Help - Tuning A Guitar

[Moonlight_Graham]

I've come across song tabs (especially Matt Good stuff) where i need to tune the guitar a 1/2 step down. Don't really know what this means, so how do i do it?

 

Also, i have a song where i need to tune my high-e string to a B. How do i do that?

 

Thanks.

[marx marvelous]

do you use an electronic tuner, or do you tune the guitar relative to itself?

Edited April 17, 2007 by marx marvelous

[Moonlight_Graham]

I actually have a guitar-teaching DVD where the guy lets you tune your guitar to match his strings.

 

So yeah no electronic tuner, i can tune it relative to other string.

[marx marvelous]

play the 6th fret of your low E string and the open A string and tune the E down so that it matches the A. the E is now Eb, now tune the rest of the strings to that one.

[Some Random]

buy a tuner.

[marx marvelous]

buy a tuner.

this isn't a bad idea. you can get a good electronic tuner with a microphone (assuming you're playing acoustic) for no more than $19 u.s.d. it's a very good idea to tune with your ears because you want to be training them, but at the same time, it's not *as* helpful if you're hearing sharp or flat notes all the time.

[Shiri]

Definitely get a tuner, it's not expensive and totally worth it.

[bishopx]

You can get a decent tuner for about $20. Almost every guitar player I know prefers it to tuning manually.

[Moonlight_Graham]

ok thanks i will by a tuner.

 

Can someone tell me, musically speaking, what the term "half-step down" means? Is that like tuning your strings half a note down sorta?

[Ravenous Yam]

Yes. it is tuning all the strings down one semitone (one frets' worth).

1 tone (one step)= 2 frets

1 semitone (1/2 step)= 1 fret

 

It's done mostly to accomodate specific voice ranges. You don't really need to do it unless youre going to be playing along with the original recording, or unless you really feel like it. There's no relative difference between all the strings, because they're all detuned the same amount.

 

Also, in your first post, tuning the high e-string to a b, you'll likely have to tune it down to be the same pitch as the b-string. If you tune it up to b, it'll almost definitely snap. Just match it to the b-string.

Edited April 18, 2007 by Ravenous Yam

[nicholaus]

Another good way to tune half step down is to put your capo on the first fret, and tune to standard. Then when you remove the capo, you're in half-step down tuning

[marx marvelous]

It's done mostly to accomodate specific voice ranges. You don't really need to do it unless youre going to be playing along with the original recording, or unless you really feel like it.

the lessened tension gives the guitar a darker, warmer tonal quality, as opposed to the brightness of standard (or higher) tunings.

[Shiri]

Yes, acoustic guitars tend to sound better tuned half step-down. But it's all a matter of taste, I suppose.

[Some Random]

the lessened tension gives the guitar a darker, warmer tonal quality, as opposed to the brightness of standard (or higher) tunings.

also, unless you up your string gauge when you down tune, it makes bends easier to do.

[marx marvelous]

i like heavier strings (12~56) anyway, for the consistent feeling switching from acoustic to electric. plus i have a phobia about breaking strings ever since one hammered itself through the bone in my left ring finger.

[Moonlight_Graham]

finally bought an electronic tuner in the summer so just topping this page for reference.

[AnOceanPearl]

Tuners are sweet, if you get a chromatic tuner. There are some that you can't tune half steps with.

 

I actually tune my bass down half a step using Advertising on Police Cars, no joke.