Tuning down to E flat...drives me potty

RandallFlagg · May 2018

I love the sound of guitar tuned down 1/2 step to Eb and tried it so many times on all types of guitar, it sounds particulalrly good on a Strat but just can't live with it, the loose tension makes the open strings rattle, chords bend out of shape, it just feels wrong. Even with .011s I can't stand it.

Does tuning down really need such a change in technique and lighter touch? I notice it more when playing unplugged, plugged in with gain on the amp is not as bad.

God alone knows how Stuart Adamson could stand playing his SG2000 tuned down to D in The Skids.

grungebob · May 2018

From the moment I could play one song good enough to try and play along with the album I’ve been tuned to Eb, I had a Strat with a modern radius but vintage frets with 12’s on and it felt the same to me. Now I can tune down to C# and not notice with the right set up.

Perhaps try it on a guitar with shorter skinnier frets?

jimmyguitar · May 2018

Are you trying strings with heavier bottom strings? 11’s with a 49 low E would still be too thin in my opinion. Try an 11-52 set.

ICBM · May 2018

RandallFlagg said:

I love the sound of guitar tuned down 1/2 step to Eb and tried it so many times on all types of guitar, it sounds particulalrly good on a Strat but just can't live with it, the loose tension makes the open strings rattle, chords bend out of shape, it just feels wrong. Even with .011s I can't stand it.

Try 12s...

jimmyguitar · May 2018

Also, as it’s a strat you’re doing it on check the trem isn’t contributing to the loose feel? If you have 3 springs try upping it to 5 to give a tighter feel...

joetele · May 2018

Seems odd - I'm often tuned to Eb and don't notice any real difference apart from somewhat looser strings (but honestly the difference is negligible to my hands) - and this includes light picking, strumming as well as heavy thrashing and everything in between. Might depend on the scale length? I've only used 25.5 scale length Teles/Tele-style guitars so perhaps they're more forgiving with the lack of trem etc and strings through from the back, etc. I actually prefer the Eb tuning, especially with the top string tuned down to Db - and would keep it that way if I didn't have synths to stay in tune with.

Modellista · May 2018

Eb makes singing loads easier so I'd always do it in a band I was in charge of.

Never had any problems on a Tele with 10s. I use Elixirs which may be slightly stiffer due to the coating.

TheBigDipper · May 2018

My prog covers band used to play "Dogs". For the strumming guitar part to sound right it needed to be played as per the recording with the guitar tuned down a tone to D. I went from 10s to 11s on the guitar (hardtail Strat) and the strumming sounded great. However, I was the only guitarist in the band and had to play those Gilmour lead parts, too. 2 frets higher than he did. The intonation needed adjusting to cope.

So, I ended up taking this guitar to gigs for just one song. And that's one of the reasons I don't play prog covers any more and only do my own stuff...

FWIW, I also tried a Mobius pedal to digitally downtune the guitar. It worked surprisingly well as far as tuning was concerned, but sounded terrible on clean tones (fine when filthy).

Back on topic: Eb can be good if your singing voice has trouble hitting the notes, and doesn't make the guitar feel too different to play - unlike D.

RandallFlagg · May 2018

I might have to have another go and leave one guitar in Eb for a couple of weeks, I think I change back too quickly to the comfort of std tuning. I really prefer the sound of Eb.

I grew up playing in std and many of the songs I play along to are in Std (The Jam, Sex Pistols, Clash, Beatles etc.)

rico · May 2018

We play everything in drop C sharp (how do you do a hash symbol on a Mac?) and it feels completely natural. I use a LP with 54-11's but with a 20 G

guitarfishbay · May 2018

Option + 3 for hash symbol on Mac

delorean · May 2018

How strange, all of my guitars have been tuned to Eb on a permanent basis for the last 10 years or so, but I have no issues with open string buzzing etc.

I play strats and super strats - 10s on the strats, and 9's on the super strats - never any open buzzing, rattling etc.

Could it be setup-related? My tech knows that I only play in Eb and so my guitars are always perfect when I get them back from him.

Have you tried a Digitech Drop? I use one for a couple of songs where we need to drop a semitone to D - works a treat, both with and without filth added.

ICBM · May 2018

delorean said:

Have you tried a Digitech Drop? I use one for a couple of songs where we need to drop a semitone to D - works a treat, both with and without filth added.

These do work very well. The guitarist in my band has used one down as far as C, it sounds remarkably natural and not obviously 'pitch shifted'.

The only problem we found with it was that it's fussy about power supplies and can introduce noise into fuzz pedals if on the same supply.

bignorm · May 2018

I tried the möbius when it came out and ditched it coz it just sounded crap.
I now have a Degitech Drop which is much better providing you don't expect it to go any further than drop C.

57Deluxe · May 2018

this is a tuning that needs 'an ear' as a mechanical tuning device is not subtle enough for the overtones...

Danny1969 · May 2018

I alternate between down a semi and concert pitch depending on what band I'm with. I noticed on Friday I was over bending everything cos I was giging in E flat after being in concert for the last 6 gigs or so ... plus I was on a Gibson scale length and not the usual Fender
I've been thinking of going up to 11's for E flat bands

flying_pie · May 2018

bignorm said:

I tried the möbius when it came out and ditched it coz it just sounded crap.
I now have a Degitech Drop which is much better providing you don't expect it to go any further than drop C.

I've used an EHX pitchfork to the same effect for Eb/D standard/drop C. You notice a change in tone but it's subtle and definitely usable in a live setting.

timmysoft · May 2018

I play exclusively in drop c. I like the strings to rattle. I use 10.5-48 on my PRS.

lukedlb · May 2018

Set up the guitar again?

Phil_aka_Pip · May 2018

I'd rather learn to play in another key than change the tuning of my guitar

richardhomer · May 2018

I’ve found not tuning to Eb to be the best solution....

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Tuning down to E flat...drives me potty

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