you would be, from high to low, D, A, F, C, G, D.

[jazzman]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

Hit the nail on the head! WOW! Eleven thousand posts? When do you find time to play guitar? lol

[toejam]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

LOL I don't know. You'd think I'd be better by now instead of still being a hack, huh? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] It's good to mostly work from home.

[joblo1978]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

1/2 step=one fret on the guitar=flat of the note your on or sharp of the note your on. It's really easy. Any "dropped" tuning is just tuning your sixth string down a whole step. For example if your in standard D, tune your 6th string down a whole step, or two half steps like this, D,Db (or C#), then C. That will put you in "dropped" C. All other string remain the same, your just tuned to a 5th chord.

I have a Korg digital tuner, it makes it all easy.

[Bengal65]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

What I always wanted to know, is what this 1/2 step down thing? Is it because the singer can't hit a certain high note? I once read that EVH tuned down on a early one of his songs that David Lee Roth couldn't hit a high note and he just left it in Eb from then on. Steven Curtis Chapman once told me the same thing. He was writing this song and he tried to sing the chourus, then had to tune down. It ended up on the record 1/2 step down.

[ApeDosMil]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

Not sure, lots of the newer metal bands play in Drop C because they scream or have a deep voice.

it's all about preferance.

[jackson1]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

Tuning down will change the sound of the guitar. Also, it will change the feel of the guitar. It will be slightly easier to bend strings and some people feel it helps their vibrato.

[metallicarocks]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

I never thought it did much but complicate things. If your singer can't hit it, tell him to kick himself in the balls! You'll be able to tune up your guitar a whole ocatve.

Seriously now: most of the time that a singer can't hit a note, the writer just changes the key (ie Hell's Bells ACDC). Sometimes, it is easier to tune down a bit. As for a C tuning, most bands use it because it is heavier. That's why we do it!

[Bengal65]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

Thanks, that's interesting. C tuning, aren't your strings flapping in the wind??? [img]/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

[jazzman]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

Na. Just against the frets! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[metallicarocks]

Re: How do I tune my guitar 1/2 a step Down?

It helps to have a longer neck on the guitar; tension increases. My guitar's neck is actually relatively short, but I don't have too many problems with it.

The real fun is detuning with a floyd rose!