De-tuning

[clairey_fairy]

I've been told that to get the right sort of sound in my band [screamo] I'd be better off de tuning to Drop D.
I'm not exactly very good at guitar but I can still make music.
*shrug* sooo
Reckon this is a good idea?

[xglassjawx]

I've been told that to get the right sort of sound in my band [screamo] I'd be better off de tuning to Drop D.
I'm not exactly very good at guitar but I can still make music.
*shrug* sooo
Reckon this is a good idea?

If you want a heavy sound, Drop D would be a good tuning, or C, but i dunno how to tune a guitar into C yet seeing as im a total noive on guitar.

[Hilikus]

you just tune your E string (the lowest string) down to C instead of D.

[TranslateTheNam]

c-g-c-f-a-d i believe

[clevernapkins]

the main reason anyone plays in drop d is because then power chords become ridiculously easy to play.

[AvoidTheClap]

the main reason anyone plays in drop d is because then power chords become ridiculously easy to play.

right.

if you want a fatter, heavier sound, you can tune down without dropping d. especially if your singer sings & it suits his voice better.

[griffLe]

Drop d can really help in pretty much any type of rock because it really opens up a whoal new world of possibilities...i would just reccomend playing with it a bit and seeing if it helps you or not...most of the stuff i write these days is in drop d tuning...i find it especially helpfull in my metalcore band...all of our stuff is in drop tunings...
you just tune your E string (the lowest string) down to C instead of D.
not exactly
drop c is drop d one whoal step down, so you'd have to tune the rest of the guitar a full step down...so the a, d, g, b, and high e strings would all get tuned down a whoal step, and the low e would get tuned down two whoal steps...i'd reccomend using a heavier guage string if you were to do this for a prolonged period, because the strings get really loose...easier to get pinch harmonics though...

[ArTkY_]

the main reason anyone plays in drop d is because then power chords become ridiculously easy to play.
Indeed, as if they weren't easy enough. It also gives a chunkier sound and you can make your chop (chuga-chuga) better.

[mps]

the main reason anyone plays in drop d is because then power chords become ridiculously easy to play.
If you are good enough to be playing in a band that should not matter to you whatsoever.

The main reason anyone plays in drop D is because you get a heavier beefier sound, and can 2 notes lower than E (obviously).

Also back to the powerchord thing. A typical punk rock power chord does not sound the same to playing the same thing in drop D. It just sounds wrong trying to play punk or pop/punk, or anything with normal power chords, in drop D.

[patrickhowell]

If you are good enough to be playing in a band that should not matter to you whatsoever.

The main reason anyone plays in drop D is because you get a heavier beefier sound, and can 2 notes lower than E (obviously).

Also back to the powerchord thing. A typical punk rock power chord does not sound the same to playing the same thing in drop D. It just sounds wrong trying to play punk or pop/punk, or anything with normal power chords, in drop D.

A lot of pop-punk bands play in Drop D. For example, a lot of Fall Out Boy songs (even Sugar, We're Goin' Down) are written in Drop D.

This is just a different tuning that 1) allows you to get a low D, below the lowest E on a standard guitar and 2) allows you to play different chords/riffs that are impossible in standard tuning.

[mps]

A lot of pop-punk bands play in Drop D. For example, a lot of Fall Out Boy songs (even Sugar, We're Goin' Down) are written in Drop D.

Interesting. I never knew that. I don't see why though..if it's just simple power chords.

[patrickhowell]

Interesting. I never knew that. I don't see why though..if it's just simple power chords.

Fall Out Boy uses a lot more than simple power chords.

Patrick is actually a very good guitarist.

[Hilikus]

not exactly
drop c is drop d one whoal step down, so you'd have to tune the rest of the guitar a full step down...so the a, d, g, b, and high e strings would all get tuned down a whoal step, and the low e would get tuned down two whoal steps...i'd reccomend using a heavier guage string if you were to do this for a prolonged period, because the strings get really loose...easier to get pinch harmonics though...

You can actually do it either way, not that they are anything alike. One of my bands songs is tuned that way and it sounds interesting.

[ArTkY_]

Interesting. I never knew that. I don't see why though..if it's just simple power chords.
That's why their chords sound a bit wobbly and chunky.

[btbam > you]

c-g-c-f-a-d i believe

exactly. i play mostly in drop C, but also in the key of D as well at times.

[xglassjawx]

exactly. i play mostly in drop C, but also in the key of D as well at times.

I usually just play most stuff in standard (E) and or Drop D, they're the only tunings i've really learnt at the moment seeing as i'm just teaching myself.

[btbam > you]

I usually just play most stuff in standard (E) and or Drop D, they're the only tunings i've really learnt at the moment seeing as i'm just teaching myself.

youll get to the others eventually :)

[xglassjawx]

youll get to the others eventually :)

Haha yeah i just get my mates to teach me tunings, it's more fun being taught by friends as opposed to a teacher. I'm probably gonna but metronome soon so that'll be good for my playing. The awesome thing about just beginning guitar is that once you've perfected something, there's always a way you can do it even better, ie playing it without looking at the strings.

[mps]

Haha yeah i just get my mates to teach me tunings, it's more fun being taught by friends as opposed to a teacher. I'm probably gonna but metronome soon so that'll be good for my playing. The awesome thing about just beginning guitar is that once you've perfected something, there's always a way you can do it even better, ie playing it without looking at the strings.
Haha, you have a long way to go my friend.

[xglassjawx]

Haha, you have a long way to go my friend.

I'm always learning, and you don't necceserally NEED to play without looking, i can play some stuff without looking.

[Hilikus]

there are tons of other tunings as well that you can look up online and stuff. I like experimenting with alot of open tunings. These sound really amazing when played on an acoustic.

[SonEric84]

A cool tuning that I have been playing around with lately is (from low to high) d-a-d-a-a-d.

[mps]

I'm always learning, and you don't necceserally NEED to play without looking, i can play some stuff without looking.
Well if you want to ever sing, or just not look like an idiot on stage staring at the guitar the whole time, then yes you do. Anyways it just comes naturaly as you become more and more familiar with playing. Treat the guitar as your girl, and get to know it reeeeally well.

[merv the perv]

Drop D is used only to access two more chords (or notes); two lower chords. If you're tuning to drop D just because "the power chords are easier to hold," you are awful and you deserve to be beaten. I HATE when I see tabs for a pop punk song and it says "Tuning: Drop D", and then the power chords never go lower than E, meaning that there is absolutely no need for drop D.

[btbam > you]

Drop D is used only to access two more chords (or notes); two lower chords. If you're tuning to drop D just because "the power chords are easier to hold," you are awful and you deserve to be beaten. I HATE when I see tabs for a pop punk song and it says "Tuning: Drop D", and then the power chords never go lower than E, meaning that there is absolutely no need for drop D.


agreed. that shit is so lame

[Elijscott]

Drop D is used only to access two more chords (or notes); two lower chords. If you're tuning to drop D just because "the power chords are easier to hold," you are awful and you deserve to be beaten. I HATE when I see tabs for a pop punk song and it says "Tuning: Drop D", and then the power chords never go lower than E, meaning that there is absolutely no need for drop D.

Well.. I play in standard tuning, because I hate drop D.. but I do understand why someone becomes accustomed to playing their guitar a certain way.... and it sucks for live applications if the songs aren't all played in the same tuning.. cause you spend that much less time playing music, (because you're tuning or de-tuning so much) so that's probably why the songs are written in Drop D. A lot of bands (especially ones without roadies/guitar techs) tend to write songs that are in the same tuning.

Honestly, I think that is someone wants a heavier sound, they should tune all the strings a full step lower. Personally.

[fromwithin]

someone needs to address the real question, what is his definition of "screamo"?

[sweetforever]

I play in standard and in Drop D as well. I havent quite mastered how to tune to Drop C yet, eventually I will. I make up a lot of my own stuff in either standard or drop d.

[Elijscott]

I play in standard and in Drop D as well. I havent quite mastered how to tune to Drop C yet, eventually I will. I make up a lot of my own stuff in either standard or drop d.

To tune to drop C, you simply detune all strings by a full step, then detune the low E string another full step. Your guitar has to be set up for this though, and you have to buy mammoth strings.

I personally play standard tuning.. But I like some open tunings on acoustic guitars.

[btbam > you]

To tune to drop C, you simply detune all strings by a full step, then detune the low E string another full step. Your guitar has to be set up for this though, and you have to buy mammoth strings.

I personally play standard tuning.. But I like some open tunings on acoustic guitars.


i play in C and my strings are 13s

[Elijscott]

I play 11's. So, that's not that big of a difference. But 13's in standard tuning is brutal. (I used to do it in practice to strengthen my fingers). It's almost impossible to bend, especially at first.