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GMC Forum _ Theory (Muris) _ Different Tunings
Posted by: eddiecat Dec 9 2007, 07:40 PM
Hi Muris!
I've got a lot of practicing to do,
so don't worry, I'm not going to ask you for another lesson!
I was browsing around lately and I read things
like D drop tuning etc, etc.
Could you please tell me what all these different tunings mean?
What are they good for?
Why do you tune a guitar differently?
What are the benefits?
I know it might sound stupid, but I'd really like to know
why and when you tune a guitar differently...
I'm just curious.
Thank you.
P.S: My aching pinky says hello.
Eddie
Posted by: Batista Dec 9 2007, 07:49 PM
I was actually on my way to ask about the same, so hope you got some good answer as always for this Muris
Posted by: Unleash-The-Shred Dec 9 2007, 08:05 PM
Well I don't know about all tunings but I can tell you that Dropped D is usually used for heavier music like metal.
Different tunings give you different sounds. So you can write different music while experimenting with certain tunings.
It's not a stupid question by the way everyone has to learn at some point, about a specific thing.
Muris can probably give you more depth on this subject, so i'll leave it to him and I hope he doesn't mind me answering a question aimed towards him.
Posted by: Muris Dec 9 2007, 08:07 PM
Hallo to pinky as well,sad it's hurt but glad that you have been using it!!
About tunings,
powerful tool to get specific sounding from your guitar which can't be done in regular tuning.
Personally I don't use them that often,dropped D here and there.
But this is what I did maybe two weeks ago in studio.
We were recording sort of heavy tune in C minor
and I needed more bottom in backing guitars.
So I lowered 6th down to C and 5th down to F,while leaving rest in normal tuning
And THAT was really funny,wish I had camera
I was to lost in few bars cause I played riffs on all 6 strings
Anyhow,there are many tunings,some to get more from open strings,
some to make specific chords easier to play.
To be honest,I'm not sure of names for all those tunings,
only thing I know is that I need to retune it if I want to get what I want.
Some licks recorded on open/dropped tunings are really tricky to play on normal tunings,
but same thing is in opposite way,
deal is,use it on purpose.
Posted by: Batista Dec 9 2007, 08:11 PM
Why do people tune only a half step down then? It sounds different from standard tuning I know, but don't see the point of it.
Posted by: Unleash-The-Shred Dec 9 2007, 08:12 PM
Eddie I did a search on tunings for you and I came across this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar_tuning
Seems it has a lot of useful information on it.
Posted by: Muris Dec 9 2007, 08:17 PM
QUOTE (Batista @ Dec 9 2007, 08:11 PM)
Why do people tune only a half step down then? It sounds different from standard tuning I know, but don't see the point of it.
There is point after all.
Usually to get lower tension of strings,easier to play extreme bends etc.
QUOTE (Unleash-The-Shred @ Dec 9 2007, 08:12 PM)
Eddie I did a search on tunings for you and I came across this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar_tuning
Seems it has a lot of useful information on it.
Wiki rules,thanks for the link
Posted by: nickmarx12345678 Dec 9 2007, 08:17 PM
QUOTE (Batista @ Dec 9 2007, 01:11 PM)
Why do people tune only a half step down then? It sounds different from standard tuning I know, but don't see the point of it.
People usually do that sometimes so they can use the genral same fingerings as standard tuning but with the abilitly of another half step down if they need more low tones. For example, Relient K has a song (who i am hates who ive been) that would be very hard to near impossible if it was in regular tuning. Also so you know, A lot of bands use what is called dropped C tuning (droped D and then tune all 6 stings down a full step) and same even use drop B. These give you some really powerful sounding low chords that a lot of heavier bands use. (Bands in drop C ex. System of a Down, Thousand foot krutch, Evanescence, Bullet for my valentine, etc...)
Posted by: Unleash-The-Shred Dec 9 2007, 08:18 PM
QUOTE (Muris @ Dec 9 2007, 02:17 PM)
There is point after all.
Usually to get lower tension of strings,easier to play extreme bends etc.
Wiki rules,thanks for the link
No problem. I always use Wiki.
Posted by: Joey Dec 9 2007, 08:19 PM
i do not know a whole lot about different tunings but il try to clear things up a little
Standard Tuning [EADGBE] - Well... its standard. the most widely used tuning lol
Half Step Down [EbAbDbGbBbEb] - I think its mostly used to portray a slightly darker mood in a song or when the singer's voice is more suited to those tones
Coheed and Cambria use this tuning in a lot of their older songs
Drop D [DADGBE]- The low E string is tuned down 1 whole step
so that means your power chords that are like
D|-5-
A|-5-
E|-3-
can be played more easily as
D|-5-
A|-5-
D|-5-
its not necessarily used only for heavier stuff but it does let you get that sound
many many bands use this tuning for their songs, Avenged Sevenfold being one
Drop C [CGCFAD] - You tune to drop D and then you tune all the strings 1 full step down
this gets you a much much heavier or darker sound when playing low notes
Atreyu is a band that uses this tuning
Open D [DADGbAD] - Used for acoustic guitars mostly solo artists and composers like Andy Mckee
Hope i helped some
Posted by: Batista Dec 9 2007, 08:26 PM
Thanks for answers and sorry for kinda hijacking the thread.
I know everything from AFI is tuned a half step down, and that bands like Slipknot and Bullet for my Valentine uses Drop-C tuning.
But this surely cleared things up for me
Posted by: Muris Dec 9 2007, 08:30 PM
QUOTE (Batista @ Dec 9 2007, 08:26 PM)
Thanks for answers and sorry for kinda hijacking the thread.
I know everything from AFI is tuned a half step down, and that bands like Slipknot and Bullet for my Valentine uses Drop-C tuning.
But this surely cleared things up for me
Glad we helped a bit
Posted by: Batista Dec 9 2007, 08:32 PM
By the way I got one last question.
Lets say I play in Drop D, since the power chords are easier then (power chords aren't hard anyways though), can the bass for instance be in standard tuning then if you understand what I meen?
Posted by: Unleash-The-Shred Dec 9 2007, 08:34 PM
I think i'm gunna start experimenting with different tunings sometime.
Posted by: Muris Dec 9 2007, 08:36 PM
QUOTE (Batista @ Dec 9 2007, 08:32 PM)
By the way I got one last question.
Lets say I play in Drop D, since the power chords are easier then (power chords aren't hard anyways though), can the bass for instance be in standard tuning then if you understand what I meen?
I guess you think of bass guitar?
Yeah bass may stay in standard tunning
Dealing in the world today we have bass with 5 strings,just to get those bottom notes.
Same thing happened with 7 strings on guitar OR in use of dropped tuning.
Posted by: Unleash-The-Shred Dec 9 2007, 08:40 PM
QUOTE (Muris @ Dec 9 2007, 02:36 PM)
I guess you think of bass guitar?
Yeah bass may stay in standard tunning
Dealing in the world today we have bass with 5 strings,just to get those bottom notes.
Same thing happened with 7 strings on guitar OR in use of dropped tuning.
Or a 6 stringed bass and an 8 stringed guitar.
Posted by: Muris Dec 9 2007, 08:44 PM
QUOTE (Unleash-The-Shred @ Dec 9 2007, 08:40 PM)
Or a 6 stringed bass and an 8 stringed guitar.
Talking about bottom,not top
Posted by: Unleash-The-Shred Dec 9 2007, 08:45 PM
QUOTE (Muris @ Dec 9 2007, 02:44 PM)
Talking about bottom,not top
Ahh ok.
Posted by: Batista Dec 9 2007, 08:45 PM
Okey thanks again:)
So I can tune my guitar down to Drop D for songs with much power chords etc, and the bass may still be tuned standard and we can play together withouth it sounding false or wrong?
Posted by: Muris Dec 9 2007, 08:48 PM
QUOTE (Batista @ Dec 9 2007, 08:45 PM)
Okey thanks again:)
So I can tune my guitar down to Drop D for songs with much power chords etc, and the bass may still be tuned standard and we can play together withouth it sounding false or wrong?
Yeah,as long as you are tunned in same rate,441 per example
Posted by: Batista Dec 9 2007, 08:50 PM
Uhm okey, thanks
Posted by: Joey Dec 9 2007, 09:07 PM
QUOTE (Batista @ Dec 9 2007, 01:32 PM)
By the way I got one last question.
Lets say I play in Drop D, since the power chords are easier then (power chords aren't hard anyways though), can the bass for instance be in standard tuning then if you understand what I meen?
well the thing i said about power chords and drop D stands because if you wanna sort of il say "tweak" the chord you can reach certain notes that you couldnt if you had to have your pointer finger 2 frets above. in drop you can bar power chords with just your pointer so you can do things like
E|--------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------|
D|-14h15--15-15-15--12h14--14-14-14--|
A|-12------12-12-12--12-------12-12-12--|
D|-12------12-12-12--12-------12-12-12--|
Posted by: eddiecat Dec 9 2007, 10:27 PM
Thank you all for your replies!
This is why this place (GMC) is so great.
I still wonder why most members don't use the forum too often!!!
Thank you all!!!
And hi Muris!!!
Posted by: Muris Dec 9 2007, 10:36 PM
Yeah,forum is way to cool place at GMC
Posted by: Unleash-The-Shred Dec 9 2007, 10:44 PM
QUOTE (Muris @ Dec 9 2007, 04:36 PM)
Yeah,forum is way to cool place at GMC
That it is. Everyone should use it.
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