Tuning down half a step - what's the point?

[Sleeping Giant]

The guitarist in my band wants us to tune down a semi tone. This seems to me to be completely pointless.

Does anybody know a real valid reason for it? Is it just so the guitarist can have slightly looser strings to make it easier for his solos?

I have been playing bass for 30 years and whenever I have heard of someone doing this I've thought it's just a waste of time.

[Von Felgenhauer]

Alot of times its actually the Singer who dictates what key you play in to compliment his range

[Sleeping Giant]

Our singer is happy the way it is. She thinks it may make things worse for her.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by Von Felgenhauer

Alot of times its actually the Singer who dictates what key you play in to compliment his range

+1.

Some guitarists also like a semi-tone drop for the lesser string tension for fretting/bends etc. Usually though it is to accommodate the singers range so they don't have to strain it too much to hit the top notes. Quite a few tracks I've had to learn in the past have been originally studio recorded in Eb tuning for that reason.

[BillyIVbass]

It is easier on the singer, makes the guitars sound a little thicker but it sure is a pain when you want to practice to stuff tuned to standard.

I had a coverband that tuned down, an absolute pain if I wanted to practice to CDs with the same bass.

[MalcolmAmos]

Yes, there is an old wives tail that says most people sing flat and this helps them. Take a look at your church hymnal, large portion of the songs are going to be in the flat keys, i.e. F, Bb, Eb, etc. Lot of F's, how many of your band's selections are in F?

It's an old wives tail.........

[DBCrocky]

Drop tuning is also useful for playing with horn sections, who usually prefer Eb and Bb...

[iovar]

Guitarists wanting a lower tension does seem like a reason for this,
though that's what lighter strings are for. No reason for people nowadays to use
tricks that were opted for, when finding proper strings wasn't that easy
(don't look at my sig ).

As for the singer having an easier time, I can't really agree. In a full repertoire
with songs covering a wide tonal range, moving them all half a step down, isn't
really meaningful.
Songs can also be too low for a singer to say properly.

The solution is simply transposing the offending songs to another key, though that
isn't always easy, since many songs base themselves on extensive use of open strings.


Anyway, whenever a Eb tuning has come up, I'm always amazed at the ease
with which guitarists have accepted it, without caring for instrument setup or
how it may affect their practice routine.



Btw, I like standard tuning, but I don't get much into the argument anymore.
I just have a second bass that I adjust to Eb if needed.

[Floyd Eye]

My band plays everything in Eb. It started out because we do a lot of AIC, but then my guitarist/singer noticed it helped him singing. I set up all our guitars/basses for this tuning and when we're playing live there is no way anyone can tell what tuning we use.

[schmig]

My guitarist plays a fair of of SRV stuff, Vaughan played 12 gauge string, guitarist wants same sound. I don't take his leanings lightly as he's an accomplished players. Tunes down as the 12s are supposedly hard to play tuned "normally".

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by BillyIVbass

It is easier on the singer, makes the guitars sound a little thicker but it sure is a pain when you want to practice to stuff tuned to standard.

I had a coverband that tuned down, an absolute pain if I wanted to practice to CDs with the same bass.

a semi tone on the whole set is huge for a singer but it's a perc that comes with Eb ....for most part is a guitar thing ..the feel and the lower tones

and yup....pain in the butt .....i pitch shift (in sound forge) to standard all the old 80s stuff in Eb as well as any new stuff ....makes my life as a guitar teacher and cover band dude alot easier!

in my rock band we play in standard so the singer gets the short end of the stick ....he actually sings stuff like GnR a semi tone higher then the recorded version!

[lunarpollen]

Moving all songs down a half step has way more of a placebo effect on a singer than an actual physical effect. Unless you happen to do a set made up entirely of songs where the highest note is at the top of the singer's range. Which would be a really strange coincidence.

[seanm]

Maybe it is my sax background, but I love flat keys. Listen to almost anything that is in Bb, then move it to B. Bb is a great key, but B is the thinnest sounding of all keys.

Guitar players these days can't play flat keys, so they need to tune down. I would prefer they did over bringing everything up a semi-tone. But that is just me.

[rockstarbassist]

If it's that hard for you don't do it. If you've been playing 30 years you can't transpose?
I love downtuning. I don't even go above D std anymore.

[John Wentzien]

FOOLISHNESS!!!..."You'll ruin your ear kid"...LOL

or shoot your eye out!

[Epitaph04]

In 30 years of playing you've never heard of someone tuning a half step down?

[Makatak]

Yes I feel your pain , I often play with a bunch of guys that like to do that , I think it sounds lame , I hate playing a tune in the right " key " but its down a semitone , just doesnt sound right .... easier on the singer apparently , what a joke !

[bikeplate]

HI

Lots of popular bands past and present tune down a half step. 30 years and you hadnt run into this? Really? Ever play SRV, Van Halen, 80s Metal?, etc

Rob

[ghostsontheroad]

this is an old argument...Hendrix did it...that's a good enough reason for me. some of my bands have done it and some haven't. not really a big deal.

[Duckwater]

I have a band that tunes to C standard, we just like the way it sounds.