How to tune half step down?
- Thread starter Aloyv1
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snuffleupagus
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Lifted from somewhere------------too tired to type
First, ill tell you what a step is. in music one step is the same term as 1 whole tone.
A half-step is also called a semi-tone.
To give you an idea, 1 tone (or 1 step) is 2 frets away on guitar. so if you play the low E string open (just pick the string - dont fret any notes). well, you played the note "E".
1 step up from that (or 1 tone) is 2 steps higher which would be the same string, but the 2nd fret. 1 step up again from that would be the 4th fret.
A half-step is 1 fret away. so if you play the low E string again (no fret, just pick the string) you get the note "E". if want to go a half step higher then fret the 1st fret - now you have an "F" note. a half-step up from that is the 2nd fret "F#" note.
So basically you want to tune your strings down a half step each (called Eb or E flat tuning).
First, tune your low E string (the top "fat" string) down just a little, so it has the same pitch as the 6th fret on your A string (the closest string to the "fat" E you just tuned).
From there, tune all your other strings down a half-step to your E string that you just tuned down. tune them with your E string (which is now Eb since you tuned it down a half step) the way you normally tune them when you have your E string in tune.
I hope that makes sense, if not let me know. you can get a tuner for your guitar that shows you the notes, that would be easier. there are even some digital ones on the web.
Also, when tuning down, you need to first let the string tune down lower than the pitch you want, that way you "tune up" to it, instead of just tuning the string down and stopping on the note. what this does is takes the slack out of the string, if you dont do it then the strings will be trying to "stretch" themselves back up while you are playing - since when you had it tuned in standard tuning (EADGBE) they were stretched to those tones.
First, ill tell you what a step is. in music one step is the same term as 1 whole tone.
A half-step is also called a semi-tone.
To give you an idea, 1 tone (or 1 step) is 2 frets away on guitar. so if you play the low E string open (just pick the string - dont fret any notes). well, you played the note "E".
1 step up from that (or 1 tone) is 2 steps higher which would be the same string, but the 2nd fret. 1 step up again from that would be the 4th fret.
A half-step is 1 fret away. so if you play the low E string again (no fret, just pick the string) you get the note "E". if want to go a half step higher then fret the 1st fret - now you have an "F" note. a half-step up from that is the 2nd fret "F#" note.
So basically you want to tune your strings down a half step each (called Eb or E flat tuning).
First, tune your low E string (the top "fat" string) down just a little, so it has the same pitch as the 6th fret on your A string (the closest string to the "fat" E you just tuned).
From there, tune all your other strings down a half-step to your E string that you just tuned down. tune them with your E string (which is now Eb since you tuned it down a half step) the way you normally tune them when you have your E string in tune.
I hope that makes sense, if not let me know. you can get a tuner for your guitar that shows you the notes, that would be easier. there are even some digital ones on the web.
Also, when tuning down, you need to first let the string tune down lower than the pitch you want, that way you "tune up" to it, instead of just tuning the string down and stopping on the note. what this does is takes the slack out of the string, if you dont do it then the strings will be trying to "stretch" themselves back up while you are playing - since when you had it tuned in standard tuning (EADGBE) they were stretched to those tones.
EugeneSmasher
New member
If you have perhaps twenty dollars to spare, get a digital tuner with flat capabilities. Remember that A# = Bb, just in case you tune to sharp or something. But, since you wanna go Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb, you might as well try getting a clip-on tuner, switching to flat mode. Its really much faster and much easier.
metal_hand
New member
the fastest way ive found to do it if you dont already have a tuner, is to
1) tune your A string to the 4th fret of the E string...now your A string is in A flat
2) tune the D string to the A...etc...
3) tune the E string last...i use this method because its easier to hear the differences on the A string compared to the low E...
Try out the other methods and see which works best for you...
1) tune your A string to the 4th fret of the E string...now your A string is in A flat
2) tune the D string to the A...etc...
3) tune the E string last...i use this method because its easier to hear the differences on the A string compared to the low E...
Try out the other methods and see which works best for you...
ShadowchildCOBHC
New member
yea dude its called a chromatic tuner shoulld be able to handle most of the tunings be it D tuning C tuning drop tunings half step tuning...so long aas you know the notes of the tunings of your choice
ShadowchildCOBHC
New member
yea its totally alright ..but to get the main sound or best match to what you feel it should be then go as low as you want
\m/ Saatana Vittu Perkele my COBHC brother !!!!
I'm not that rich -.-
Anyway, you need a proper guitar string cutter to cut off the excess string after restringing your guitar right?
I think i buy everything needed for my guitar at one shot better.
And needa find electric tuner also. That can tune flat.
EugeneSmasher
New member
Don't worry, man. Its normal. Digital tuners take some time getting used to. For how to use, depends what kinda tuner you're using.
On a standard clip-on digital tuner, the needle will go left (yellow) if its flat, and right (red) if its sharp. The correct pitch would be on the green, at the exact middle position. (of course if you're tuning to E, the green E is the correct pitch).
On a standard clip-on digital tuner, the needle will go left (yellow) if its flat, and right (red) if its sharp. The correct pitch would be on the green, at the exact middle position. (of course if you're tuning to E, the green E is the correct pitch).
EugeneSmasher
New member
You have to set your tuner either to flat or normal. Then picking the string should get the needle moving.
BUT I usually encounter inconsistencies with my B string (as in, EADGBe), which shows up as a G. Not sure if all clip-on tuners react the same way. I use my tuner to get 440, but tuning the rest I usually do by ear.
BUT I usually encounter inconsistencies with my B string (as in, EADGBe), which shows up as a G. Not sure if all clip-on tuners react the same way. I use my tuner to get 440, but tuning the rest I usually do by ear.
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