Anybody tune down a whole step?

[dmr34]

Quite a few threads about tuning down a half step... Does anybody (meaning your band) tune down a whole step, just to make the vocals that much easier?

 

[Echoplexi]

We tune down to c# but not specifically for the singer. It's just common in our genre

 

[sleewell]

our band is in drop Db

 

[greenhilander]

We do but only to play the songs in the proper keys. We do a few Volebeat songs. Guitars are tuned to straight D. Not to make it easier for the vocalist. I'm a stickler about playing covers as they are on the recording. Yea I lug a lot of axes to shows. We even do some drop B stuff.

 

[ripple]

I just started doing this with one of my Strats, for personal use/goofing off at home, and it's a neat change. Gives the guitar an faux-baritone tonality, and once I adjusted to the string tension, I found myself REALLY liking it.

Almost too much actually, considering our band would never consider tuning down as a unit.

I love to grab the "D" strat for surf guitar, swampy stuff and any Robin Trower.

 

[Yer Blues]

I use to play off/on with a cover band who would tune down to D for everything. They were on the "heavier" side though so it worked out pretty well for that stuff.

 

[custom53]

There is a couple of tunes we use to do that we tune down a whole step.. But not for vocals, because the songs are recorded that way..

Here is one.. Basically it is tuned to "D" and then Drop "C"..

 

[dlguitar64]

All standard all the time

 

[micycle]

One of the bands I'm in does, apparently they started doing that because it was easier for the horns to play along (I joined a few years after they started). It definitely adds a different vibe to the music. Thank goodness for the Digitech Drop pedal, that's all I can say!

 

[27sauce]

We play a few songs that are in drop C# on the original recording. Generally whatever the original is in. We've dropped keys on maybe 10 between our 2 singers. A couple a whole step, most a half.

 

[lp_bruce]

I sometimes tune one of my acoustics down a full step. There are a few songs I play that are easier to sing/play there and I kinda' like the rumbling tone.

Peace,

 

[paranoid70]

Just a half step, and man it makes things so much easier. We do several tunes that were originally recorded in D# in addition to those recorded in standard. Do them all in D# and I don't have to constantly retune or switch guitars.

That being said, we do one song where I tune to D. I think the song was actually recorded in C, but the strings are way too loose that way.

 

[Dubious]

all my guitars are tuned down a full step and then i usually do drop C

 

[Jim Soloway]

I have two guitars that I play regularly. My #1 player is kept tuned down to D and the other is tuned down to C#. I'm playing mostly solo instrumental music, so it has nothing to do with vocals. I just prefer the sound of the instrument that way.

 

[lp_bruce]

I have two guitars that I play regularly. My #1 player is kept tuned down to D and the other is tuned down to C#. I'm playing mostly solo instrumental music, so it has nothing to do with vocals. I just prefer the sound of the instrument that way.

It definitely sounds different and people should give it a try if they want a change. With my acoustic trio, I frequently capo up to provide a different sound/voicing from another guitar and a mando. I tuned down to D as an experiment to provide an alternate approach and I liked it. I rarely play that way in the trio (thought I'm using DADGAD a fair bit), but my Ovation is almost always tuned down a full step.

Peace,

 

[Bogner]

I use a lot of different tunings...depends on the music style and song. I have personally found that various tunings can be a great inspiration for writing new riffs and songs or if you hit a wall creatively. Often times I have tuned differently and it inspired a spark of creativity to break out of that rut.

 

[muzishun]

I would like to go to D

But I need my guitars for Eb and standard, and without a set up, D is too extreme.

So I have 1 in D standard, for a handful of songs we do. For now.

I like the sound and range of D, but Eb feels the best.

The heavy gauge i use for D has it's drawbacks.

 

[dmr34]

thanks for all the replies, very helpful!

 

[ClassicLP]

Mick Mars tuned down a whole step. Great riffs.

 

[Jim Soloway]

The heavy gauge i use for D has it's drawbacks.

If you use really heavy strings they can have intonation issues at the bottom of the neck and the low end can get boomy. I have a really light touch so I use fairly light strings and just try not to drive them too hard. I do need at least a 25.5" scale length to make it work though.