Geetar Help

[Marc]

Been playing guitar for a couple of months now. I know there are a few guitarists here. Im trying to learn a song that requires you to "tune down half a step". WTF does this mean? Tune to E flat? (Eb). If so, can electric tuners do this? I use a Korg GA-30

 

[Nate]

If you have a chromatic tuner this can be easy. A half a step down is having every note "half a step" down - a half step is an interval and to the guitar it's a one-fret distance. So, E becomes Eb and so forth. From the low E to the high E it goes
Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb
An easy way to tune down to half a step is to place a capo on the first fret and tune up to standard pitch, then, take off the capo and you'll have half a step tuning.



Googled!

 

[kirennia]

Just in case, I'll write if it's implying 'drop D' tuning. This is basically, every string the same apart from the lowest sounding one (E).

When tuning between the E and A string, instead of comparing '5th fret' on the E string to it, compare the 7th. That's the easiest way I can think to explain it. Lowest note should sound lower.

If it's not then just do as Nate says

 

[old.Tohtori]

Didn't know if you meant guitar or gepard...dunno why...but i'm disappointed

 

[Nate]

Just in case, I'll write if it's implying 'drop D' tuning. This is basically, every string the same apart from the lowest sounding one (E).

When tuning between the E and A string, instead of comparing '5th fret' on the E string to it, compare the 7th. That's the easiest way I can think to explain it. Lowest note should sound lower.

If it's not then just do as Nate says

never played a guitar, but thanks to Google I'm like Jimmy Hendrix!

 

[Marc]

Just in case, I'll write if it's implying 'drop D' tuning. This is basically, every string the same apart from the lowest sounding one (E).

When tuning between the E and A string, instead of comparing '5th fret' on the E string to it, compare the 7th. That's the easiest way I can think to explain it. Lowest note should sound lower.

If it's not then just do as Nate says

Im still a noob though and cant do it by ear. I need to use a tuner

 

[Mojo]

Im still a noob though and cant do it by ear. I need to use a tuner

I have been playing for 3 years and still use a tuner, I would rather spend my time playing than dick about getting things close-ish but not quite in tune. I have however upgraded to a BOSS TU2 so im like a pro at using electronic tuners.

 

[kirennia]

Im still a noob though and cant do it by ear. I need to use a tuner

Occasionally I still have problems hearing E exactly when I restring my guitar etc. The best song to download and fix it, is Metallica - Nothing Else Matters. It plays 4 of the 6 strings open a few times in the intro which helps a lot.

As for dropping it to D, it's a bit trial and error but the general rule would be, if you play the E, A and D (lowest sounding strings), it will make a noise which just sounds right. You'll learn to hear it exactly but for the most part, if you start playing a song and it sounds slightly wrong, fiddle with it some more

7th fret on the E string should sound the same as an open A string (one below it) for drop D tuning.