Tuning Question

CaptainSpaz91

Hey Guys and Gals,

Another question from me, haha. I was looking through http://www.giventowail.com and I came across a certain tuning, 1/2 Step Down. I have an AWFUL ear for tuning, I'm talking awful. Enter my best friend, a chromatic Fender tuner. So this description off the website:

How it differs from standard tuning:
Tune all strings down ½ step.

How To Do It:
From standard tuning, match the 6th fret of the low E string to the open A string, then tune the guitar normally using the new low Eb string as a basis for the other strings.



That does me nothing, is there anyway you can tell me to use my tuner? My tuner does not show flats, just sharps. So what exactly would each string be? Thank you

nailz100

Matching the 6th fret on the "E" string to the open "A" would actually be a half step up, not down. Matching the 4th fret on the "E" string to the open "A" would be a half step DOWN. Then what you do after that is match the 5th fret on the "E" to the open "A", and then the 5th fret on the "A" to the open "D", and then the 5th fret on the "D" to the open "G"

...and then the FOURTH fret on the "G" string to the open "B" and then the 5th fret on the "B" string to the open "E".

It's actually quite easy....just PM me if this doesn't make sense. That, or buy a tuner that can tune to flats and sharps.

who's_pearljam?

Actually, captainspaz,,,your method is right.

The 6th fret on the low e string is Bb, so if you tune it to the A string, you are lowering the pitch by a half step,, the open low string will now be Eb.

So,,, match the low E string 6th fret with the open A string.
Then fret the low E string at the 5th fret and tune the A string to this.
Hold the 5th fret A string and tune the D string to this
Hold the D string 5th fret and tune the G to this
Then hold the 4th string G string and tune the B to this
Then 5th fret on the B string and tune the high E.

While you're down there at Eb, you might as well do a little Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn while you're at it!

dont_go_on_me

if neither of those methods work for you...put a capo on the first fret and then tune to standard.

CaptainSpaz91

nailz100 wrote:

Matching the 6th fret on the "E" string to the open "A" would actually be a half step up, not down. Matching the 4th fret on the "E" string to the open "A" would be a half step DOWN. Then what you do after that is match the 5th fret on the "E" to the open "A", and then the 5th fret on the "A" to the open "D", and then the 5th fret on the "D" to the open "G"

...and then the FOURTH fret on the "G" string to the open "B" and then the 5th fret on the "B" string to the open "E".

It's actually quite easy....just PM me if this doesn't make sense. That, or buy a tuner that can tune to flats and sharps.

hey nails it does do sharps

mccreadyisgod

From low string to high string: D#, G#, C#, F#, A#, D# (instead of E, A, D, G, B, E) on your tuner. My Korg is the same way, it will only indicate sharp notes and not flat notes.

Gossard_Is_God

The easiest way i find to do it is to fret the 1st fret on all strings then tune down with your tuner.

nailz100

Glad you figured it out CaptainSpaz91. And who's_pearljam, I think you misunderstood me, because if you are in standard a440 and want to tune down half a step you would want the "A" string tuned down to "Ab" which would mean holding down the "E" string on the 4th fret and matching the "A" string to that note. And then tune the rest of the strings (including the "E") to match the changed "A" string.