Should You Tune Down Your Guitar?
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- Going over some over the pros and cons of downtuning a guitar from E standard to D standard. Hear how it affects the timbre of the instrument and learn about some other reasons you might want to try it!
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Scariest part is when you are tuning up to standard again. It feels as if the strings are gonna snap,flying straight into your eyes😅😐
So true... LOL
and when it does you'll run like a kid hahaha
+Pulkit Saxena haha. It's never happened to me but I cringe every time nonetheless
hahaha the fear is real!
me neither
I played standard e for about 10 years, after that i played eb for another 10 years and now i keep my guitars to standard d tuning, it really fits well with my singing range. it just feel comfortable for me
I've been using D standard tuning on all my guitars for years now. It's heavier, darker, and richer than the E standard. Also easier to sing. Never going back to E standard!
@Hiei Enriquez i like bienenstich and for my voice is the d standart a good way ...or for the people that listen my play
You've convinced me.
Hwo about E1?
Thats a big part of Alice n Chains sound.
@@Charlieboy2680 close! They use Eb and sometimes drop c#
I like to keep my acoustic in Eb because every morning I do lot of technique exercises (scales, arpeggios, etc) on it and that way it's a bit easier to play. Also, if I want to play by myself a song that's in E standard it's not such a big deal... I do it anyway. Also, if I feel like playing some Purple Haze, I have th F***ING Eb MOJO already there. But then again, I suck at guitar so you wasted your time reading this comment.
+David RF never a waste of time my man! Thanks for watching as always!!
David RF are you the /r/guitarcirclejerk/ guy??? just a few minutes ago I laughed so hard at "fundamentals of slide guetaar"
I tune my Guitars this way because it's easier on my voice
Kudos for the video content! Sorry for chiming in, I am interested in your initial thoughts. Have you thought about - Rozardner Stopping Sounds Reality (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is an awesome exclusive product for transforming you into A guitar legend minus the normal expense. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my m8 at very last got great results with it.
Purple haze was actually in standard tuning!
I like D standard for acoustic. Sounds nice and full, and sounds great on 12 string. I'll even still play songs in the original key, but transpose the chord voicings. Makes things sound a little more interesting and unique, and it sounds cool too if someone is in standard or with a capo. And then I can just put a capo on the 2nd fret if I want to be in standard.
That sounds great.
This works on both guitars
@@RockStarOscarStern634 Yeah, I just like it more with 12 string because I get a nice mix of lows and highs. I like D standard on acoustics in general though.
@@TomMilleyMusic Another bonus about Tuning your 12 String Down a step to D Standard is that it makes the High Notes less of a Strain on the Voice.
Did this recently and it is as if I got a new voice, the singing is so much easier, relaxing, which improved the overall performance!
Can also be good for older guitars where you might be worried about the bridge lifting, especially a 12 string do to the increased tension
+Jordan Cochrane 100%
Bingo!
Very cool
Very cool
Most of the time, you would put heavier strings on an acoustic when you tune down a full step so you still get the same string tension and top movement you would with lighter strings tuned standard.
Great tip!
I crushed all my fingers on my left hand years ago. 27 fractures average per finger . I tune my guitar a whole step down then use my capo to bring it back to standard so I'm able to apply enough pressure on the strings. I can no longer bend my fingers enough when playing normal but with the capo up the neck makes me able to play
Sounds lovely with the capo on the 2nd, it moves everything up as well so you don't need to stretch your fingers quite so much on the smaller frets.
I keep my electric in d# standard, confuses the hell out of my sometimes when i have think about theory though!
+Aten Ra haha yeah it's an adjustment if you're not used to it. Same here
Switch to Eb... lol
I tune my 12-string guitar down to D. 1) I don't break the 3rd high string so often. 2) My economy guitar doesn't warp (bridge lifting as mentioned in previous comment) so much below the bridge; 3) I can bend the strings much easier; 4) I get a cool swampy tone, especially if I tune one of the pair in sets 1 and 2 slightly off; 5) It matches my vocal range better for some songs. I play some stuff in double drop C (double drop D) like Cinnamon Girl. Nasty! Hey, since when do you want to sound like everybody else in Standard E? When I play with my buddies I capo up to E or transpose the chord patterns.
Im a fan of DADGAD. Just sayin. E standard is great, but i love DADGAD
I too love dadgad.
Ah, the Jimmy Page tuning
Cool story dad gad
If I had a son, I'd name him Gad.
Thanks DAD,
GAD
I was born tuning in dadf#ad
I'm literally going through all your videos just for the glory that are your opening lines
Haha, hope they don't disappoint!
when you compensate for down tuning with a capo, you're basically making your guitar a shorter scale. I like doing this with my dreadnought if I want to accentuate my highs.
great lesson as always.
+Javier Benez thanks so much Javier!
Aahh! True!! Demo is null and void.
so after 25 years of playing my strat with 10/13 17 26 38 46 and suffering many months years of elbow tendonitis ( ulner nerve inflamation)I tried tuning down two whole steps and I discovered
that not only are all the chords easier to play as less pressure is required,, but also I discovered that I was able to impart vibrato on each string in a chord which would require immense ( impossible) pressure in normal tuning,,,,,,, also when it comes to squelies now , again I can impart a tremelo to the screaming squelie giving it much more character
i'm using C standard tuning to break some writer's block. it's REALLY helping. suddenly singing on open strings feels fresh
As some one who's been tuning to D-standard on my acoustic for ages, I prefered the sound of that. Though, I'll admit there were some blemishes. Both tunings have their pro's and con's in the end, I guess.
This is how I have my guitar set up. I learned in my own, like you did Sean. Using the power of the internet.
No one told me not to down tune. I just play like playing some songs that are either turned down a full or half step. To play a song in standard tuning or half a step down, I don't have a problem slapping a capo on. Takes but a second to "tune". Also, my string gauge preference is thin. So, having my strip down tuned to D Standard, the strings don't break as often due to less tension. I know, comments will come about how crappy it'll sound not replacing my strings often. But, to combat that, I am constantly learning. My guitar is for me to learn, not so much as to perform. I've been learning on my own for 3 years, and there's no end in sight. If I ever perform or anything, I'll be sure to change my strings before hand, and do everything to make sure it'll sound good. But all in all, that's why I have mine downtuned to D Standard :)
II'm glad you brought this subject up. Good discussion topic, and it shows that there are more than the usual ways to use a guitar
It depends on the type of guitar, I've always said it. Acoustic guitars often come with the frets a little badly placed, when the neck is extremely straight the frets should also form an extremely straight line, it happens that from the factory many times they are not placed when the neck is extremely straight, these minimal differences cause that the tension of your guitar is greater no matter if you calibrate it with a low action. The most important thing is to take your guitar to a luthier as soon as you buy it to check that the machine that placed the frets did it on the extremely straight neck. In case the frets have not been correctly placed, they will have to be placed as straight as possible to just calibrate. Many people feel hard on their guitar and it is for that reason. Once the neck is aligned with the frets you can calibrate your guitar with 10 strings and it will be smooth to play. My current guitar has the problem described above and it is the reason why I have to use 0.9-gauge string tuned in D. It doesn't sound bad because the tension continues to hold even though they are low-gauge strings since the guitar came with the frets not aligned to the mast.
This video was straight to the point w good content. Love ur stuff!
I'll keep em coming!
If I'm not mistaken the main reason for the change in timbre is that wood tends to resonate naturally with certain frequencies. So when you change the tuning so that the open chords have more notes that don't resonate as much it will lead to less overtones. I think a huge part of what's responsible for the changes in chord voicings is which octave the notes played are in and what notes are played more than once. The open chords in particular have different voices which would lead to different notes being doubled than the open chords you're used to. (heck, the chord might not have the same amount of strings being played.)
Another thing is caused by equal temperament. When you play a C chord in equal temperament the third is naturally going to be sharp. In reality, the frequency that results as an overtone and that would resonate better with the C is a little bit flatter. By adjusting the open strings, the scale degrees are going to be sharper and flatter than you're used to because the notes might be on different strings. You're used to the guitar being slightly out of tune in standard. When everything is shifted to a slightly different out of tune, it sounds different. This is inherent to most instruments being slightly out of tune, even the piano. This can be changed by microtuning, but that's kind of a lot of effort.
TUNE DOWN FOR WHAT?!
I understood that reference.
apakep by the left?
+Seltaeb gettin crunk!
tune down for a specific sound
For one song until I realize I’m not fuckin doin this.
As I've gotten older, my singing voice has lowered. I tuned down to D standard. It made all the difference although I also noticed the buzzing. Thank you for the video.
@Hiei Enriquez thanks, im going to do that too
@Hiei Enriquez thanks man. i can't believe it's taken me so long to learn about tuning down, my voice is quite deep and it just suits me much better. the buzzing is a bit annoying though so i will definitely get a pro to take a look at it for me 😊
@Hiei Enriquez i will do, cheers man 😊
HUH? Someone please help me understand. . .
Ran through your video a couple times. All the bits about tone, bending strings, choice of string thickness & matching vocal range are spot-on. Thank you for that summary & keep those informative vids coming -I mostly enjoy them.
However, I’m confused. . . & perhaps I’ve misunderstood your video. Let me give my perspective and see what folks think. . .
If I tune my guitar down a whole step to D G C F A D, and then capo the second fret, we now have: E A D G B E (or, in other words, standard tuning for a 6-string guitar). So, as I’m watching & trying to comprehend your video I hear you say that the capo is the “dropped tuning”, which may be clear to others, but I’ve lost the plot at that point. In other words -by my lights- no capo version would be the D tuning & then when you place the capo on the second fret you bring it to standard E tuning -right? Sean frames this correctly once while introducing the samples, but then something goes sideways for me and the heading on the screen contradicts what he is playing. . . Can someone help me understand? Perhaps it is semantics. . . but I want to avoid misinformation or misunderstanding. Thanks!
What you said is correct. If in D standard, capo on fret 2 gets you to E standard tuning
Playing for years now for the first time I am experimenting this
I had a beautiful Yamaha all set up, evened frets , bone saddle etc.....usings 12's nanos , the action was now good, but the string tension was a bit tight for me, and I was choking off a lot of difficult chords, so I dropped it to D Standard and threw the capo on fret 2, the guitar has ~amazing sustain~ as it was,so... this is working for me like a charm! Plus the fret markers still line up ( Eb , not so much) Thanks for the video!! I really dont care what fret Im playing on, as long as its comfortable, I loved capos anyway, as I play sort of fingerstyle, and 1st position chords low on the neck..Thanks Again Sean
My experience is that it is best to use a new set of (preferably heavier) strings when you want to down tune a guitar, and then only tune them up to the desired lower pitch - rather than tuning down a set that has been tuned up to standard pitch. Just a suggestion.
Great tips
Couple of things. You are kinda using downtuning as a reverse capo'
A great thing about downtuning is the change in chord voicings by using different shapes. For example using D shape licks to play in C ( a John Fogarty staple)
Great for songwriting ideas.
Also longer scale acoustics like Martins do better with downtuning than Gibson scale length
Finally= I love a Baritone guitar-tuned to B standard-opens up a whole new world of licks and chord shapes with regular tension and fat strings
+miamistomp great addition to the dialogue. Thanks for sharing man!
Great point, love the Creedence comment....John's classic part in Bad Moon Rising uses E shapes on a downtuned guitar, never sounds quite right in standard tuning.
Great way to sing a variety of songs. In standard(E to A A to D etc as u mention) when ur range fits & dropping down to B in the songs original chord shapes & progression when it doesnt. I agree with u completely but actually thought i was doing something weird-lol
I was glad to see ur comment....Happy Jamin’ !
I tune down to C at the moment. It fits my music and my voice. I think I am going to keep it that way. The downside is that I have to relearn where all the notes are suppose to be and that they don't sell thick nylon strings in the music store so my sixth string is buzzing if I don't play gently.
For me I play electric and I have to downtune half a step (with gloves _and_ 7 gauge strings) due to a skin condition. Thankfully there's pedals out there that can actually correct the tone so it sounds genuinely identical to what normal or even different tuning would sound like so I don't have to adjust my playing all that much.
Bro, I need to play The Beatles's "Something" for grans funeral. I can't sing it in C on stage in church so do you think dropping Standard E to Db would work (so I'll be singing it in A)?
I'm using size .011 GHS Nickel Rockers strings. They are RollerWound strings specially made for low tunings (model# 11-58 1300). Love it. One downside is the tension is high on my strat and it actually moved the whammy bar to the point I cannot use it. Reason is that I only have 3 Springs on the back. will be fixed when I add 2 more springs and adjust tension. I like it for all the things said in the video plus I can wrap my head around being down a whole step vs. a half step. If I want to play an A, I just move up to the B position. I like the capo trick. Allows me to play cowboy chords and I personally like the sound better.
I sometimes go to e flat standard, because many of my favorite songs are played in that tuning, and I like to play along with the original recording. However, alternate tunings can get you in trouble in a live setting. If you're going to downtune, make sure that you play all your songs in that tuning. If not, you should have an extra guitar in standard tuning. Stopping to retune your instrument isn't fatal in a live setting, but it can break up the band's flow even if you have a Snark.
can't you just use a capo instead?
Capos aren't cool looking.. but yea thats a good idea.
+J. Cloyd great advice
I guess you can if you're just downtuning, but if you are using a more intricate tuning... say like DADGAD, a capo wouldn't be helpful.
In my particular case, I'm playing bass rather than guitar more often than not. I always use E standard live. One of these days I'm going to buy my self another bass and take that along to gigs as well for my E flat standard needs.
Downtuning also puts less stress on the truss rod, meaning its easier to can change the tone by bending the whole guitar
Sean Daniel Fun fact it works on both 6 & 12 String Guitars since it fits my vocal range alot better.
Adjusting The action of the guitar or distance of the string to the bar will remove buzzing
I used to tune my 12 string down a whole step to alleviate bridge tension. But a few years ago I bought a Rainsong JM3000. It's an all carbon fiber jumbo 12 string that's built like a tank so tension is not an issue and it sounds great. I do tune to open tunings often for some slide playing although I find more and more I use a Pinky slide to free up the first three fingers for fretting and just leave the guitar in missionary position.
+Jeff Johansen so cool. I played one of her graphite ones and it was amazing
I use the D-standard tuning to play certain chords which I call "not suited" for E-standard tuning, for instance Eb, Bb or F. With the D-standard tuning these chords are way simpler. I have also never liked the "normal" D-chord on the E-standard tuning. Playing a D-chord on the D-standard-tuning, a "normal E-chord", is a much richer, deeper and better tone in my opinion.
Check out John Fogerty who use D-standard tuning on some Creedence Clearwater Revival songs like Bad moon rising, Proud Mary and Fortunate sun. When John fogerty plays his black Gibson Les Paul, then it's D-standard tuning time.
Random thoughts:
1. Tuning down 1/2 step and putting a capo at the first fret allows you to play in E Major, but basically shortens your scale from 25-1/2 to 24-1/8. It's especially handy for electric players trying to transition from Gibson scale.
2. I keep two guitars tuned a full-step down because it suits my voice. At a full step down, though, It starts to sound just a touch muddy to me. Any lower, and I stop hearing the notes clearly. Maybe it's my ear, maybe it's because I use .011s.
+Marty Danielson Great advice for the scale length. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
I keep one of my acoustic guitars tuned to D standard, another one is in E standard and the third one is in Nashville tuning. I have my two electrics in E standard. My bass is 5 string, so it is tuned from B to G in fourths.
thanks for explaining that Sean
Happy to help!
These are just light gauge Strings 12's tuned down a step & if you think of a slackened Guitar string with the release of some of the tension from E Standard, it'll be easier to play.
thanks ... I thought it's not allowed to drop tuning all the strings..
Drop away my friend!
Doing this for Elliott Smith 😁 rip a legend
Say Yes for me.
Yes it is a lot easier, not only because of less finger pain, but also because when I play songs in F without capo, I can actually use G chord and the notorious Bb becomes C, which makes everything so much easier.
Definitely! Keep rockin!
Paul Simon also tuned his guitar a lot by a half step or a step to accommodate his voice as with the boxer I believe this tune down a half step but he still plays the C chord . It’s a good trick to play regular major chords like C but you’re singing it in B-flat when you turn the guitar down a half step and you’re playing the C chord
little confused...You tune down to D....then if you put a capo on the 2nd fret it makes it a E standard. I believe you got it mixed up?
Thanks man this is a great video just what I was looking for. Professional player needing to get back into acoustic after years of electric for gig reasons.. This was really helpful thank you.
Sean Daniel I have a question. I've heard people say if you are down tuning you should go lower tuning then tune back up. Like for example say you're tuning low E string from E to Eb that you you should go lower than Eb so you can tune back up to Eb. Can you tell me why? I've seen people saying this in comments occasionally on youtube.
From what I’ve learned and understand, when you go flat and tune up to pitch, it’s pulling on the string and supposedly doesn’t get out of tune so quickly. If you’re sharp and tune down to pitch, quicker to go out of tune. Not sure how accurate this theory is but it makes sense. Thats my understanding
Even as a metalhead, I prefer E standard. Great video!
I just really like how one of my guitars sounds when its tuned down half step. It's the Fender Hellcat. I keep it half step down at all times. My Alvarez is kind of the guitar I like in all tuning cause its just a very versatile sound to that guitar. I also have a 12 year old Seagull S6 in standard tuning that I would never tune any other way just because its got so many little nuances and sounds I don't even hear in other guitars so I don't want to mess with perfection lol
I down tuned my 12 string to make easier to play. And our singers sing in D more than they sing in E. And I love playing in open E shape.
+Dallas Criddle I'm really starting to dig it
I liked the tonality of the D standard over the E tuning. The word I want to use is "fuller", but i don't know if that's right.
Tuning down cuts out some of the brightness of the tone on my acoustic . Which I like . Maybe that's it .
+fleshTH for sure. Just getting a heavier vibration in those lower strings will definitely round out the bottom end
@@seandaniel23 Round out, what does that mean?
it sounds the same when you put the capo on the second fret. isn't it standard tuning when you capo the second fret in drop D? won't you have to remove the capo in order to hear the different sound from standard tuning?
cagedbutterfly93 I think you are missing Sean's intent. By using the capo on the downtuned strings, he is playing the same chords that he plays open on the E standard strings. The idea is to illustrate the qualitative differences between the same chords when played in standard or on downtuned strings. There definitely is a qualitative tonal difference. Listen carefully, or better yet, try it with your guitar at home. 😀
Jim Chase your right it does sound different. didnt notice at first. thanks :)
I’ve written a few tunes that (due to my comfortable singing range) suit lower tunings!
D is far too loose in my opinion, even though it suits my vocal range much better!
My question is this, would a baritone guitar help ?
YES! I think that my be exactly what you need. I'll try getting my hands on one for a vid.
love the way you make those chord voicings
Ok, I'm lost. I have very little experience with capos but to me it looks like putting it on the 2nd fret would take it up to F#, not down to D.
Exactly bro! Lol, at last someone pointed it out
When you put a capo on the 2nd fret of a standard tuned guitar, the new tuning is F# now.
It is a Standard Barialto Tuning
Barialto = Baritone (Terz)
Baritone Equivalent to that of an Alto
A Guitar Has Seven Strings
7th = Thickest String
6th = Thicker String
5th = Thick String
4th = Average String
3rd = Thin String
2nd = Thinner String
1st = Thinnest String
Standard Tuning (Regular VS Barialto)
B = 7
E = 6
A = 5
D = 4
G = 3
B = 2
E = 1
A = 7
D = 6
G = 5
C = 4
F = 3
A = 2
D = 1
The Strings of the Guitar (Regular VS Barialto)
7 = Low B
6 = Low E
5 = A
4 = D
3 = G
2 = High B
1 = High E
7 = Low A
6 = Low D
5 = G
4 = C
3 = F
2 = High A
1 = High D
A Barialto Guitar is a Standard Guitar Tuned to a Pitch of a Greek Bouzouki
Except the Greek Bouzouki has 4, 5 or 6 Double Strings If it Has 3 Double Strings
Then it is a Greek Bouzouki Dulcimer
3 Dbl String: F6(no5) FAD
4 Dbl String: C F A D
5 Dbl String: G C F A D
6 Dbl String: D G C F A D
Extended Range for the Greek Bouzouki
7 Dbl String: A D G C F A D
8 Dbl String: E A D G C F A D
- Bobby McLoughlin I
All I play in lately is a half step down and the low e string tuned down to c.. it gives you access to a lot of cool sounding chords
Very cool!
Yea it’s got a cool sound. It’s like doing the drop d thing when your guitar is already a half step down. It’s fun experimenting with different tunings
If you have not done so already, perhaps you might consider making an "alternate tuning with capo" video for dummies like me who do not get how a capo on the second fret gives a lower tuning.
It was a revelation to me to discover that a lot of Creedence songs achieve the distinctive guitar sound through tuning down a whole tone-plus a lot of blues players also!
I am going to tune my acoustic a half step to Eb.
I'm just learning, so this is probably a dumb question. But if you downtune and use a capo, doesn't that nullify the whole reason you downtuned?
Great question! As far as the chords and notes you're playing, you're totally right, it completely nullifies it BUT when you loosen the slack of your strings by that much, it gives a total different feel and tone to your instrument in a way that a capo won't totally compensate for. So it could be worth a try! Plus you get the added benefit of taking the capo off and getting the extended low range.
@@seandaniel23 I have a question, what happens if the tuning app you used said that it is too low, but the string is a bit to tight for my liking? Should I just keep going until the app is satisfied, or should I stop.
Standard or Eb tuning at the most for me - just personal preference.
I downtuned my guitar before. I downtuned it all the way down to Bb. It sounded really heavy, though it was hard to remember where all the notes were. I did this because of DrRandomerCam's Djender video. Everything was fine, but weeks after I'd tuned back up to E, my D string burst, even though the strings weren't even a year old. The strings I'd had before then were the original strings of the guitar, which lasted for maybe 8 years. So I got a new, heavier set, that should handle downtuning a lot better, but I'm still sticking to E standard with them.
"The strings weren't even a year old" what the hell kinda strings you got? Mine get too corroded to stay in tune or break after 2 or 3 months.
vidiac2012 idk, feels like the standard strings guitar stores sell are anti corrosion special set that only they buy that allows for guitars to sound ok forever in stock. They probably never sound as good new strings though.
TheBcoolGuy you gotta change those strings man
+TheBcoolGuy yeah I think I'm gonna start trying more stuff downtuned. But I'm an E standard guy at heart
Sean Daniel what are your thoughts on Drop tunings like drop c or d.
i tune my guitar down a whole step for a few reasons..
1) it suits my voice better
2) barre chords are a bit easier
3) i like the increased bass register :)
All great reasons.
Just curious as someone who is new to playing heavier metal, what chords translate to d standard? Any open chord and bar chords? They just played same shape, and it’s moved back a step, like d major open is now a c major?
Yup! You've got it!
Hey, Sean. Why do you imagine Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards and other blues rock guys regularly tuned down one-half step? Thanks.
Great question, I'll talk about this on the QA!
One it makes bending easier and to your vibrato sounds a lot richer and warmer
All my acoustics are tuned down. Even when I capo up, I love the sound
I'm starting to do the same!
Are you play twelves in standard on you acoustic? I tried that. It's hell.
Thanks sean for the guidance, so does one need not worry about any possible damage to guitar or truss rod warping issues if you are only downtuning 1 whole step like D standard?, I find it very comfortable playing in this tuning yet I haven't taken it to any professional guitar tech and wonder if it is necessary?, I am worrying about causing damage in the long run to my electric guitar but Is D standard fine? Thanks again.
I tune both my 12 and 6 string to D.Concert pitch is to high.I tune to A432
Paul McCartney did it for his song yesterday he wanted to play it in G but sing it in the key of F
McCartney played YESTERDAY in G formation, though its in F. So there ya go
Bro, you forgot to remove the capo for the comparisons... I'm sure a lot of players wanted to hear those riffs actually in D tuning instead of in E again... Cool video regardless though!
Im A total purist when it comes to covering a song, Im a long time Guns and Roses fan and their songs are almost always a half step down. I do try to keep my fingers strong by keeping an acoustic tuned to standard. Now that Im getting older, my arthritis is thanking me for tuning down. Yeah getting older sucks but the look on my grandkids face when I start playing Korn is priceless!!! I have to remind these youths that they didn't invent drugs,sex,and rock and roll ! I don't endorse all that stuff, and my grandad always said wine,women,and song. I think the latter sounds more eloquent,and or tasteful.
can you tune the b string to match the strings so the patterns stay the same ,just different fingering, so you dont have to move up on the b string
You could! But it would throw off most of the chord voicing fingerings people use traditionally. But if you're just moving lead shapes around, give it a try.
So my voice has dropped over the years and even a 1/2 step is no longer enough, I need a whole step. Baratone acoustic is way too low. I usually use medium gage acoustic. But when I tune down a whole step, it is too thin sounding. What gage of heavy string should I use to get my feel and volume back being a whole step down on my acoustic?
Would a B1 or C2 string over a 27"/69cm scale be too quiet acoustically for those 11 or 15 feet/34 or 46dm away? There are a few companies on Just Strings which sell phosphor bronze strings thicker than .056"/1.42mm.
Honestly I'm not an expert in string gauges for downtuning so I'm not really the guy to ask :( Sorry!
Thanks anyway. My focus was more on the tuning than the gauge.
I have a question. I tuned down my guitar from standard tuning to full step down because I can't sing some songs in standard tuning but some I can but I like the full step down because it given me some advantages for doing simple chords and if I want standard tuning, all I can do is put a capo. The problem that I had is a fret buzz. So I kind of raise my strings a bit to avoid fret buzz but I felt the guitar is keep going back to fret buzz again and I adjust again the truss rod and it feels like the nut or the truss is very loose like it is soft to counterclockwise. What should I do with these. I don't want any fret buzz and I want to maintain the height of my strings without those fret buzz.
I just done it to my 12 string guitar today because of tension and stress on the bridge and neck just put a capo and back to normal tune.
Probably plays so much better!
I love open g but a lot of songs were just a little too high for me🤭Amazingly my voice come together tuning one step down! Thank you for conociese clear reasoning!
Please can anyone tell me what it means,have a funny singing key ? for 43 years i have needed to tune everything down 2 frets so normal tuning but in D not E,that way i can sing everyone elses songs and still keep the rifs needed to make the song correct (yes i can play by transposing cords but i lose being able to add the songs riffs) ive just always wonderd why my singing fits to orchestral instruments,but not standard ?
I don't know if that's true. I mean a lot of people sing in C or G, but it kind of depends on the person.
@@seandaniel23 hi,,i grew up mad on the beatles started a band age11,,playing there songs and the hundreds of others means all sorts of keys,but too high or too low to sing unless i tune down,,and playing song in B flat instead of C means no rif without crazy capo places,,i just wonderd what "key" i must naturaly sing in,they use names like baritone ect but i have never understood music enough to understand what it means my voice is you see :-) thank you for answering me mate YNWA
Should i buy one 7th string and one more 6th for different tunings? :P
Funny that you bring up that subject just now. I always kept my guitar in Eb standard but since two weeks I've kept my guitar in D standard because of my vocal range and harmonica choices (I like to play harmonica Dylan style when I'm playing). I think D standard sounds more "majestic".
If you're playing in open G and it's a bit too high for your voice, is there anything wrong with using capo, eg around 4th fret, and singing an octave lower?
yes same string tuning eadgbe but on the flat instead of the middle normal tuning :) cheers for reply saw your live feed on friday keep up the good work broskie !!!!
Thanks so much!!
What is the difference between Drop tuning and using Capo
so like if i play open F pointer will be on the same fret as the ring now? i guess i mean the b string becomes a A or C ,i ahvent really looked at it myself perfectly ..
Could the guitar be downtuned one whole octave?? Would that work?? Is there a guitar that is made that way??
No, the strings would be too flappy. There are guitars like that though - they're called basses :p
However mine dosent sound like urs but it dose have a different good sound to it
Did Jimi and SRV tune down bc of their voices or bc they wanted easier bends. And if they wanted easier bends why not just go with lighter strings? Inquiring minds want to know??
I think I can answer this :) SRV loved heave strings, he'd often use .11's or .12's. So I'm pretty sure standard tuning on a strat with a long scale length to begin with would be out of the question. You still gotta work pretty hard with .11's on a strat in Eb.
Jimi's tuning was all over the place, some recordings it's E, some it's D, some it's Eb and on some it's some where in between E and Eb. Hendrix actually used pretty thin gauges, so I'm not 100 % sure, but an educated guess would be that he did it to match his vocals which were kind of in a low register.
Some players also just prefer really thin strings. Billy Gibbons famously uses .07's! If you get used to playing with a light touch, thin strings are the way to go. I think Jimi had the same frame of mind.
Jimi tuned down because he played in horn bands, and wanted to match the E flat sound of the brass instruments he was playing with, but I don''t know why SRV tuned down.
I believe Jimi used Thick and Thins which matches well with the Eb tuning for bending the higher strings and great heavy tones on the low strings. Not sure about SRV, but would not be surprised if he used similar string gauges.
Interesting. I know he was a backing guitarist for ages before making it on his own. So, it makes sense. But, he didn't play much with horn bands in his solo career. His first band was a power trio, bass drums and guitar, and he didn't stray too much from this, generally speaking. Some times he'd have an extra guitarist, or Winwood on Hammond B3. So, it doesn't explain why he continued tuning down, I guess is what I'm saying.
Now if I close my eyes, I’m being taught by Jeff Goldblum, which is pretty awesome too.
The finest compliment I've gotten.
Hey Sean I would love another D standard lesson on the electric guitar if you could! this is the exact tuning I have on mine and its like re-learning the fretboard sometimes. I have my guitar set up with 11-54 strings and I love it...I can play Drop C no problem. Your vids are great thank you.
i keep my guitar in a shed across town for jamming, went there last night for a tickle and had the most insane moment.. everything snapped into place.. went to tune my guitar and its all tuned down, never played it like that never tuned it like that.. real weird.. unless i accidently tuned it with a capo it was a ghost... so here i am YouTubing it..
I just tuned my acoustic to d standard for the first time. I am a new woman and my fingertips are happy.
I went through a huge Elliott Smith phase which necessitated tuning a whole step down and I ended up getting so used to it that I still keep all my acoustics that way. I think of it as sacrificing some tone for greater flexibility. After all, you can always jam a cappo on 2 to play in standard.
do you use light strings? I feel like mine have too much slack and my higher strings don't like to stay in tune when i drop down to d standard, even just from Eb which i've played for years.
I tend to use .11s but .10s works too. The extra slack does take a bit of getting used to, but I don't have trouble with staying in tune. The difficulty comes if I need to tune up to standard and have to adjust to the extra tension.
I like D standard. For my back up acoustic ill keep my guitar in D standard case I want to play lower and not tune over and over again.
Sean, What mic do you for recording these vids when you are just talking to the camera and playing a bit? (not when you mic up the guitar directly) Maybe you could do a quick rundown video on your youtube setup (Video/Audio/Lighting)? I'd like to make some a vids of acoustic songs I've written for youtube, so I could use some advice in that area. Thanks
+Michael Cunningham it's an audix m1255b. Love it. I go over it in this vid czcams.com/video/P5I-_F9A2ac/video.html
Thanks Sean, you the man as usual.
Came here to learn HOW TO EXPLAIN to some1 the theory. I am so bad at teaching.. so bad.. Thanks man, I will explain this litterally like you did here, nice job man. And yeah... I play 12 Gauge strings on my electric. And the action is arround 12 inch from the bottom of the strings to the surface of the fret. Tryed to copy SRV but turned out that is my style and i cant play any way different... Im a metal-head, but my first choice will always be the Blues.
I almost always leave my guitar un 1 tone ½ down instead of standerd because of 3 reasons
1-° My dad says leaving it in standerd stretches to much the string and stuff
2-° I know more songs in that tone
3-° I very lazy in tuning it back up again XD