Half-step down tuning is based upon the general guitar tuning, except that all of the guitar’s strings are tuned down a half-step. Down tuning is utilized in various music genres, but it is particularly famous in rock and heavy metal, to further strengthen the distortion.
However, down tuning for acoustic playing is also pretty good, as you can obtain a beautiful sound quality from those vibrant open-position chords. This is an excellent way to experiment with the sound quality of your guitar and add a lower-pitched or deeper tone quality to your music.
You can tune your guitar a half-step down by following any of the three methods listed below.
1. Tuning With the Help of a Tuner
For beginners, the most recommended way to tune your guitar is using a proper guitar tuner. This way, you can confidently rotate the tuning pegs without the fear of string damage.
Step 1: Find a Tuner for Your Guitar
Tuners are electronic devices that are generally used to identify and display the pitch of notes played on any musical instrument. But it isn’t necessary for you to go out and purchase a new chromatic tuner. If you have a smartphone with you, there are tons of applications through which you can detect the pitch of the guitar’s notes without any extra expenses.
Download: GuitarTuna (Android / iOS)
Step 2: Begin With Low E String
You should start tuning with the thickest string in the guitar, also known as the 6th string. It doesn’t count if your E is off-tune as you’re going to change it anyway. Tune your low E string down until the screen of the tuner reads Eb or D#.
Step 3: Tune the A String
Tune the A String until the tuner screen either displays Ab or G#. Don’t tune very fast otherwise, you will lose the tuning pitch of the guitar.
Step 4: Tune the D String in the Guitar
After tuning the A string, tune your D string in the guitar until the tuner screen reads Db or C#. Use a relaxed tempo or pace when you’re tuning down the guitar’s note through its string.
Step 5: Set the G String in the Guitar
The 3rd string in the guitar is known as the G string. Tune your G string until the tuner screen displays the note Gb or F#.
Step 6: Tune Down the B String
Lower the B string’s tone until the screen of the tuner says Bb or A#.
Step 7: Tune the High E String
Untune the E string of the guitar at a slow speed until the tuner screen displays Eb or D#.
Step 8: Reexamine Each Guitar’s String
Generally, after tuning your entire guitar’s strings down a half step, your guitar will not bear the new tuning initially. Therefore, look through each guitar’s string again and ensure that they’re all in tune to EbAbDbGbBbEb or D#G#C#F#A#D#.
2. Tuning Using Your Guitar and Ears
If you’re an advanced player who can identify notes easily, you can also use your ears to tune the guitar.
Step 1: Examine the Tuning of Your Guitar
Ensure that your guitar is in the standard tuning so that you can easily tune your guitar.
Step 2: Begin From the A String of the Guitar
Play the 4th fret of the guitar on the low E string. Tune down the A string until it sounds the same as the E string on the 4th fret.
Step 3: Set the Low E String
Play the E string on the guitar and try to match the note to the 7th fret of the A string. Set the low E tune until the sound produced from this note blends with the A string on the 7th fret.
Step 4: Complete the Tuning of the Remaining Strings
After tuning the low E and A guitar’s strings, complete the tunings of the other strings by following this order:
- Tune the 4th string of the guitar to the 5th fret of the 5th string.
- Tune the 3rd string of the guitar to the 5th fret of the 4th string.
- Tune the 2nd string of the guitar to the 4th fret of the 3rd string.
- Tune the 1st string of the guitar to the 5th fret of the 2nd string.
Step 5: Countercheck the Tuning of the Guitar
You can check the tuning of the guitar by using a tuner application. Tuning your guitar down a half step down interchanges your guitar’s neck traction because of the string. The guitar will require time to resolve before holding a new tuning.
3. Tuning Using a Clamp or Capo
Capos are simple tools that help in transitioning between different keys. You can also use a capo to tune your guitar. They’re generally used to play in different pitches, without interchanging the tuning of the guitar. When the clamp is on the 1st fret, the low E string will instead be an F.
Step 1: Find a Tuner
Tune down the 1st string to an E note. Take things slow and ensure that all the guitar notes are harmonized.
Step 2: Tune the Remaining Notes of the Guitar
Look through each guitar’s string by either using a tuner or your ear. You have to tune the guitar to the standard tuning, which is EADGBE. Tuning the guitar in standard tuning with a capo on the first fret will give you a half-step down tuning once you remove the capo.
Step 3: Detach the Clamp or Capo
After you’ve adjusted your tuning, you should now be tuned down a half step. Play an E chord after you’ve detached the clamp from the guitar.
Step 4: Customize the Tuning of the Guitar
Look through each guitar’s string within a chord, and ensure that all the notes sound properly in tune.
Configuring the Tuning for Different Music Genres
Whether you are an advanced guitar player who wants to play rock music or a beginner who just wants to try tuning the guitar differently, the half-step down tuning is one of the most renowned guitar tunings of all time. You get distorted notes which are demanding in lot of genres of music.
