Questions about string tuning and Songsterr

[Lamphun_Lamyai]

I just got a subscription to Songsterr and the first song I cued up was The Cult, She Sells Sanctuary. It's a simple enough D - C -G progression (5 - 4 -1 ?) Anyway, the first thing I noticed was that the G was being played on the 5 fret of the E string meaning it was down-tuned. And after looking around on the interface, sure enough, the tuning is D - A - D - G.

My question is: "Why." It's easy enough to play in standard tuning playing the G on the 3 fret of the E string. Why down-tune the E string? Gotta be a reason to down-tune though. I'm just wondering the reason for doing that might be? Thanks!

 

[mcnach]

Possibly to use that low D that becomes available in that tuning (drop-D)

 

[Not_Shane]

My guess is that band mostly plays in Drop D, so even if its "Just as easy" in STD, if they don't play normally in STD, its just as easy to fret +2

edit: I looked up the tab on Songsterr, and weirdly enough both guitars are in STD, bass in drop D. Could still be due to just other songs on that album being in Drop D, so the bassist left it for all the songs....but also pretty funny - they hit open D (0) around bar 50. so you do need the drop d....for 1 note LOL

 

[OllieVT]

Songsterr also lets you change the tuning, and the tab automatically updates. Easier than changing the tuning of your bass! (Although sometimes it then wants me to play the -1 or -2 frets of my e-string, which is tricky.)

 

[AnexoDeContrato]

Probably all things that people told you already. Another reason could be the sound or tone. The same note sounds different on a different string, and this happens too when you play on different tuning.