anyone tune down a half-step?

[rmyAddison]

13's tuned down a 1/2 step on all my guitars for many years, easier playing and singing.

All my playing gang, lifetime older players, tune down 1/2 step, it's far more common than most folks think......

[guitararmy]

I recently started tuning down 1/2 step to make playing a little easier. I've also tried tuning medium strings down a whole step on my jumbo's...does wonders for the bass strings!

[jpbat]

I tune a half step, one step or even one step and a half lower on all my guitars, with custom gauges that can go to 16-60. I like iron in my sound.
There is no rule. You can do what you feel best for you. Or so I like to think.
If the guitar explodes and the bridge slaps you in the face, you've gone too far.

[Twelvefret]

BTW, 415 Hz is called Baroque tuning. It makes fiddles sound much better to my ears.

[gfspencer]

I was watching Joan Baez play her beautiful Martin 0-45JB on tv last night. I picked up my guitar to play along but she was tuned down at least a half step. By the time I figured that out the song was over.

Originally Posted by Methos1979

Question for Willie from above - what do you keep your guitars tuned to? Standard? Or reduced tension for neck reasons? Just curious. It seemed odd to me that you would return to standard tuning if you regularly play out tuned down.

Mostly I keep them in standard tuning because I record a lot and it's just easier if all the instruments I use are tuned the same.

Plus, when I practice in standard but gig in Eb, it's like a batter warming up with a heavy bat before stepping up to the plate.

[Rosewood99]

I tune down a half step for all my guitars but for some songs I capo down one to turn my standard scale into a shorter scale so can reach some difficult chords. I like the flexibility.

[healyf52]

yup, me too.

I love the key change. It sounds a little darker, funkier to me than standard tuning and then when I start to get tired of the flatted tuning I go back to standard pitch and everything sounds a little brighter, optimistic and what not.

The 1/2 step detune is also better for fingerstyle which is what I normally play when just noodling around at home.

Frank

'Montclair Magpies'
__________________________
Martin 0-28VS
Larrivee L-09-12QM
Santa Cruz Bob Brozman Baritone
Martin 000-28ECB
Lowden 038c
Santa Cruz 00-Skye
1976 Martin D18
1947 Martin 5-17T Tenor

[Fred]

I once set my tuner to 432 instead of 440...and really liked the tone. I believe that's less than half a step. Anyone know?

[mercy]

I do for physical reasons but it effects the sound of the e string negatively but helps the E.

[KenL]

I do. It seems to fit my 3-note vocal range better.

[smurph1]

I was in a band years back that tuned down a half step. It made life a lot easier for our lead singer. (and we all know it's all about the lead singer)

[homme de fer]

Once I started "singing", tuning down a half step was clearly needed. I had my OM set up in the summer and they used mediums to account for the half step drop and the guitar sounds amazing again; much thicker sounding than when it had lights. A little harder bend the strings but the payoff in sound is worth it.

[jaybones]

Every time I perform(ed), I tune(d) down a half step. Easier on the fingers and voice, and it makes grungey distorted power chords sound angrier.

I do this from time to time. Doesn't matter on the voice but it gives the guitar a little extra 'whump.'