Drop A Tuning?
longjohn
Mar 11 2010, 11:47 AM
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Hey again GMC. I have a bit of a problem. I've been playing an Epiphone Goth SG for a while now, and I wanted to learn Psychosocial by Slipknot, but I hear it's in Drop A. I don't have thick enough strings to tune to drop A, nor a way to get them, presently. So how low can I go with the strings I have? I'm using Ernie Ball Super Slinkys. Also, if there's any way to reduce the buzz that results from lower tunings, I would appreciate the advice. Thanks!

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ZakkWylde
Mar 11 2010, 12:21 PM
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Ernie Ball Super slinky Stings are gauge 9-42 which is good for standard E tuning (Not for me though, I think 9s feel to loose even on the normal tuning so I use 10s for standard e). With strings this thin you can't really detune your guitar without getting extremely wobbly strings and a bad sound (thicker strings=more tension=better sound)

You can go half a step down to Eb or drop the low e to get a drop d tuning but any further down your strings become too wobly and the neck bends upwards because of the tension-loss and this results in a lot of buzz... you can play psychosocial in drop d, it just won't sound as heavy

Just order a new set of strings online if you want to drop down that low; you will need 12-56 size strings at last, maybe even thicker strings to tune that low. Be careful though with strings that thick you can't just go back to your standard e tuning! The neck will bend in the other direction and you will get a high action + the string tension will be too hard to play with!

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Damir Puh
Mar 11 2010, 03:27 PM
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Drop D is the end of the comfortable zone for 9s I think, any lower and you'll lose intonation and clarity. If you have buzzing problems raise the action or adjust the truss rod for bigger relief.

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longjohn
Mar 11 2010, 08:12 PM
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Thanks guys!

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Daniel Realpe
Mar 18 2010, 03:25 PM
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I think they use seven string guitars for that purpose

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herrb
May 26 2010, 09:17 AM
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if you learn the song by guitar pro 5, you can tune the guitars in the programm to any tuning you wish, drop d would be good for you to use, than you can at least play along to the gp5 file.

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thefireball
May 27 2010, 02:41 PM
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QUOTE (Daniel Realpe @ Mar 18 2010, 09:25 AM) *
I think they use seven string guitars for that purpose


+1

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Ivan Milenkovic
May 27 2010, 03:01 PM
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Dropped A is a bit extreme for a 6 string guitar. As Daniel said, it would be best to use 7 stringed guitar. Dropped A on 7 string is normal thing.

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thefireball
Oct 4 2010, 01:50 AM
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Hey, how about if I was going for Drop B or Drop Bb? Are 12s the way to go? I don't have the money for a 7 right now, and won't for a while. sad.gif So I was going with something else for now. Besides, my favorite band Red plays a 6 string that low. So I know it can be done. wink.gif
I put Ernie Ball Beefy Slinkys on it. But that was back when I tuned to Drop C - which was awesome! But tuned to Drop Bb is too floppy with the strings. smile.gif I was thinking of going for the Not Even Slinkys. They are 12s.

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This post has been edited by thefireball: Oct 4 2010, 01:51 AM
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Mudbone
Oct 4 2010, 07:52 AM
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QUOTE (thefireball @ Oct 3 2010, 08:50 PM) *
Hey, how about if I was going for Drop B or Drop Bb? Are 12s the way to go? I don't have the money for a 7 right now, and won't for a while. sad.gif So I was going with something else for now. Besides, my favorite band Red plays a 6 string that low. So I know it can be done. wink.gif
I put Ernie Ball Beefy Slinkys on it. But that was back when I tuned to Drop C - which was awesome! But tuned to Drop Bb is too floppy with the strings. smile.gif I was thinking of going for the Not Even Slinkys. They are 12s.


The number of strings on a guitar has nothing to do with how low you can tune it, the scale length of the guitar is the all important figure here. The scale length is the distance between the nut and the bridge. The longer the scale length, the tighter the tension on the strings. Thats why Strats have a tighter feel than Les Pauls, its because it has a longer scale length.

Seven string guitars usually have a longer scale length, which is to accommodate that low B string. But there are six string baritone guitars that have an even longer scale length than some seven string guitars, the Schecter Hellcat IV is a perfect example.

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del-4fr53e3
Oct 4 2010, 12:06 PM
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For Drop A tuning I would recommend 12s or 13s on a 6 string guitar. If you are used to 9s, then probably 12s are fine smile.gif
And when you do, take it to a tech to set the guitar up. You can also ask him about gauges. It's perfectly fine, as long as you keep tension fine.
Longer scale length is fine so you can keep tension ok, without using super thick strings, and keep it tight for heavy riffing, but it's not common on 6 string guitars. On my 25.5" 7 string, I use 9-52s, and the tension is like 10s on my 25.5" 6 string, because of the extra tension of the 7 string.
Go to tech to fix it up, and everything will be all good. If it buzzes, raise the action or give relief to the truss rod. Or use thicker (thus less wobbly) strings. Thicker strings can't get too low action though. But let the tech handle it biggrin.gif

About how low you can go, I wouldn't go lower than Eb-D standard. If you want to drop, then drop D with those strings. Depends on how you like it and what you find comfortable. smile.gif

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This post has been edited by Sollesnes: Oct 4 2010, 12:08 PM
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