How many of you play a guitar tuned down to Eb?

chet · March 7th, 2007, 01:07 PM

What happens when you play at a jam with that guitar? I'd think that you'd just have to tell everyone else what key you're in etc. Does the Bass player necessarily have to tune his bass to Eb also?

Johnny Caster · March 7th, 2007, 01:23 PM

You can capo the first fret that way you're in standard tuning, get looser string tension (if that's what you're going for) and lowest possible nut height (almost like a zero fret).

Cyrithicus · March 7th, 2007, 01:49 PM

I have at least one guitar I keep tuned down.

When my wife sings with me, she likes it flat to ease tension on her voice.

If one goes flat, or sharp, everybody tunes to the same.

Rocker AK · March 7th, 2007, 01:54 PM

I do it quite often. My ESP came, factory setup, a half-step down. I readjusted the Floyd Rose

, truss and intonation to standard tuning, but it never sounded quite right. I readjusted everything back and it was perfect again. I don't know if it's the pickup winding or what. It never sounded right tuned standard. Now, I just use my Fernandes Tele copy to learn material at different tunings. It never causes a fuss.

I have an Ovation with nylon folk strings that usually stays at Eb.

Quote:

What happens when you play at a jam with that guitar? I'd think that you'd just have to tell everyone else what key you're in etc. Does the Bass player necessarily have to tune his bass to Eb also?

It would sound better! A good drummer will make the necessary tuning adjustments, too. If you are going to use drop tunings, everyone needs to do it for it to work right. I did it, in the past, when working with a lower, register vocalist. It does beef-up the bottom end some, but I prefer standard tuning.

fakeocaster · March 7th, 2007, 02:01 PM

To be honest Ive never seen any point in tuning in Eb.Im not a singer but Ive played with many who sing in every key known to man(and more) so I learnt how to adapt.Once I learned to transpose without a capo I found it easier to stay in standard and work from there.

I did sit in once at a blues festival with a SRV wannabe who wanted the bass player and I to tune down to Eb with him in order to play ONE SONG (Pride and Joy).

We just played down a semitone instead and everything was fine

Im sure if you want to stay in Eb you could get used to transposing up a semitone instead.

Its probably a case of picking one tuning and staying with it

chet · March 7th, 2007, 02:32 PM

I have a Strat that I have tuned to Eb to play Stevie and Jimi Hendrix songs. I think Eb lets you play with a horn section also.

J. Hayes · March 7th, 2007, 04:18 PM

I'd venture to say that there are probably no guitarists who play with horn sections that tune below standard. IMO if you're going to play guitar you should be able to play any song or chord progression you know in any key if you have any hope of becoming a well rounded guitarist. I do have one guitar that I tune down (A Les Paul) but it's tuned a whole tone flat so it's
D G C F A D low to high. It's only because of working some with a singer who likes to do Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" in G so I have to do the opening low string riff usually done in E in D instead. I worked it out in dropped D but the fingering used doesn't sound as good as a lower tuned guitar. I do an occasional Country or Yacht Club gig with a band which has a trumpet, sax, and trombone but for that my guitar's always tuned standard..........JH in va.

Jorge · March 7th, 2007, 04:37 PM

That's my main tuning!.. Just like Hendrix and SRV , and they had tone!

woodman · March 7th, 2007, 04:49 PM

i did it once on my first homegrown Tele, put 12's on there and loved it! i was smitten by the "big" sound. unfortunately, the bassman and rhythm player said, "man, you're nuts if you think i'm doing that!" even the drummer thought i had a screw loose. so that was that.

if i was in a horn-driven band, i'd consider doing it again, because i loves them open strings ... but the odds on that are slim as a razor blade.

Jorge · March 7th, 2007, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodman

i did it once on my first homegrown Tele, put 12's on there and loved it! i was smitten by the "big" sound. unfortunately, the bassman and rhythm player said, "man, you're nuts if you think i'm doing that!" even the drummer thought i had a screw loose. so that was that.

if i was in a horn-driven band, i'd consider doing it again, because i loves them open strings ... but the odds on that are slim as a razor blade.

Yeah I agree with you that is a big problem with it, that the bassplayer gets so tuned down that his sound doesn't sound good anymore. It hurt's us guitarist that wants a better sound.. damn!

Tedecaster · March 7th, 2007, 04:59 PM

I mostly play bass & I can't exactly remember WHY I did it, but I had my bass tuned down a whole step for a year or two. Knew all my parts that way but later tuned up to standard tuning & re-learned the songs with new positions which was easier that I expected.

jjh37854 · March 7th, 2007, 07:21 PM

Buck Owens and the Buckaroos

getbent · March 7th, 2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chet

What happens when you play at a jam with that guitar? I'd think that you'd just have to tell everyone else what key you're in etc. Does the Bass player necessarily have to tune his bass to Eb also?

What happens is that you tell the other players what key you are playing in or they tell you and then you play in that key... no biggie.

The bass player doesn't have to change tuning at all... but he does need to know the key.

I occasionally use my strat and it is tuned to eb just for playing "don't let our love start slippin' away" although lately it is just easier to play it in d or e and not switch axes.

I have been intrigued because Buck and Don were tuned down to do it... but, and this is probably really crazy, a guitar with newer strings strung to pitch has a certain chime that I don't hear when it is tuned down... I'd love to know if anyone else hears that?

aznxtasy341 · March 7th, 2007, 07:40 PM

Eb??

hell ive tuned mine down to C to play some of the RL burnside stuff. of course id probably have to use 13's to not make it bend a 5th by just touching it.

Mark Davis · March 7th, 2007, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chet

I have a Strat that I have tuned to Eb to play Stevie and Jimi Hendrix songs. I think Eb lets you play with a horn section also.

Same here I keep my Strat tuned to Eb for Hendrix SRV and Buck.

Some Hendrix songs just dont sound right unless they are in Eb.

mellecaster · March 7th, 2007, 10:22 PM

I've done it to a few acoustic Flat tops....some Tops just sound better tuned down a half-step....and while we are are the subject....will you people with the short scale travel...mini...and kid's Guitars....quit tuning to standard pitch, and then wondering why they sound so Flabby ?....Crank em up!...they are a shorter scale !.....I feel better NOW !

Joe-Bob · March 7th, 2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chet

I think Eb lets you play with a horn section also.

Actually, I do play with a horn section, and I tune to standard pitch.

I play in a jazz big band, and since we sight-read a lot of charts, it would just make it WAY too hard...hell, it's hard enough already.

I don't like to tune down. I think it confuses things too much. If the singer wants to sing in flat keys, fine. He can bring all the flat-key charts he wants to....chances are he won't go through the trouble; or can't transpose. Problem solved.

franchelB · March 8th, 2007, 10:47 AM

The guitar, bass guitar, and it's strings were and are designed to be tuned to "A=440". It wouldn't sound "right" when you tune it either flat or sharp...they're either too "floppy" or too "tight"! As long as I have played with an ensemble, the "horns" have ALWAYS transposed to the guitar.

Can anyone imagine a "jam" with other guitar players where everyone is in standard tuning, and that one guy playing on a "capo'ed" "I fret"?

ccyork · March 8th, 2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franchelB

Can anyone imagine a "jam" with other guitar players where everyone is in standard tuning, and that one guy playing on a "capo'ed" "I fret"?

I frequently play my D-18 this way. I LOVE the low action you gets with a capo!

-- ccyork

Axis29 · March 8th, 2007, 03:55 PM

I recently went down to Eb. First time I played wiht the band was the other day and I enver expected them to tuen down, I just capo'd. I'm not sure I'll stay there, but it is easier to do those big bends. As someone said, some Hednrix stuff just sounds right down there...

It's a lto easier to play along with some CD's when it's tuned down.

Maybe this is my excuse to buy double of every guitar I own? But Honey, it's the only way I can play Hendirx and SRV!!!

Paul in Colorado · March 8th, 2007, 06:06 PM

I don't down tune a piano, why would I down tune a guitar?
I've known people who tuned down a whole step on their 12 string and then used a capo at the second fret to avoid stressing the neck, but I don't see the point otherwise. It just seems silly to me. YMMV.

One story I've heard is Jimi only tuned down because his roadies were too stoned to read the strobe tuner.

hillbillyjazzer · March 8th, 2007, 06:20 PM

I keep one of mine tuned down all the time to Eb (sometimes D just depending on the mood). I like getting that Don Rich sound especially bending on them low strings. And those low sounding chords tend to compliment my vocal range.

Chuck 909 · March 8th, 2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul in Colorado

I don't down tune a piano, why would I down tune a guitar?
I've known people who tuned down a whole step on their 12 string and then used a capo at the second fret to avoid stressing the neck, but I don't see the point otherwise. It just seems silly to me. YMMV.

One story I've heard is Jimi only tuned down because his roadies were too stoned to read the strobe tuner.

I doubt Jimi had a strobe tuner! It was all by ear. You can hear him stretching his strings with big Albert King style bends and tuning up *while* he's playing HEAR MY TRAIN A COMIN, the first song on the 5/25/69 San Jose, CA tape.
I suspect it was like that a lot and Eric Barrett or whoever slapped on a set of strings 10 minutes before the gig most times.

Back in the day I got sooo tired of retuning all the time so I finally got a strat tuned to Eb for Hendrix, Trower stuff I wanted to learn and another guitar tuned to concert pitch.

playanotherchord · March 8th, 2007, 06:38 PM

I occasionally tune down to Eb, especially if i'm singing.. it's just easier for me to sing a half step lower. Also, Eb is friendlier on the pianist (if you have one), and works with orchestral instruments such as trumpets and saxophones, since their natural keys are Eb and in some cases Bb. It's very hard for those instruments to play in 4 sharps.

March 7th, 2007, 01:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
chet Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 5,724	How many of you play a guitar tuned down to Eb? What happens when you play at a jam with that guitar? I'd think that you'd just have to tell everyone else what key you're in etc. Does the Bass player necessarily have to tune his bass to Eb also? __________________ It's Shark Week- MUAHAHAAA!

March 7th, 2007, 01:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Johnny Caster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Antonio, TX Age: 22 Posts: 1,081	You can capo the first fret that way you're in standard tuning, get looser string tension (if that's what you're going for) and lowest possible nut height (almost like a zero fret). __________________ "I'm gonna toss my telecaster through the television screen cause I don't like what's goin on!" - Radiators From Space

March 7th, 2007, 01:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cyrithicus Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oklahoma Age: 30 Posts: 780 2 Photos	I have at least one guitar I keep tuned down. When my wife sings with me, she likes it flat to ease tension on her voice. If one goes flat, or sharp, everybody tunes to the same. __________________ Illiud Latine dici non potest.

March 7th, 2007, 02:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
fakeocaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Enniscorthy, Ireland Posts: 625	To be honest Ive never seen any point in tuning in Eb.Im not a singer but Ive played with many who sing in every key known to man(and more) so I learnt how to adapt.Once I learned to transpose without a capo I found it easier to stay in standard and work from there. I did sit in once at a blues festival with a SRV wannabe who wanted the bass player and I to tune down to Eb with him in order to play ONE SONG (Pride and Joy). We just played down a semitone instead and everything was fine Im sure if you want to stay in Eb you could get used to transposing up a semitone instead. Its probably a case of picking one tuning and staying with it __________________ cheers fakeocaster

March 7th, 2007, 02:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
chet Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 5,724	I have a Strat that I have tuned to Eb to play Stevie and Jimi Hendrix songs. I think Eb lets you play with a horn section also. __________________ It's Shark Week- MUAHAHAAA!

March 7th, 2007, 04:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
J. Hayes Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. Posts: 879	"I think E-flat lets you play with a horn section"?... I'd venture to say that there are probably no guitarists who play with horn sections that tune below standard. IMO if you're going to play guitar you should be able to play any song or chord progression you know in any key if you have any hope of becoming a well rounded guitarist. I do have one guitar that I tune down (A Les Paul) but it's tuned a whole tone flat so it's D G C F A D low to high. It's only because of working some with a singer who likes to do Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" in G so I have to do the opening low string riff usually done in E in D instead. I worked it out in dropped D but the fingering used doesn't sound as good as a lower tuned guitar. I do an occasional Country or Yacht Club gig with a band which has a trumpet, sax, and trombone but for that my guitar's always tuned standard..........JH in va. __________________ Ralph Mooney rules!!

March 7th, 2007, 04:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jorge Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oslo Posts: 1,286 11 Photos	That's my main tuning!.. Just like Hendrix and SRV , and they had tone!

March 7th, 2007, 04:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,362	i did it once on my first homegrown Tele, put 12's on there and loved it! i was smitten by the "big" sound. unfortunately, the bassman and rhythm player said, "man, you're nuts if you think i'm doing that!" even the drummer thought i had a screw loose. so that was that. if i was in a horn-driven band, i'd consider doing it again, because i loves them open strings ... but the odds on that are slim as a razor blade. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

March 7th, 2007, 04:59 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tedecaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greensboro, Vermont Posts: 1,018 26 Photos	I mostly play bass & I can't exactly remember WHY I did it, but I had my bass tuned down a whole step for a year or two. Knew all my parts that way but later tuned up to standard tuning & re-learned the songs with new positions which was easier that I expected.

March 7th, 2007, 07:21 PM	#12 (permalink)
jjh37854 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Francisco Age: 34 Posts: 1,114 7 Photos	Buck Owens and the Buckaroos

March 7th, 2007, 07:40 PM	#14 (permalink)
aznxtasy341 Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 473	Eb?? hell ive tuned mine down to C to play some of the RL burnside stuff. of course id probably have to use 13's to not make it bend a 5th by just touching it.

March 7th, 2007, 10:22 PM	#16 (permalink)
mellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,952 17 Photos	I've done it to a few acoustic Flat tops....some Tops just sound better tuned down a half-step....and while we are are the subject....will you people with the short scale travel...mini...and kid's Guitars....quit tuning to standard pitch, and then wondering why they sound so Flabby ?....Crank em up!...they are a shorter scale !.....I feel better NOW ! __________________ Let's Not Forget the Other 75% of The Tone Equation...It's Called an AMP

March 8th, 2007, 10:47 AM	#18 (permalink)
franchelB Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Irving, United States of Texas! Age: 43 Posts: 1,792	NO! The guitar, bass guitar, and it's strings were and are designed to be tuned to "A=440". It wouldn't sound "right" when you tune it either flat or sharp...they're either too "floppy" or too "tight"! As long as I have played with an ensemble, the "horns" have ALWAYS transposed to the guitar. Can anyone imagine a "jam" with other guitar players where everyone is in standard tuning, and that one guy playing on a "capo'ed" "I fret"?

March 8th, 2007, 03:55 PM	#20 (permalink)
Axis29 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 40 Posts: 1,034 1 Photos	I recently went down to Eb. First time I played wiht the band was the other day and I enver expected them to tuen down, I just capo'd. I'm not sure I'll stay there, but it is easier to do those big bends. As someone said, some Hednrix stuff just sounds right down there... It's a lto easier to play along with some CD's when it's tuned down. Maybe this is my excuse to buy double of every guitar I own? But Honey, it's the only way I can play Hendirx and SRV!!! __________________ John F. TDPRI # 1764

March 8th, 2007, 06:06 PM	#21 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 55 Posts: 4,012 3 Photos	I don't down tune a piano, why would I down tune a guitar? I've known people who tuned down a whole step on their 12 string and then used a capo at the second fret to avoid stressing the neck, but I don't see the point otherwise. It just seems silly to me. YMMV. One story I've heard is Jimi only tuned down because his roadies were too stoned to read the strobe tuner.

March 8th, 2007, 06:20 PM	#22 (permalink)
hillbillyjazzer NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pilot Mountain, NC Age: 22 Posts: 7	I keep one of mine tuned down all the time to Eb (sometimes D just depending on the mood). I like getting that Don Rich sound especially bending on them low strings. And those low sounding chords tend to compliment my vocal range.

March 8th, 2007, 06:38 PM	#24 (permalink)
playanotherchord Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Singapore Age: 21 Posts: 246 2 Photos	I occasionally tune down to Eb, especially if i'm singing.. it's just easier for me to sing a half step lower. Also, Eb is friendlier on the pianist (if you have one), and works with orchestral instruments such as trumpets and saxophones, since their natural keys are Eb and in some cases Bb. It's very hard for those instruments to play in 4 sharps.