Why I Always Tune a Half Step Down
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ย. 2024
- Today, I wanted to talk to you a little about Eb standard tuning, its importance in rock and metal music, and why you should give it a try.
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Me with a licenced floyd rose who refuses to tune to anything else: *Hmm.... interesting.*
It's a good excuse to get more guitars. One for each tuning you wanna use. :D
@@molekyyli …..agreed
And this is why I own 20 guitars and 7 basses… it’s a slippery slope
@@molekyyli Sadly I am from India and I can barely afford a pickup xD
@@dagkarlsson7182 It certainly is. I have only 5 (and one is a travel guitar) but I'm learning to make them, so it's only gonna get worse. 🤣
Another interesting thing about Eb tuning is if you play something bluesy in Eb with a keyboard player, the pentatonic scale in Eb is all the black keys. Eb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Db, Eb.
Yes I found this out being a metal guitar player moving into fusion jazz piano
Good point👍🏿
I’m the keyboard guy lol
I feel especially the same with D Standard tuning. It's in my opinion the optimal tuning because you still retain the bright sound of the high strings while getting huge sounding power chords on the lower strings. I play with 10-46 strings on a 24,625 inch scale length B.C. Rich stealth and the tension is really ok. In fact everything tighter feels super weird to me nowadays. But it makes huge bends way easier.
D standard is my favorite
I play in D standard on 9-42’s! Fantastic for bends and I don’t really beat on my guitar that much so I can get away with most heavy stuff too
Same d standard is my favorite, even my 7 is in drop g so the top six can be in d standard too
@@onionheadguy7094 hellyeah. Mine 7 string is in drop G too.
Agreed
Drop C (as well as variations it) are not only my favourite tunings, but C natural minor is my favourite key. It perfectly strikes that balance between heaviness and melodicism, while songs in C natural minor sound so melancholy and have this vibe of longing about them. I think that probably explains why I like late 1990s and early 2000s metalcore so much lol
i agree, also i really liked that one time avenged sevenfold intentionally made a song in C minor without leaving their drop-D tuning, made the guitar part sound nice and open instead of chugging away at a low open string so much
Drop C on acoustic sounds like depression and I fucking love it.
@@michaelw6277 I've always considered drop C (and C natural minor) to be a dark but hopeful tuning/key, like a light at the end of the tunnel kind of vibe.
I’m on the same boat, tuning to c is my favorite
This is how I feel about Bb minor, actually. There’s something that just hits different about it.
For my 6 strings, my favorite tuning to Black Sabbath tuning, C# Standard. It’s the perfect amount of darkness in the sound without any mud, and it retains all the clarity of E Standard. C# Standard also just personally caresses my ears in a way no other tuning can. Black Sabbath nailed it when they tuned to C# Standard.
Love C# standard
Master of reality is the high water mark of c# for sure.. children of the grave, and into the void? Timeless examples, and absolutely untouchable in heaviness, especially at the time they made it..
I've been trying C# Standard with a set of .010 to .052 and it sounds and feels great. The problem for me is transposing my keyboard playing down to match, which is really hard (all the new sharps/flats I have to re-figure out).
@@davelanciani-dimaensionx correct me if I'm wrong, because I don't play piano or keyboard, but don't they basically start in C? Why not just tune your guitar down another half step, and do it that way? Then you don't have to worry about anything really, it should be easier to transpose music between the 2.. again, I don't know about keyboards at all, so I could have just said the dumbest thing ever lol
@@davelanciani-dimaensionx At least relearning the keyboard will help you be a better musician in general, so I’d say that’s an overall positive
Eb standard for the win, but I've been tuned to E standard lately to make things a little less confusing while I finally get around to learning some theory after 20 years of noodling aimlessly
E standard for practice Eb for rehearsals and Gigs.
Eb standard sounds BEAUTIFUL on acoustic guitar
Yeah, Eb all the way! My favorite tuning as well. There's something special about it. Personally, I find it more melodic and emotional than standard (or any other tuning), as well as having that extra edge on standard. It's the reason why I started doing the downtuned songs videos, just so I could play along with my favorite records.
P.S.: I don't if you have actually watched any of my videos, but if so I'm happy that you enjoy them.
Thanks man. You're a life saver. I feel exactly like you do about Eb and have jammed to all the songs you've posted on your channel.
I like it because it makes strings easier to bend ( less tension) and easier to sing to. That and every song you play sounds just a tad bit heavier/darker than standard! If Slash and Hendrix and EVH think it's cool then it's gotta be good 😆
Let's not forget a legendary Eb standard band that then smoothly transitioned into Bb and inspired the whole new genre - Nevermore
I think you're viewing Eb as better just purely based on comparisons to E, if that makes sense (ofc you have to compare two things to say one of them is better, but in this case it seems to me that you like Eb in already existing songs which were recorded in E). Downtuning a song and comparing it to the original one RIGHT after listening to the E version will always sound heavier, it's a downward modulation. If you listen to two versions of a totally new song to you, with time inbetween, I think it would be much harder for you to tell which one is tuned to what. Also you mentioned you don't like D std cause it sounds like sludge. It could be, but thats what happens when you downtune something after it was recorded :) an E note sounds different when digitally downtuned to D vs when played on the second fret, guitar tuned to D standard. Yngwie has some drop D songs, but for long time, before attempting to play them I never had a clue. The same happens with Hold On, which until I played it, I never knew it was in E standard (I love Hold On and Alcatrazz songs). As a matter of fact, I have no idea what song is tuned to E from Eclipse :) thats cause I never rlly learnt songs from the album. But I feel that Eclipse is way heavier than Rising Force, due to its production. Personally I think downtuning slightly only accomodates vocals and helps the guitarist have some slack in the strings and bend higher (think Yngwie bending to F# on the high E string 💀) or it can make a song heavier on an album when listened to in context. I'm curious what you think about this point of view. Cheers and congrats for the channel growth!
PS. awesome tone!
I think it's hard to say that D standart is sludge
Everyone knows of Metallica's songs in these tunings, and it's very clear sounding when we talk about Dream No More, Thing That Should Not Be, Sad But True
I agree. Different result from recording in E standard then tuning down vs recording in Eb standard.
You think nothing of Hendrix? He made up chords. He had his own style, could write hit songs, could take someone else's hit song and make it a bigger hit. He was innovative in his music, controlled feedback and other effects. He is one of the most influential guitarists in history. Punk
I didn't say that. When did I say I think nothing of him. All I said was he's a bit overrated
@@sixstringtv1 some people cant handle anything being said about something they like. I personally love jimmy Hendrix but also know if he was around today he would just be another guitar player. He is his own thing back in his time. But today nothing he played is that impressive. But im still grateful we had him when we did.
Eb flat is the best tuning for bending. Love it. Love Malmsteen. You got skills my guy
Thanks! 😁😎
"Eb flat". So D standard then? 😝
Its all down to finger strength, tuning and string gauge. E standard with regular gauge strings has similar string tension to drop A with 65-13's. Lots of players use custom gauges to suit their feel.
That’s one of the main tunings we use along with C standard. Eb standard is awesome. I call it the Slayer tuning but everyone else that uses it rips too. Nice job soloing 🤘🏻
I started using it because of Slayer too 😆
@@sixstringtv1 hahaha I mean it makes sense
When I see or hear Eb I instantly think slayer
Slayer and Hendrix are why I use it most often
@@The_Masked_1der guns n rroses, nirvana, van halen too
I record my songs in E standard and always perform them in Eb live. Not only easier to sing, but gives my songs a slight different flavor live especially cause it’s in acoustic mode.
As a guitarist myself, I understand the curiosity of constantly tuning down and trying things until you find a sound you like and are comfortable with the instrument. But as a professional musician, adapting to E standard is almost mandatory since you are not the only musician in the group and normally the rest are not obliged to adapt to how the guitarist tunes.
Who doesn’t know how to play in e standard?
Sorry but this weird reality you’ve created makes no sense,
The more professional the player the more adaptable,
If the rest of the band isn’t professional enough to play with the guitarist and his tuning,
A professional guitarist can still play with the band,
In his selected tuning.
Better yet the best tuning for the song,
Regardless of their preference or the bands.
@@jeremytee2919 anyone under 30 who plays any genre of music that isn't predicted on billboard hits
@@allighast9714 guitarist who don’t know how to play in e are rare,
Your premise is incredibly ridiculous.
Also as I stated a “pro”would be able to keep with a band regardless of tuning.
Furthermore,
the premise that tuning a half a step down while maintaining standard intervals would interfere with your ability to play in standard is absurd ,
If you can’t transpose up a half step, not only are you not a pro,
You require entry level tutoring.
Mate if you know how to play in e you know how to play in eb, as a jazz guitarist who played with other bands, most of the tunes are in the area of F,Eb,Bb,Ab etc… and i always used the e standard, now looking at it it really isn’t the problem
It's purely psychological, lol. I prefer a whole step down, but the last 2 bands I've been in tuned 1/2 step down, and I still love it. The biggest difference I've noticed is when using dropped tunings. It definitely sounds thicker at C# than D.
I think you're right; I now have my Les tuned in D#, but also drop D so a Drop C#. It turns the guitar into a songwriting tool for metal. I like it, because you can transpose all your chords and knowledge, and you can come up with some wild things.
I was in a band for six years that tuned to D mostly for the comfort of the lead singer. The sound was always rich and powerful.
My cover band has tuned down half step for 25 years for reasons you already mentioned; easier to hit those higher notes while singing (I'm the singer too), but also a LOT less broken strings. Easier to bend notes and better play-feel overall.
Half step up is something else completely, whole new world, it completely shifts any expectation you used to have about certain shapes on the neck that you got accustomed with.I really, REALLY recommend.
I kept switching between C and C# standard for a while, then tried something in the middle (C# with 430hz reference instead of 440) and it felt and sounded magical. In the end I got slightly heavier strings and went with C since a lot of oldschool death metal I like is in C
I always say that if you have a strat you basically have two guitars. A strat in Eb is such a different experience. I believe that it's down to the scale length.
Eb takes some of that aggressive twang away. Much nicer experience
I played in a UK based thrash band called Warpath (yeah I know, there's around 700 bands named the same) from 2007 - 2010 and we tuned to Eb but I honestly never liked it much. I had 9.5 strings on my Jackson SL3 and always wanted to go down another half step to D standard and give the sound and vibe even more ... balls!
Man, it was so cool and refreshing to hear metal on a strat with single coils again. It's actually pretty cool!
I usually play in D standard, but by the same logic, I have been finding myself favoring Db. This comes from tuning the guitar to itself after I use it, so I now also appreciate my music a half step down from my original intended tuning 🤘
I think there's something to just being a bit different. Feels fresh. Vektor plays a half step UP and it's incredible.
They probably did a circle around you because they didn't want to mess up your shot. Great video bro
C# standard is my favourite. 54-10's not too low but low enough for heavy rhythm.
Nah nah nah
48-10 works best for c# standard
Man! I love Warbringer too. They are such an awesome live band, and really kind guys. Just saw them one week ago.
I'd love to see them live
That IS a beautiful backdrop sir, also the string tension to scale length thing is huge here...Your guitar can feel like an entirely different instrument tuned down. And if tuning down makes your strings feel too sloppy, you get to try fatter strings, which may allow for lower action which will also change the feel of the instrument.... OPTIONS BREH..
I totally agree. I am dedicating my go-to guitars to Eb. I recorded a solo album quite a few years back with Derek Taylor (former Shrapnel records shredder, current producer/owner of Milostudio) recording and engineering this out of his bedroom. After recording the first song he convinced me to use his guitars. I didn't mind as he was endorsed by Ibanez. He tuned a half step down from 440E and it did darken the tone! I don't play thrash or hardcore really. It's more of a darker heavy alternative rock (Think modern version of AIC "Dirt") but this tuning works with my weirdness and my lower singing voice. I'm now writing for a new solo project and this video knocked me off the fence on standard 440E and Eb. Thanks!
First of all, great playing man! And great choice of background. :D I love southern Germany's nature, gotta drive there sometime again (being from northern Germany)
My main tuning is drop D, because I love the chord voicings one can do, combining chords with melodies.
The VIBE aspect of tuning down still remains true for me as well. Drop C# and Drop C brought some of my favorite original songs to life and always inspire me. Although I'm still a fan of the snappy drop D tuning (due to playing 10-52 elixir strings). It's pretty much a song to song choice for me, which tuning to choose. (Although the higher notes of my vocal melody for a song also impact that choice... :D)
This is exactly why I like half step down. It's not far off from standard, but it just sounds so much heavier, even though it's a slightly lowering tuning, it gives it that heaviness, clean or distorted. Standard E sounds good and cool too, but half step down to Eb just has that heavier tone that sounds sick!
Nice jamming brotha 💪
I got to see warbringer open up for nevermore at a very small venue in 2010 I believe. I'd never heard of them before, they were having problems with their gear but they still impressed me, it brought me back to early thrash metal. And I wouldn't trade the world for seeing one of nevermore's last shows.
I’m a singer too and Eb/drop C# really takes the edge off some of my melodies. I do love the sound of Eb of course
As a fellow shredder, and a classically trained cellist and composer, I can say that there is definitely some music theory behind this!
Every key has certain “emotion” or “feel” associated with it - how our ears hear the frequencies. There are many studies by composers about this, but Eb (and its subsequent key signatures) would definitely have a darker and different tone than those of E standard (mostly natural and sharp keys).
Eb minor is an especially dark key - just to note that. E minor, not so much as it is related to G major (whereas Eb minor is related to Gb/F# major).
Super interesting stuff! I personally like standard tuning on my guitars, but you’re definitely not wrong with what you are feeling/hearing!
@@davidpearson6346 I think it sounds great for certain things like Bach and some Beethoven symphonies, but I still prefer 440!
E flat standard is what my acoustic is tuned to normally. It just sounds better, and if you need E standard, just grab a capo.
Eb is just my E standard. I grew up on Pyromania by Def Leppard, Alive! by Kiss and Appetite For Destruction by GN'R. All 3 primarily use Eb tuning
Pyromania is all standard tho isn't it? Except Photograph which is basically a flatter E standard
Thats also why I've always tuned to Eb, Guns used it, Poison used it, and those were the songs I learned to play first and it just stuck.
@@barclaybass2327 The first three songs I ever learned were Welcome to the Jungle, Deuce and Love Gun. All in Eb
Van halen for me
Leppard is E standard
Love the flowing hair! The fan is an essential special effect for TH-cam metal videos.
What I find pretty impressive is that bands like Vektor tune UP to F standard and still sound good af
Must be snappy
Why wouldn't they? The tuning has nothing to do with the composition, you can transpose anything to F and if it's good it will still be good.
I actually strongly favor the E-Standard tuned sound of that thrashy example you played. I don't know why, i just like it more
Laid to rest in drop C# with the single coils had a really good growl to it.
😎😎
I have an honest question.
I'm a jazz musician and it's not uncommon to gig with 7 string guitar players, with B E A D G B E tuning. This is so the guitar player can play bass notes if a bass player isn't around/ there's a guitar intro. Why not just do this?
Second question: Your low E (if we are talking about standard tuning) is in the bass clef- it reads as E 3, but plays an octave lower. Therefore, it is actually playing E 2. That's very low. Why make it lower?
This is also compounded by the fact you have a bass player. Bass also transposes an octave lower. This means a standard B string on a bass hits lower than a tuba.
What is the purpose of drop tuning? I've never understood it. Can someone explain this?
(Now if I'm wrong on the guitar part, let me know I don't Play guitar but i know its just like bass when it comes to reading music - they are an octave lower than they read. I'm a bass player with a degree in music)
You're an excellent guitarist and I love your commentary. Great videos!
Thanks! 😎😎
@@sixstringtv1 Your channel is definitely my favorite guitar-oriented one to date! I enjoy the humor and wit. Great stuff!
Been doing this for 15 years now....best of both worlds
Completely agree, Eb with 9-42 strings all day for me. Great playing, by the way.
Facts! And thanks 😎😎
As a country guy, my favorite artist played for years in Eb in the 90s, also my favorite album is in Eb.
Personally, I play in E standard and its way easier to play socially since that's the standard tuning.
I think it's a matter of the music is a little heavier. But continually dropping tuning is what gives us djent.
Maybe the CGDAEB is a better alternative since it gives you a wider range than most guitar tunings, also playing in 5ths!
As a vocalist who at one point had a very limited range I never understood the tune a half step down for vocal ranges, if I can’t hit a note, im probably not gonna be able to hit the one only a half step below either
Our band tunes Eflat and as the guitarist and singer, I love it. Songs do sound a touch more full when flat, to my ear anyway, and yes. Definitely easier on the vocal cords! 🤘
i play E standard, because i think more in terms of music key, but i just generally like when bands play anywhere close to E standard, including Eb. my favourite melodic death metal band (next to CoB) is KALMAH, and the Eb tuning really gives the riffs they play alot of clarity, instead of a low-tuned sludge like most metal. its kinda like the musical equivalent of an artwork with alot of detail, but very clearly defined shapes and outlines, rather than "what the heck am i looking at ill just squint my eyes and look close and i think i see a cat in there"
about strings, i use 9-46 strings, called "custom light" or something, so only the lower strings would be less loose than normal 9-42. have you already tried string gagues like those? 10-52 exists too
I wanted to add: that’s is a gorgeous area you’re filming in.
Isn't it 😍😍
I think the thing with this tuning is that we were really influenced by the grunge movement for many years, so were many metal bands. Especially by Alice In Chains. And for that reason our ears are prone to just vibe with the more heavy music
I totally agree. But this is coming from somebody who always tunes a half step down or drop C#. I usually don't think tuning is that important and you can sound great in any tuning especially standard but I do feel that there is some truth to why flat tunings often sound better. 90% of guitarists play in standard and it's most of what I hear when I walk into a guitar store. So if you are a guitarist you hear standard a lot. And it feels new and interesting to hear somebody play in a different tuning.
Oh yeah, and the vibes are better. Lmao
My first guitar was an old Jackson with a Floyd. Before I knew how to setup a Floyd I left it in Eb all the time. During the late 90s most of my favorite bands were using Eb so it worked out fine.
Subbed. You may admit to not knowing music theory that well (neither do I) but you definitely know good music, When you brought up the drop tune part, I thought to myself "Finally. Finally someone who gets it." Awesome.
🙏🙏🙏
Talking about it is easier for the singer, probably everyone can agree who ever played a woodwind or brass Instrument. Note by note it gets harder to reach higher notes. It is not like on guitar or on key instruments, where the note is just available or unavailable.
EVH mostly played in drop D. Randy Rhoads played mostly in half step on Diary of a Madman.
Ive always preferred Standard E for everything. Thrash, Death, Blues, Grunge, it just sounds tighter and more crisp to me. Especially if you get a really good tone.
There truly is something about Eb tuning that still has a snap but darker. I love Meshugga style guitar and at the same time Drop-D is also so good and punchy. 58-10 from Ernie ball is perfect for me in Eb
First time on your channel. I like your voice/speech as much as your content. Great dissertation here.
😎😎
I use the standard E tunning. If you are in south germany as you say try tunning from 440 to 443, the strings will feel better. If you are in Southern Europe try 441. Cyprus 440, Norway 445 , you get it. Remeber if you tune down ,your tech death metal at concert will need drum triggers etc...And if you do the drop tunings you wont be able to form 1st(aug) and 2nd (M/m) intervals with the 6th string. You will sound more heavy but I will sound more evil.
thank you. Im in a 3 piece hard blues grunge rock band and my bass player looked at me crazy when I told him we play in Eb. you're preaching to the choir my man and I love to hear it. I also play a strat in standard with 10s in my other bands, but in this band I used 11s which felt equal. but my man at the guitar shop turned me on to ernie ball 10.5s which was a game changer. with the shortened scale and the downtune its perfect.
The main reason the old school players of the 50s and 60s tuned down a half step was to play with Sax players.
Its like cranking it up to 11, but in the harmonic dimension. Actually, I like A=444 too, because it puts C at 528 and makes it brighter sounding I feel. Don't judge.
I adore e flat tuning and been playing in drop C# for more than a decade, I just feel comfortable with it.
I also tried Eb standard to some of my guitars with size 9 strings. But the guitar doesn't agree with it. There were fret buzz issues, string height issues, etc.
I also tried it on my guitars with size 10s. Again, same problem. Buzzing and this time, intonation issues.
So I guess, I will only go for Eb standard tuning if I have 11s above. Yes?
I just recently started using eb standard & drop c# after 9 years of playing, I had to use 11-56 for the guitar to have perfect intonation and tuning.
It sounds like either the guitar itself or the amp is resonant around Eb, which seems counterintuitve. Eb can also sound very blue and morose which is ideal for intense and moody material, while E can sound energetic and bright. If you listen to or play the Smithereens' "Blood and Roses," which is Eb tuning, it just doesn't feel as compelling in E. Of course, who knows, it could have something to do with equal temperament tuning.
ive got one guitar in e and one in eb for jamming along with them thin lizzy tunes. never thought about which one sounded better to my ears. very interesting video.
i was just thinking about this on my walk home and i got this video on my recommendations
Kaylen you're not weird you're eccentric! Filming in the open field is a nice touch and as much appreciated. Oh string gauge (52-10) Ernie Ball is my favorite string set.
I respect your arguments but also
C STANDARD GANG
Perfect balance between the dark and crushing low end but the tight and cutting higher end imo
Einfach deutsch der Boi. Grüüße!
Dein Englisch ist so gut 👌🏽
Als Sänger definitiv natürlicher man will sofort mit singen. Beim Standard Tuning bist du sofort am hoch schrauben deiner Stimme und angestrengt permanent. Definitiv ein guter Punkt 👌🏻
Technically, in music system we use which is 12 tone equal temperament (where octave is just divided into 12 equal spaces) different key only changes pitch with all intervals staying exactly the same.
So in my opinion, it may be both good or bad, depending on context of the song.
But adding vibe to it.. it's more about what tuning you are used to play rather than what tunning is better.
If i would use muscle memory from Eb tuning, to play in E standard than it's gonna sound off for sure, strings being a little looser, less pressure needed and dynamics of picking hand are different, with that it will lose it's vibe for sure.
But in my opinion, if you relearn it paying attention to detail, you can achieve basically the same, just in different pitch height.
I would say.. in Eb some passages may be easier due to less pressure needed, but if you look at picking hand, string being looser needs you to cut a little bit of one of these:
strenght or speed
So when playing acoustic this tuning has quite the dissadvantage since differences in picking hand strenght are quite important to keep diverse articulation, unless speed isn't what you are going for.
So overall definetly worth trying, even more of different tunings.. but none of these should be labelled as 'better' in my opinion, different goals needs different tools, and that's it for me.
You're english is pretty good for a German. Eb Tuning is my favourite since I discovered Paradise Lost many years ago. Bit more punchy and yet pretty clear in Tone.
Ah, yes, The Lord's tuning. I only discovered Eb standard in about mid-2022. Originally I only intended to tune one guitar to it, but now all but one of them is switched over (the other I put on chunky strings and tuned it as a baritone). It's really such a small change, but everything sounds better.
i tend to favor D standard. Bands like Ghost, Death, Gojira all tune to D standard. but honestly if i want to tune to any key now i just use a pitch shifter. i also like C# standard with bands like Behemoth using it.
Electric tuners have the ability to be calibrated by a certain percentage of a semitone.
This can be useful if your strings are a little too heavy to bend in E but you don't want to go all the way to E flat.
I find there's a balancing act between having the high strings loose enough to bend the way I want and having the low strings tight enough to prevent any sloppiness in rhythm parts
Stringjoy custom sets are the way to fine tune this.
I see many people talk about this. I don't own a Strat at the moment, so I can't really do my own experimentations. But what I am thinking right now is:
The glorious Strat that guitar gods sent down from heaven is simply BAD DESIGNED.
Fehlkonstruktion.
Leo Fender for some reason thought he could just make the scale a bit longer but didn't make all calculations right and ended up with a guitar that didn't sound best when tuned to E, but lower... interesting
Funny the first video in my suggestions after this one was Rhett Shull’s video on why Strats sound better in Eb. It’s almost as if the TH-cam algorithm knows this too. 😉
I have tuned to Eb standard tuning, on my short scale Les Paul since '71, and never had a problem, and always use 10s. Go figure. P. S. I love my '70s Marshall 100w tube Amp. Wish I could find some early '70s 100w Hiwatts.
LedHed Pb 207.20 🎶 🎸 🎹
I have guitars tuned to E standard, to Eb standard an one in Drop-C and they're equally fun to play! But most of my favourite artists tune to Eb so it should mean something lol
You are right. I found out Eb having sweet spot between chugg and clarity
I remember really liking replica by sonata arctica and trying to learn it. It took me all the way to the second verse to realise I needed to tune to Eb standard. It really does sound fresh and different.
One of my favorite bands, Rishloo, uses Eb standard/ Drop C#, and their music has a sort of sound that I’m not sure I’ve heard anywhere else.
Been tuning this way for years now. Less tension and better vibes
This is why I need multiple guitars, I love alternate tunings but I can’t be bothered to retune every time I want to try something different… especially when a tremolo is involved.
I feel like this simple issue is holding me back as a guitar player. There are so many drop C songs I want to learn but it would mess up my tremolo because it's an EBMM JP model that doesn't have a floyd rose. Plus the intonation problems. Wish I had bought 3 cheaper guitars instead of that one lol.
As a bassist that accommodates extended range by playing a 5 string bass, I don't care if the guitarist tunes to e flat, just don't tell me that it's E now. It's E flat. The musical world doesn't revolve around your guitar. Sax players don't tell you B flat is C just because its written transposed as such.
One hal leonard book i had said" tune the 6th string up till it quits ratteling" to further reinforce your point go in a pawnshop and look at the acoustics. See the one with the big bow in the neck with the bridge pullin forward? Notice its got big thick ship towin cables on it?
I'm a bass player primarily (started on guitar, though) and your talking about the way it just felt better when you switched everything to Eb makes me think of how everything just felt better on a bass when I switched primarily to fretless and using my fingers instead of a pick 99% of the time. I was suddenly connecting with an instrument instead of trying to make this thing I was holding make the sounds I wanted it to. Granted, from what I see here, we are on opposite ends of the metal speed range most of the time. (I mainly write doom and sludge in metal, though admittedly, I am doing more electronic music now) but I get that "oh this works so much better" feeling. (FWIW, my original main band, now on "indefinite hiatus" tuned a bit lower we had two guitars and two basses, with the rhythm in D standard and the lead in drop C, with one bass in D standard, and one in drop C)
Floyd Rose equipped with 9-46, use drop tune pedal and you're good to go to transpose multiple steps or half steps down without re-tuning!
Eb all fourths and Drop C# all fourths are my two favourite tunings. Luckily it is easy for me to have one guitar for both of thel.
I was in A 440 for years. Tuned to a fork and the whole deal. I joined a metal band and they were in E flat. I sort of didn't like it at first. Then I got used to it. The I heard a local band that were tuned way way down. Type 0 was coming out. I think they were in B. I bought a seven string just to have a few sounds that would set me apart. I figured why not tune a half step down? Then I had to sell my seven. I tuned my six string down to B flat standard and I've been there for the last 24 years. There's a resonance to it.
I play melodeath, always use C# Standard/Drop B cuz I find it allows a lot of heaviness but maintaining melodic ability
and I use heavy bottom, light tops so I think like, .056-.010s
For Me, Eb Depends on the Genre. Personally I prefer Thrash Metal in E Standard, But certain things like Grunge I prefer in Eb. Even Country, I prefer in Eb. But, I think it Mostly Depends on the Genre and What you do with it.
That complete change in sound is something I've been preaching for a hot minute. I often play some BFMV songs a half step up because it just sounds more appropriate to the message sometimes, or because imo it makes it heavier
I guess is just that it's not a popular tuning, and this added that is not a "HUGE" change in tuning, makes the songs feel fresh, and with a different sound than the rest, without sounding weird.
But if all standard tuning bands adopted this, it would become boring real fast.
Anyway it opens an interesting point on how to choose tunings in a way that does not follow the "trend".
Lots of my favorite guitarists use Eb tuning, I find it interesting to use especially when I noticed all the open strings are the black notes on a piano
Most of Van Halen's early recordings featured the guitar tuned down to Eb. About half of the album "Fair Warning" used dropped Db tuning. Those early songs sounded a lot better than their later stuff when they used standard tuning.
There is not a single VH song I can think of tuned really down whole half step to Eb. They are mostly 'around' quarter step down. Honestly I don't think think it's the reason why these songs are better. These songs are IMO simply better in most important aspects like songwriting, arrangements and production. I love Eddie's guitar tone on early record. Considering how old these records are it doesn't sound dated to me unlike other bands from that era.
Uncool as it might be, the first song I ever learned was U2’s _I Will Follow_ which is in E flat. So U2 introduced 14-year-old me to E flat and I’ve been hooked ever since.
I always have a guitar in standard for …well, standard purposes lol but I’ve learned it pays to always have another in Eb at all times coz a lot of my favorite music is also in that tuning. Hell I can live just ripping off EVH licks and songs with an Eb guitar and nothing else.
I play a 7-string in B standard with 9s on a 25.5” scale; I feel like I need no other tuning since I can do super-heavy brutal stuff but I can still shred like all my favourite 80s Glam players. I’ve tried Bb standard and A standard, and while the 6-string part felt great, whenever I got to the 7th string in those tunings, it felt and sounded just a little bit much for what I do.
One of the reasons Kiss sounds so good and Ace of course.