Tuning Below Standard Pitch

Tuning down a semitone:

Guitarists tune down a semitone (also known as “half step down tuning” or tuning to Eb standard) for several reasons:

1. Vocal Comfort: Tuning down can help vocalists, as songs become slightly lower, making it easier to sing them. This is particularly useful for songs that are at the top of a vocalist’s range.
2. Sound and Tone: Lowering the pitch can give the guitar a deeper, fuller, and slightly darker tone. This is appealing in many music genres, such as rock, blues, and metal, where a heavier sound might be desired.
3. String Tension: When you tune down, the tension on the strings is reduced. This can make the strings easier to bend and the guitar generally easier to play, which is beneficial for playing fast or complex passages.
4. Matching Recordings: Some guitarists tune down to match the tuning used in specific recordings. This is common when covering songs by artists who frequently use Eb tuning or lower.
5. Creative and Musical Choices: The choice of tuning can be a creative one, offering a different set of sonic possibilities and inspiring new ideas in songwriting and improvisation.
6. Compatibility with Other Instruments: Sometimes, tuning down is done to match the tuning of other instruments in a band, ensuring all instruments are in key with each other.

Overall, the decision to tune down a semitone is influenced by a combination of factors, including the desire for a specific sound, the need for easier playability, and the requirements of the music being played.

Many famous guitarists and bands have tuned down a semitone (to Eb standard tuning) for some or all of their music. This technique spans across various genres, from rock and blues to metal. Here are a few notable examples:

1. Jimi Hendrix: Known for his innovative guitar techniques and sounds, Hendrix often tuned down a semitone to accommodate his vocal range and to achieve a warmer, fatter guitar tone.
2. Stevie Ray Vaughan: A legendary blues guitarist, Vaughan frequently used Eb tuning, which contributed to his signature thick, rich tone and made bending strings easier.
3. Slash (Guns N’ Roses): Many of Guns N’ Roses’ iconic songs, including tracks from their debut album “Appetite for Destruction,” are played in Eb tuning, giving them a slightly heavier sound.
4. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen): Van Halen occasionally used Eb tuning for certain songs to achieve a heavier sound and to facilitate ease of playing.
5. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana): Cobain sometimes tuned his guitar down a semitone for a heavier sound, though he also experimented with other tunings.
6. Metallica: While Metallica has used various tunings throughout their career, they’ve employed Eb tuning on several occasions to achieve a heavier and darker sound.
7. Green Day: Many of Green Day’s songs are played in Eb tuning, contributing to their punk rock sound.
8. Eric Clapton: Clapton has used Eb tuning for certain performances, often for blues numbers to achieve a more authentic blues sound.

These artists and many others have utilized Eb tuning to achieve specific sonic characteristics, easier playability, or to better match their vocal ranges. Tuning down a semitone is a common practice in the guitar community, embraced by amateurs and professionals alike for its versatility and the unique qualities it brings to music.

Tuning down a whole tone:

Tuning down a whole tone (also known as D standard tuning) involves tuning each string of the guitar down by a whole step. This tuning is favored by some guitarists for its heavier, deeper sound and reduced string tension, which can facilitate easier bending and playing. It’s particularly popular in genres like metal, hard rock, and even some blues and jazz contexts. Here are a few notable guitarists and bands that have used D standard tuning:

1. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath): Often considered the pioneer of heavy metal guitar, Iommi frequently used tunings lower than standard, including D standard, to create Black Sabbath’s dark, heavy sound. His use of down tuning was initially inspired by the need to ease tension on his fingers due to an accident that injured his fingertips.
2. James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett (Metallica): Metallica has used D standard tuning on several songs, notably on the album “Load” and “Reload,” to achieve a heavier, more resonant guitar sound.
3. Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age): Homme has used a variety of tunings, including D standard, to achieve the distinctive stoner rock sound that QOTSA is known for.
4. Mastodon: This metal band is known for their heavy, intricate compositions and have used D standard tuning on many of their albums to create their signature sound.
5. Daron Malakian (System of a Down): System of a Down has songs in D standard tuning, contributing to their unique blend of metal, rock, and Armenian musical influences.

These guitarists and bands have explored the creative possibilities offered by tuning down a whole tone, using it to shape their music’s character and emotional impact. D standard tuning remains a popular choice for artists looking to explore different sonic landscapes or achieve a heavier sound.

I never played this CCR song correctly until I learned he was tuned down a whole step.

Do you know of some some that use these tunings? I’d love to know. Drop me a line.