Guitar tuning

[Mike H.]

I'm a beginning guitar player and I have noticed that a lot of rock guitarists tune their guitars a half step down. I am considering tuning my guitar a half step down so I can play these songs, and using a capo when I want to play in standard tuning. Is this a good idea?

[Shenlong]

Well, it depends on who exactly wanna play...If you were to play some stuff from people like Incubus or System Of A Down, staying a half-step down is fine, but bands like Metallica and KoRn tune their guitars a full step down. I'd suggest just keeping it a half-step down for now. If it doesn't sound right, re-tune it to the appropriate settings...Usually what I do, but since I can't play vary many of the good songs out there, I just keep mine tuned to it's base settings...

[k_rock923]

actually, metallica almost never tunes down. everything before the black album is in standard. EADGBE. soad a lot of times goes more than one step into drop D which is DADGBE but sometimes goes into drop C which is CGCFAD. Korn uses seven string guitars which are BEADGBE.

[Shenlong]

I know KoRn use 7-string guitars, but they're tuned down to ADGCFAD. That's one whole step down from the standard BEADGBE tuning.

[edit]I also notice on certain songs, Metallica have dropped-D string tuning...[/edit]

[k_rock923]

yes. they've started to drop recently. i believe the first time they tried it was on the black album. although if i remember there is one song on the old albums in drop d. For St. anger, james uses a baritone. i used to know the tuning of that but i forget. it's a third down from standard.

[omarello]

first down tunes for metallica was on the record master of puppets. The thing that should not be.
Also bands tune down most of the time so that the singers voice range is within the instruments range they play, thats why recently metallica is downtunning, back in the days of Kill em All when they were still kids James could hit the high nots, but now he has to tune down the guitar so that he could be within range of the instruments
(All what was said wasn't meant to be bad it is just an to explain so please no flames)

i say keep you tunning to EADGBE and go to http://www.mysongbook.com and get your favorite song, and u can play with the tunning of the song and play along with it, well thats what i do cause i have a guitar with a floating bridge and it is a pain to change the tunning.

have fun

[Shenlong]

Originally posted by k_rock923
yes. they've started to drop recently. i believe the first time they tried it was on the black album. although if i remember there is one song on the old albums in drop d. For St. anger, james uses a baritone. i used to know the tuning of that but i forget. it's a third down from standard.

I just recently learned that for St. Anger, with the exception of "Invisible Kid" and "The Unnamed Feeling", they all tune one whole step down with the addition of the dropped-D sting tuning (CGCFAD).

[sidd]

metallica using dropped d?
BAHHAhAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... can we safely say that they have broken away from their roots yet?

As for tuning advice, if your just talking about tuning the whole twanger half a step or a whole step down, then i wouldnt bother unless you want to play along with the record. Itll sound right until you go compare it to the cd.

Then of course, you might be into lots of pumpkins and other bands that have pretty much every song down half a step. In which case, just start learning to tune quickely.. before long youll find that you know the tones to look for without even thining about it.

[edit]Oh, and the capo idea is probably not wise if you are just beggining. If you get used to it like that from the start, and then you try to play a guitar without the capo there, all the frets will be in the wrongs spots and youll just freak out [/edit]

[k_rock923]

trust me, its a bartione. not Drop C.

sorry if it sounds like im arguing with you.

[Shenlong]

Well, I don't know nothing...I just picked it out from Guitar World magazine...

[k_rock923]

ah. well that explains it. most people don't have a baritone guitar and you can use drop C on a regular guitar and it will sound OK just not exactly right

[sidd]

muse drop e to a on a regular twanger.
Thickasfuck e string.

[Mike H.]

I'm trying to figure out what the general concensus is. It's either:

Pick one band to play, and tune like them
or
Tune for each song.

Am I right?

[k_rock923]

i usually stay in standard. i don't like downtuning as the strings can sometimes get to the tension of, well, string.

so unless i really like the song i won't bother with the downtuning

[sidd]

I tune weird all the time for zeppelin and jeff buckley etc, but a rarely bother tuning half a step down and the likes. Ther isnt really any point unless you want to play along with the cd.

[Shenlong]

...or your band wants to do cover songs and doesn't wanna sound like a half-assed attempt...

[sidd]

...or you think you are Corgan.

[Mike H.]

I don't have a band. I just like to play.

Maybe I should stick to drums.

[sidd]

yeah.. im looking for a better drummer..

like one that actually gives a fuck about music...

would traveling across three oceans for band practice 3x a week phase you?

[ShyShy]

I guess you can say that I 'm a beginner guitarist. I use the standard tuning, it's the only way I know how to tune. My question is what's the different methods and how to do it. I always thought a good guitarist should come up with their own unique sound if using a cover song.