why do metal bands tune down a 1/2 step?

[Vacume]

i kno some tune to C or D to get a heavier "chug", but i cant see a 1/2 down would make much of a difference, or is to make the strings looser, makeing them easier to play faster? or is there other reasons?


if there is a good reason, i may start tuneing down, i just dont wanna re-learn the fret board

[idoru]

Don't think of it as re-learning the fretboard; in most transcriptions they will transcribe as if it were in standard and annotate "all notes one half-tone lower than transcribed".

The short version is this: metal bands downtune because Black Sabbath did. Sabbath downtuned because Ozzy could sing better in C# and Tony could play easier with his missing fingertips.

[Rids]

Most of the time, if a band tunes down half a step its to compensate for the singer.

[spikez]

Hi there!

Althrought I don´t play pure metal, the guitarrist and me tuned down each string 1/2 step, soo the vocalist(wich is the guitarrist too) doesn´t have to strain his voice.

[73jbass]

The band I just joined a month ago tunes down 1/2 step.I really didn't think it would make that much of a difference.But after a couple of weeks,we played a tune in standard,and singing was a bit more work. No doubt in my mind now,that it does make it easier,especially on the vocalists.

[Descent2Cocytus]

my band tunes down to BEAD to compensate for only having 1 guitar player.

[vic_6]

Originally Posted by 73jbass

The band I just joined a month ago tunes down 1/2 step.I really didn't think it would make that much of a difference.But after a couple of weeks,we played a tune in standard,and singing was a bit more work. No doubt in my mind now,that it does make it easier,especially on the vocalists.

so true. in my main band, our vocalist asked to tune down half a step to make it easier and now he never ever wants to go back to standard tuning. (i honestly think it can be used as a cop out by some people though...)

[Powdered Toast]

Cause it sounds heavier? That's the only reason I could ever think of.

[Dan1099]

My band does this, and has always done this. We're not a metal band, but more like a grunge-rock type thing. I think it started when the band first got together, we did a couple of Smashing Pumpkins covers, and some other music of that ilk, and so when we got to writing, our guitars were still tuned that way, and, being lazy, and cognizant of only having one guitar each at the time, we just left it that way. Meh. Works for me.

[jsbass]

Strings are looser, which makes the tone a bit "thicker" sounding. I dont go any lower than 1/2 step though. Only standard and 1/2 step down for me.

[beyondhairy]

im partial to drop d

[chaosMK]

There is no reason other than that it gives it the right modern sound. Otherwise it sounds like 80's E-Metal. Which is all good if that's what you are going for.

I keep my 5 string in standard and compensate for whatever the guitar is in. I need my tension.

I've never had the guitarist 1/2 step down, always more than that.

[WalterBush]

Guitarists started tuning a 1/2 step down in the '60s. It reduced string tension at a time when there weren't a ton of string brands and guages to choose from, and made this new-fangled soloing thing, with fast licks and bent notes, easier. Bands have been doing it ever since.

Even though a 1/2 step down doesn't sound like much of a difference, it makes a huge difference in how a guitar feels. The fact that singers don't have to work as hard to hit high notes may have something to do with it, as well.

[Surly]

Drop D sounds best to me. Just the E->D

[Metal Mitch]

Originally Posted by Powdered Toast

Cause it sounds heavier?

Bingo. You think death/thrash/black metal vocals care what they're tuned to? No way. Those vocals are pretty much atonal. It just sounds heavier.

Tuning down originally came from BLUES to make it easier for the guitarist to do those big Albert King bends.

There were a lot of 80's E-metal bands, but those were more the speed/power metal bands. The heavier ones tuned down.

Listen to (or learn covers from):

Death - Scream Bloody Gore
Venom - At War With Satan
Slayer - Haunting the Chapel

all tuned to D standard

Suffocation came out of the gate with their first records tuned to D flat. Early Carcass tuned to C natural.

B natural always sounded boring and cardboard-ey to me (Unleashed). I prefer B flat because it just sounds better.

Mortician tuned to A flat. Sounds HEAVY.

Lots of doom bands tune down for the same reason. Sounds heavier.

Downtuning has been adopted by a lot of modern bands that aren't even close to being heavy. Which is kind of like moshing to Alanis Morrisette, or adopting the "metal sign" for your emo pop band. Posers.

[metalguy2]

It just makes it easier to be heavy.My band tunes to B.

[nad]

Because Alice in Chains did it and everything they did was AWESOME.

[jimmy ray]

electric wizard tune to drop G, i tried it, and my regular gauge strings could hardly keep up

[Zappstorius]

I guess a better question is...why not tune down?

[Surly]

Field uses open A on some Korn songs.