Tuning a half step down

[Slothead56]

Last time I played a local happy hour both my wife and daughter told me I was straining to hit high notes on some of the vocals. (I know, at 62, that I’ve lost some range though I still have volume, power, pitch and inflection on my side!)

My non musical wife (both my biggest fan and biggest critic) said “can’t you play in a different key?” I tried to explain transposition and capos and how I was already doing that. I further explained that there are some songs you just have to do as written or they won’t sound correct on guitar, Rosalita being a good example. Springsteen plays it in F, I play it in E but it doesn’t sound right in other keys.

Thinking of tuning down a half step to hit the notes and maintain the integrity of the songs.

Three part question:
Can you recommend a brand of strings that still sound solid turned down a half step?
What gauge string would you recommend to do this?
Is it best to do this on a short scale guitar, a ‘regular’ scale guitar or a longer scale guitar like my jumbo Gurian?

Getting older, not giving up!
Thanks!

[The Kid!]

Originally Posted by Slothead56

Last time I played a local happy hour both my wife and daughter told me I was straining to hit high notes on some of the vocals. (I know, at 62, that I’ve lost some range though I still have volume, power, pitch and inflection on my side!)

My non musical wife (both my biggest fan and biggest critic) said “can’t you play in a different key?” I tried to explain transposition and capos and how I was already doing that. I further explained that there are some songs you just have to do as written or they won’t sound correct on guitar, Rosalita being a good example. Springsteen plays it in F, I play it in E but it doesn’t sound right in other keys.

Thinking of tuning down a half step to hit the notes and maintain the integrity of the songs.

Three part question:
Can you recommend a brand of strings that still sound solid turned down a half step?
What gauge string would you recommend to do this?
Is it best to do this on a short scale guitar, a ‘regular’ scale guitar or a longer scale guitar like my jumbo Gurian?

Getting older, not giving up!
Thanks!

You might not even need to go up a guage. Some brands have more tension than others. I feel like a shorter scale might end up being even slinkier than a longer scale.

There are a lot of cats here that are far more knowledgable about these things than I am. Fortunately, strings are a pretty inexpensive experiment.

Good luck!

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by Slothead56

Last time I played a local happy hour both my wife and daughter told me I was straining to hit high notes on some of the vocals. (I know, at 62, that I’ve lost some range though I still have volume, power, pitch and inflection on my side!)

My non musical wife (both my biggest fan and biggest critic) said “can’t you play in a different key?” I tried to explain transposition and capos and how I was already doing that. I further explained that there are some songs you just have to do as written or they won’t sound correct on guitar, Rosalita being a good example. Springsteen plays it in F, I play it in E but it doesn’t sound right in other keys.

Thinking of tuning down a half step to hit the notes and maintain the integrity of the songs.

Three part question:
Can you recommend a brand of strings that still sound solid turned down a half step?
What gauge string would you recommend to do this?
Is it best to do this on a short scale guitar, a ‘regular’ scale guitar or a longer scale guitar like my jumbo Gurian?

Getting older, not giving up!
Thanks!

If you have a brand you like, just stick with that brand but go up one gauge. So if you play with 12's, get 13s and tune a step down. Should feel pretty close.

[Rosewood99]

I have never felt the need to change string guage while tuning down. I've tune down a half step it with mediums, lights, and extra lites.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

I have never felt the need to change string guage while tuning down. I've tune down a half step it with mediums, lights, and extra lites.

I'm with Paulzoom on this.
All my guitars are tuned down a 1/2 step with same strings I'd use for standard.

I like D'Addario Nickel Bronze strings on several of my guitars.

[guitar george]

Excuse my ignorance, but, what does tune down a half step mean? Does it mean all your strings are tuned to flats or?

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by guitar george

Excuse my ignorance, but, what does tune down a half step mean? Does it mean all your strings are tuned to flats or?

For me it means capoing on the first fret and tuning to standard.

[Paleolith54]

Originally Posted by Slothead56

Last time I played a local happy hour both my wife and daughter told me I was straining to hit high notes on some of the vocals. (I know, at 62, that I’ve lost some range though I still have volume, power, pitch and inflection on my side!)

My non musical wife (both my biggest fan and biggest critic) said “can’t you play in a different key?” I tried to explain transposition and capos and how I was already doing that. I further explained that there are some songs you just have to do as written or they won’t sound correct on guitar, Rosalita being a good example. Springsteen plays it in F, I play it in E but it doesn’t sound right in other keys.

Thinking of tuning down a half step to hit the notes and maintain the integrity of the songs.

Three part question:
Can you recommend a brand of strings that still sound solid turned down a half step?
What gauge string would you recommend to do this?
Is it best to do this on a short scale guitar, a ‘regular’ scale guitar or a longer scale guitar like my jumbo Gurian?

Getting older, not giving up!
Thanks!

Just tune down a half-step with what you have, then go from there. Your longer-scales will retain a bit more tension.

Some folks Just tune down a whole step, then capo 2. You'd want to go up a string gauge on that, IME.

[Paleolith54]

Originally Posted by guitar george

Excuse my ignorance, but, what does tune down a half step mean? Does it mean all your strings are tuned to flats or?

Yes, each string is tuned one semitone lower.

[donlyn]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

All my guitars are tuned down a 1/2 step with same strings I'd use for standard.

Didn't know you did that, but it makes sense with all the 12's you have. Tuning down a half step is the sweet spot for my 12's. Been known to keep a 6er tuned down a half step if I'm expecting company.
You know, just in case.

Don

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

I have never felt the need to change string guage while tuning down. I've tune down a half step it with mediums, lights, and extra lites.

Yeah, it’s certainly a personal preference thing.

[sdelsolray]

Originally Posted by guitar george

Excuse my ignorance, but, what does tune down a half step mean? Does it mean all your strings are tuned to flats or?

Standard pitch means A = 440 Hz (5th fret of the first string). All other strings are tuned relative to this reference.

Tuning down ½ step means A = 428 Hz. Again, all other strings are tuned relative to this reference.

[Misifus]

Originally Posted by sdelsolray

Standard pitch means A = 440 Hz (5th fret of the first string). All other strings are tuned relative to this reference.

Tuning down ½ step means A = 428 Hz. Again, all other strings are tuned relative to this reference.

Or, knowing that you’re tuning down, you tune to Eb, Ab, DB, Gb, Bb, Eb, where A=440hz, and Ab= 428hz.

That is, you don’t have to change the value of accepted notes, but use your chromatic tuner to tune to those flats.

I tune down a half-step, and it really helps me reach the higher notes on my vocals. Both of my main guitars are short-scale, and the low E and A strings get a little floppy, but not to the point where I've gone up a gauge to compensate. But a pack of strings costs about eight bucks, and that's cheap enough to warrant some experimentation. I don't think there's any brand that's especially good for downtuning -- just avoid low-tension or roundcore strings.

[Charlieb]

I don't know that brand makes any difference.