How can you tune a guitar down half a step

Originally posted by Lesbelges
Ive been trying to learn some Alice in Chains songs on the guitar and well, they tune their guitars half a step down for almost all their songs. And well i dont really know how to do so, oh and im not good at tuning with my ear only....I have a good tuner so if someone can tell me what frequency to tune at or how that would sweet. Thanks all!

not sure of the frequency, but all you have to do is drop each string down 1/2 step. Your low E will now be a Eb, A -> G#, D -> C#, etc.

Standard tuning:
E--
A--
D--
G--
B--
E--

Half-step detuned:
Eb--
Ab--
Db--
Gb--
Bb--
Eb--

OR:
D#--
G#--
C#--
F#--
A#--
D#--

It depends on whether your tuner registers half-steps as flats (b) or sharps (#). To rough it in, tune the low E down a bit until the 6th fret on that string is the same as the A string, then tune the A string to the 5th fret of the E string, then the D string to the 5th fret of the A string, then the G string to the 5th fret of the D string... you basically have the same intonation relationship, it's just a half-step lower. Stevie Ray Vaughn used to tune some guitars down a full step, to D, and then play with super-thick strings.

Anyways, good luck.

i thought of something else too. Play the first fret of the A-D-G string. this should produce a sharp. Tune down until its a natural. Its tougher for the other strings, because if your like me and your tuner only has standard tuning on it, you have to get a little creative, but just play the sharp of a note that is in standard tuning, if that makes any sense, and tune down