Many guitarists tune
down a 1/2 or whole step from the standard tuning,
which, when combined with heavier gauge strings,
gives a fuller, more powerful tone. It also helps the
lead singer who doesn't want to strain his or her
voice. Tuning your guitar down a 1/2 or whole step is
easy if you use an electronic tuner but a bit
trickier to tune by ear. All the strings will be
tuned down to a flat. Just tune your guitar to the
standard tuning, then tune the 6th fret of the top E
string until it matches the 5th string (A).
An easy way to find
your reference point is to decide what you want the
open string to be. If you're tuning down a whole
step, then the top E string will be a D. Imagine your
top string's already tuned to a D, then count up the
frets until you find the A. In this case it would be
the 7th fret. Tune the 7th fret to the A by matching
to the open 5th string. The top string will now be an
open D. Now you can just tune all the strings using
this as your reference.
Here's
a few other alternate tunings to try.
| |
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|
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|
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| Strings |
6th |
5th |
4th |
3rd |
2nd |
1st |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Baritone #1 |
B |
E |
A |
D |
F# |
B |
| Baritone #2 |
B |
D |
G |
C |
E |
A |
| C Major |
C |
G |
C |
G |
C |
E |
| C Sixth |
C |
G |
C |
G |
A |
E |
| D Minor |
D |
A |
D |
F |
A |
D |
| D Modal |
D |
A |
D |
D |
A |
D |
| Dobro |
G |
B |
D |
G |
B |
D |
| Drop D |
D |
A |
D |
G |
B |
E |
| Drop DD |
D |
A |
D |
G |
B |
D |
| Drop Tuning |
Eb |
Ab |
Db |
Gb |
Bb |
Eb |
| Fourths |
E |
A |
D |
G |
C |
F |
| G Minor |
D |
G |
D |
G |
A# |
D |
| G Sixth |
D |
G |
D |
G |
B |
E |
| Hawaiian |
E |
A |
E |
A |
C# |
E |
| Open D |
D |
A |
D |
F# |
A |
D |
| Open G |
D |
G |
D |
G |
B |
D |
| Standard |
E |
A |
D |
G |
B |
E |
| 12 String |
Ee |
Aa |
Dd |
Gg |
Bb |
Ee |
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