Tuning down a half-step is awesome!

[gustobassman]

I just started tuning down to Eb a couple of weeks ago and I'm digging it. I've seen other people state it easier on the vocals. I don't sing at all, but I'm wondering why this is?

You ever try to hit a high E? I sure know i cant!

Remember the band Slaughter? How the heck did that guy do that? He sounded like someone was twisting his....

The tuning down makes it not as a strain on the human vocal cords.

Hendrix did it. Best example i have.

 

[maguire]

Hey Gusto - Maybe this is a dumb question but have to ask.

Eb tuning - on the 5'er - Is your B string tuned to Bb?

 

[gustobassman]

Hey Gusto - Maybe this is a dumb question but have to ask.

Eb tuning - on the 5'er - Is your B string tuned to Bb?

Yessir! All strings down a half step. It technically probably isn't a true Eb tuning.. I'm not sure.

 

[maguire]

Thanks dude - I like your forum attitude.

I wonder if I can get the guitars to drop... it might really help our singer.

 

[bassbenj]

It feels easier to play because the strings are less taught. I can't do it for songs that I'm used to playing in standard, something feels... off, because I'm not used to the sound.

Yeah, just what I want an even MORE floppy B string! Plus tone that isn't as good as well. Sorry, guys, but I just don't get the down-tuning thing on ERBs unless you are tuning EADGC or something. But I down-tune my guitars all the time and they sound awesome...even the 7 string.

 

[gustobassman]

Yeah, just what I want an even MORE floppy B string! Plus tone that isn't as good as well. Sorry, guys, but I just don't get the down-tuning thing on ERBs unless you are tuning EADGC or something. But I down-tune my guitars all the time and they sound awesome...even the 7 string.

My neck on my fender has always been real picky. I have had it in half-step tuning for a few weeks now and it seems straighter than an arrow. I'm not doing mad runs on the low B either. It's mainly for accents or depth. It works really well for what we are playing. YMMV of course

 

[TolerancEJ]

Yeah, it's a cool sound for sure. For about 5 years, I played with an Eb band. Some songs sound pretty cool played just 1/2 step down.

 

[James Judson]

I can not get into tuning half step down. Seems to suck the tone out of my basses. Thats 5 basses, 4 cabinets, 4 amps and no combination seems to work. Now if the band wants to play in Eb, I play in Eb but leave the tuners alone.

Down tuning sure makes Hendrix, Van Halen, SRV etc sound great. Nice growl on those guitars.

IMO it helps vocals minimally. If you can hit Eb you can probably hit an E.

Glad to hear so many guys are loving the detune. Its a wonderful world that lets us do our own thing and be proud of it as well.

YMMV

 

[TC2112]

IMO it helps vocals minimally. If you can hit Eb you can probably hit an E.
YMMV

It's not a matter of hitting a particular note

Playing 2 to 3 nights a week, doing 4 sets a night - that half step saves a ton of strain on my voice.

 

[husky123]

I like it so much I named my band after it.

 

[4stringsrenough]

It's not a matter of hitting a particular note

Playing 2 to 3 nights a week, doing 4 sets a night - that half step saves a ton of strain on my voice.

Mine too . I play and sing alot and it makes a world if difference

 

[MaddAnthony_59]

If you are playing a five string why tune down to Eb?
I am working on a song right now that will be played in Eb.
I thought that's what the B string was for.

+1

I have "Attitude" about changing tunings. Eb is fine, Standard is fine. Hell, I LOVE C#, being a big Sabbath Fan. Dropped D is popular, but I never warmed up to it.

But having the ability to play in Standard Tuning and accomodate any "Weaknesses" your vocalist may have in hitting certain notes is where the ERB has it's strength.

Adding a D-Tuner to a 5-String is Pretty Cool. While you CAN play Dropped D from the Low-B String, it's a lot of "Work".

 

[t77mackie]

Like I told my last wife, I says, "Honey, I never drive faster than I can see. Besides that, it's all in the reflexes."

Oh, yeah, tuning down - meh... Only if the singer needs it.

 

[mcm]

Half step Down is fun and it sounds mean as hell

 

[guy n. cognito]

I beg to differ and think in a covers band it sounds lame , ive got perfect pitch so its my problem only I know, but im hearing tunes in my head in the original key and playing them half a step down just sounds wrong .
I know its easier on the Guitar player and easier on the singer, so in my opinion in a covers band all the songs are written for you so unless its a case of just getting drunk and ogling all the pretties dancing in front of you, where`s the challenge ?

I've met a lot of musicians that claimed to have perfect pitch.....

Many bands tune down in order to accomodate the singer. It is NOT any easier for the guitarist. There is no reason the "challenge" a singer by making them sing in keys that they really can't reach.

 

[guy n. cognito]

If you are playing a five string why tune down to Eb?
I am working on a song right now that will be played in Eb.
I thought that's what the B string was for.

You're right if the biggest challenge you face at a gig is thumping on quarter notes. Many songs are more complex, and trying to play them in standard tuning while the band is tuned down causes unnecessary wear and tear on your hands.

 

[Floyd Eye]

Well, I won't get into my thoughts about whether or not perfect pitch actually exists or whether or not there is a significant percentage of people that can tell if random bar tunes are being played in Eb, or what difference it makes if they can, but I will say that my band and all my basses and guitars have been tuned down a half step for as long as I can remember and no one outside me and my guitarist has ever uttered a single word about it. I didn't do it to accommodate my singer ( although it certainly helps), I did it initially because we were doing a lot of AIC and it helped my guitarist when picking the songs out, plus it sounds much more correct. Every song we play that is in standard tuning, Eb or Drop D is played with guitars/basses tuned down 1/2 step. We also have other guitars/basses which are tuned to C# and a few other low tunings for certain songs ( Chevelle, etc..)

As far as I'm concerned everything sounds better tuned down, either 1/2 step or more. Anyone who dislikes it is free to refrain from paying to see my band play.

 

[sgiacomo]

Blues, rock, common key with some other instruments (trumpet, sax), etc. The artist list is kinda cool too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E♭_tuning

 

[TheRealKong]

I liked the tones below E since I had a Haeusel 6-string- bass in B-E-A-D-G-C. But the neck was too wide for fast licks. So I changed my Warwick Streamer Stage I to H-E-A-D - tuning - and it soundet sweet!

Short time after this I got my 6-string Haeussel exchanged for a 5-string Haeussel active Jazz, a fine bass. Last years I got me a MuMa SR5 and an Ibanez K5.

But 2010 I joined a cover band. The Guitarists tune down a half step, and so did I with my Precision-Bass - without a problem, using 050 - 110 strings. I love it! But in my other bands I use my 5-strings - or even the Warwick. No need to change the tuning, anyway.

In the beginning of this year a second guitarist and singer joined our band. We looked for a male singer because the band had a female singer for the last few years. He asked us to tune down to Eb to make singing more easy. Because I play my 5-srings in this band, I sayed that the guitarists and the singers have to decide this. After some debate we decidet to stay in proper tuning.

 

[Baird6869]

I tune my 5ers a 1/2 step down in one band to help the singer.

I used to like it, but since I started using super light strings (.040-120), the B and E can be pretty floppy.

Heavier strings are best IME.