Conversation With Stephen & Chino of Deftones : Strings & Tunings

In this sit-down interview, Stephen Carpenter and Chino Moreno of the Deftones discuss in detail the tunings they've used on their albums with Dunlop's Bryan Kehoe. Stephen also talks about this custom made Dunlop strings.

[@ElectricTurkey1]

"I got 8 strings, I'll find ya" haha

[@sargentman1640]

I never thought of that haha 😅

[@TheCommentator353]

Love that mentality. Knowledge of the fretboard is a superpower.

[@HoodGoblin]

I love how un-technical Stef is. He's just there to rock.

[@buthesgotasniper]

all riffs are so simple, but they sound so damn good

[@anthonydutra1686]

God he's hilarious in this

[@anthonydutra1686]

All of a sudden it became somethin neewww lmao

[@J450NRS11]

He's such a boss, I'm learning guitar and honestly he made me feel so much more happy with just playing what I feel is fun and sounds good. Ultimately that's all that matters

[@GothJedi]

Just like Angus Young

[@demisemedia]

"And it sounds like BRRRAAOOOOWWWNNNNNnnnn.." Stephen is hilarious!

[@MuyTristeza]

LOL That never gets old!

[@chrstphrdnl121]

Hahaha... Steph is fucking awesome!

[@exactlywhatisaid]

that's the signature Deftones sound

[@Thewintersoldiernyc]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@maryAyable]

I came for that moment 😂😂😂😂

[@williamsilva5295]

"You don't change, the tuning changes. It's something new!" Carpenter, Stephen

[@SecretEyeSpot]

+jdmerdian fyu you too!

[@jameshatfield8410]

He's soo high

[@Swagadelic_Wizard]

Hes fucking with the interviewer lmao

[@Dr_V_von_Doom]

Mind blown

[@hazmatman2010]

Love how Chino is being sophisticated and technical about playing their music differently. Then Stephen sums it up in a nutshell 😂

[@IDontKnow-wf7vu]

Adrenaline: E A D G B E Around The Fur: C# G# C# F# A# D# White Pony: C G C F A D Deftones: G# C# F# B E G# C# Saturday Night Wrist: F# C# F# B E G# C# Diamond Eyes: F# B E A D G B E Koi No Yokan: E B E A D G B E

[@IceKoldKilla]

Is this 100% correct according to what Stef said? I'm a n00b when it comes to guitar but after Chino says Drop C, Stef says it was down a half step and still drop tuned? Does that mean a custom tuning? Because on Rocksmith 2014 they make me tune it to something for 2 White Pony songs and when I look up Drop C on KZbin, it doesn't sound the same when tuning my guitar using videos so it can't be normal Drop C. Sorry I'm an amateur.

[@IDontKnow-wf7vu]

+Ice Kold Killa No problem man, we were all noobs at some point. Anyways, they used E A D G B E tuning for Adrenaline. Then, for Around The Fur, they went down half a step (D# G# C# F# A# D#), and then they drop-tuned that (C# G# C# F# A# D#). That gives you Drop C#. Then for White Pony, they used Drop C (C G C F A D). When Stephen says down a half step, he means his White Pony tuning is half a step lower than his Around The Fur tuning. So Drop C isn't a "custom" tuning; it's just Drop D (D A D G B E) lowered 2 semitones. Hope this helps!

[@serginhosena]

Jordan Dansereau 100% correct sir! Listen to Jordan Ice Kold Killa! =)

[@IDontKnow-wf7vu]

Serginho Sena I have no idea what "Ice Kold Killa" is. Anyways, I made a few slight errors; I just checked Stephen's Wikipedia page, and it said on Koi No Yokan, he used F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb tuning for "Tempest" and "Rosemary", as well as F# B E A D G B E tuning for some unspecified song(s). Also, I could've sworn I saw an old interview with Stephen where he said 2 Around The Fur songs were tuned Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb.

[@serginhosena]

HUm....Arround the Fur with that tuning?i know how to play all Arround the Fur songs and i play them all in drop C#.Ice Kold Killa was a guy here who was asking the tunings to you.

[@Dipper1459]

Chino is all serious and Stephen's just like "fuck it lol"

[@cowboygeorge5056]

Coke bro vs Pot head the duality of man

[@mckay91095]

The Deftones legit changed my life. Theyre one of the best metal bands of Alltime

[@israelirvine7079]

Kevin McKay They’re definitely not Metal. But for sure one of the best bands ever.

[@ted__ryan]

Best Rock/Pop ever!

[@nu-metalfan2654]

@@israelirvine7079 wow Deftones are absolutely Metal

[@blacklotus3205]

Dying Star they’re alternative metal

[@mck7646]

They're alt. metal. Whether someone wants to call them metal or not doesn't even matter they are easily one of the most original sounding bands of the last 25 years. Their early stuff would be nu metal, today they are a weird blend of all sorts of sounds and influences, but the heavy aspect never goes away and I love them for it.

[@nrthrn_dcy]

it sounds like "bwaaaaaahhhhh"

[@stevenguzman3912]

+Abraham Owen goddamn i love stef.

[@nrthrn_dcy]

+steven guzman Me too dude haha. he's such a down to earth and funny guy

[@Tijsprimo]

Abraham Owen haha awesome

[@EduardoHernandez-yq1he]

Abraham Owen lol xd 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@aavmarine1833]

Lol that shits funny as fuck. I think it went over Chino's head.

[@AlejandroBravoC]

Deftones is making paintings with sounds.

[@jordanbowling9424]

Best way to describe their sound

[@LazyRiverMusic]

Steph is baked like betty crocker

[@gokhan9395]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gustavb6062]

😅

[@thebigchecka]

24/7 bruh

[@JenovaDoll]

In 2020 Stephen's guitar will be like Q# A P# K B# A E S# G F# E M# A B Z

[@ryanperry5161]

+JenovaDoll ROFL

[@dramaface]

+JenovaDoll I logged back in to respond to this comment. I loled hahahahah

[@guitargod3434]

+JenovaDoll LMAO

[@TheFitnessTutor]

+JenovaDoll !!!!!

[@flz02]

15 string guitar XD

[@fraters3025]

Today I learned that Chino basically has no idea what he's doing, but defends this in the name of artistic experimentation. Meanwhile, Steph is clearly just trying to rock and smoke.

[@ALGERIANxxxxAFRICAN]

But they’re one of the most unique bands ever created

[@AT-5000_Autodialer]

They know what their doing they just don't describe it in a classical sense.

[@dgs5809]

he def smoked b4 this video was shot lol

[@immortallix]

That's how music should be

[@sacredxgeometry]

commenting here specifically because watching this video 10 years ago changed me as a guitar player, and I've since become an emulation of both of them put together

[@komando8365]

Man, the Deftones are a genre of their own. These guys stand the test of time.

[@fadinglightsarefading]

Post-hardcore blackgaze?

[@fatboydashredder9877]

​@@fadinglightsarefadingalternative metal

[@fadinglightsarefading]

@@fatboydashredder9877 Too broad. Primus is alternatice metal and Primus and Deftones are nothing alike.

[@NoSubjection1]

Stephen is such a cool dude

[@NoSubjection1]

***** well, that's subjective.

[@Shadow_onpawz-v2t]

+Zofo Atlas write a song that invokes a feeling like stef then? doesnt matter how "good" you are if you cant apply it. songwriting is the only thing that matters in music.

[@Shadow_onpawz-v2t]

+Zofo Atlas where is your international acclaim?

[@hamedfaqirzai8388]

What an elitist douche. I don't care how fucking talented you think you are you self-centered moron, at the end of the day, all that matters is how good the music sounds, and whether you can perform it live without butchering your part. I saw these guys perform in Toronto a few weeks ago, and the show they put on was fucking epic.

[@hamedfaqirzai8388]

And honestly, I can't stand listening to Jimmy Page's, Steve Vai's, Zakk Wylde's, or even Eddie Van Halen's solos, because i don't care much for the sound (or the theory behind it even). It just sounds like the same boring shit to me. EDiT: It's all purely subjective.

[@mosshark]

lol, he just played the same chord throughout 6 records and just changed tunings, strings, and guitars. could not stop laughing lol

[@AGCcachanilla]

04:52 “brr brr” i LOVE STEPH, my favorite shredder 🤘🏼, guitar nerds can be annoying, it’s refreshing to see a person just want to rock out

[@jarudunn5827]

It’s soo good to hear Stephen speak about his craft

[@Mari000]

Steph says 8 strings is too much. Plays 9 string on Ohms 😂

[@KaiserBruh]

i dont think he said 8, i think he said "i feel like 80 is too much for me" as in the gauge of his 8th string. he's saying its way to thick, thats why he said the guy might have a 74 for him

[@Mari000]

@@KaiserBruh oh ok

[@CalmViolin-iv5lm]

😂😂😊

[@danielcastaneda4356]

No idea what they're talking about, I just love their music.

[@Muppio]

Deftones was the first band that made me aware of 8 string guitars. I remember just thinking "No fucking way!".

[@meineomakenntdieroten]

2:39 Steph made my day.

[@dragonborn4045]

"it's funny because he's fat!" :)

[@pricha24]

I could listen to Steph Carpenter talk all day, preferably about music, but whatever works. He's just got such a cool voice, good sense of humor and great/chill cadence.

[@kirtfrank3458]

dude i feel u bro he is my idol.

[@Chillprotocol]

I only just found this interview in 2019. Better late than never!

[@dack005]

lol around 3:00 Chino is too busy trying to blow minds to make any sense of what he's actually saying. I love it!

[@SecretEyeSpot]

Chino's hand motion about two guys doing the same thing.. 😂😂

[@codywilliams8406]

Swords anyone? 😉

[@davidwallin5734]

2:38 is the perfect contrast to Chino Moreno's ego about playing guitar.

[@jeff7764]

He’s really not that good of a player

[@JimijaymesProductions]

Ive been playing dropped D flat (c#) lately and recently got back into listening to Deftones and similar era bands and its cool to here that Around The Fur is in the tuning Ive been playing in as its my favourite albums. Interesting video, definitely agree with the tuning sentiment, I just played the same chords as I do in standard and it sounds heavy and 90s all of a sudden.

[@benpsampson]

3:36... Interviewer: "You're gonna have a hundred string guitar when your done." Stephen, "No." haha. Absolutely jokes.

[@nipulkradmsinatagras8293]

*Deftones* is just a very good band. *No unnecessary "oversexualized" or "sugarcoated" words needed in order to describe them.*

[@Robv93]

Cracked up at Stef! "It sounds like bwaaahh!" XD

[@johndoe-mn2zs]

Rob Veryard the subsequent finger pointing and chuckling made it all the more hilarious lol

[@gonewiththewind8072]

Rob Veryard ahhahahhaa

[@mellonitis666]

Braaaaauuuunnnnnng

[@peadookie]

Man I would hang out with these dudes in a heartbeat. They are friggin hilarious and down to earth to this day.

[@villaracorporation9228]

It is awesome seeing these guys talk. I know MIRV used to play at the Cattle Club a bunch, where Deftones used to hang out.

[@fishbeef3000]

Stephen Carpenter: Visionary: Gentleman: Comedian: Stoner: LEDGEND!!!

[@ericdavid199]

Man, I love this band

[@nightgoat293]

Can't wait to hear what their guitars will sound like on the next record. I'm kinda glad to hear Steph's going for more "attack" in the sound. I missed that on Koi No Yokan. Great fucking record though!

[@djvsiren5244]

U can see the tension between them , they barely look at each other , and they both throw shots at each other in a kinda clam way . Crazy how stef plays the same chords tho . All his guitar playing is so bad ass . Chino on the other hand is an amazing singer . I had read that during the Saturday night wrist Ep , chino was abo it to leave deftones . Due to lack of chemistry with the music and tunings for the album . Sat night wrist was still perfect .

[@DutchCrunch333]

This convo had me literally rotflmfao!! 🤣 steph all "I got 8 strings..u do you Chino, I got u💯 I fuckin love this band!!

[@borocasanovo]

Stephen Carpenter is such an under rated guitarist.

[@Ok-uw3jq]

Facts

[@channingaustin]

Idk what they’re talking about but I love it!! 😎🤩🥳

[@Davephatbuds]

Stef recorded White Pony on a 6-string. Beautiful! When most bands in their genre' were recording songs on 7-string and couldn't even come close.

[@RafaelCDet]

korn were the only nu metal band using 7 strings in 2000. Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Linkin park, everyone else were using 6 strings in drop C#, C or B.

[@digitalbath5590]

i have NO IDEA what they're talking about but this is great!

[@user-me2xf4pi9x]

its sounds like "bwaaaaaaooonnnggg"

[@MuyTristeza]

ROTF! :D

[@charissarwest]

Is that why Steph has so many different guitars, so he can play all these songs from different albums on tour???

[@MrBleedingbullets]

Yeah that's why every band has at least 4(2 two to play and 2 more just in case something goes wrong with the other A guitars, the just in case guitars are called B's

[@xtazxvegasx]

Kinda like what Joshua said. He uses a different tuning for every album. So he has to have the guitar of that tuning and they usually have at least 1 backup. Multiple albums with different tunings = a bunch of guitars lol.

[@eduarditohernandez2895]

As a 2nd/3rd Rhythm Guitarist for Deftones at Home on Facebook Live, I'm Using Boss-ME80 with the AC Cable Guitar Cables Guitar Amp My Ibanez Rg i'm in E Standard Tuning For some Live Songs.

[@SonOfSodium]

It's amazing how heavy the tone on the first record was, bored is in standard but sounds lower pitched.

[@StorageYT]

The intro is played on the 5th and 6th fret from both low strings, it's pretty much like playing a power cord on a Drop A tuned guitar, that's why it sounds heavy af :P

[@onuratakan13]

Bored is in drop d.

[@3x7project]

@Onur: nope... it's E standard... quite amazing ;)

[@VinnieDaidoneGuitar]

@@onuratakan13 Correct.

[@VinnieDaidoneGuitar]

@@StorageYT Incorrect. It's in drop D played on the 1st fret and open.

[@19jaredbarsuglia81]

5:45 - 5:56 I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life .... deftones and science in the same video.

[@ObsidianLife]

Great to see Kehoe doing this…he’s a bay legend!

[@NULL-ug7ve]

If I had a dime for everytime chino said "you know"/" what I mean" I'd be rich as fuck. But I still love that guy.

[@VacationWanter]

Steph sounds blazed as hell and Chino's like keep it together dude lol

[@Monsterdrumma]

I met Steph in LA, he is cool as shit!

[@skeptischism1324]

"I got 8 strings, i'll find ya" LOL......epic

[@8senotfed]

2:38 is priceless

[@84hendrixnirvana]

Each cd,they "advanced" there guitar notes!:-):-)love it!

[@scruffybasterd2209]

I just got an ltd mh 417 baritone and put 11-64 and had to keep tuning down because the high strings are too tight for A standard which I prefer. I'm down 1&1/2 and occasionally go drop F# for some Deftones. Such mind shattering, bowel shaking awesomeness!

[@silent_blues]

"its like bwaaaaoow" haha classic, the only descriptor necessary

[@silviaadriana4299]

It s just "Deftones"

[@RubenLopez-fh1ix]

-"Hey Steph, in what tunning were you for this record?" -"Y'know it just sounds like bbbrrrrrrrrrraaaaasawwwww".

[@turb303]

is steph high or is he always like this lmao

[@an.august.sunflower]

he's always high

[@kirHaz]

nicely shot and lit

[@ATMOSPHRS]

We use 74 for the 8th string in ATMOSPHERES.

[@rockshow256]

i use 72 in Ab standard ;p

[@DankenNordstrom]

6-string, Drop Bb, 68, \m/

[@rockshow256]

Daniel Nordström 68 w skali baryton, u mnie troszk ebylo by za sztywno na A# ;p

[@DankenNordstrom]

? English please :P Something about a baritone guitar?

[@AndrewScott1337]

my dooods

[@road_king_dude]

2:37 well put. 🤘

[@CAlanRobinson]

That makes sense! I have Stef's 8-string LTD and my top string is currently a .72... and I drop it down to low E, and it's way too loose. I will probably go up to .75... Thanx for advising against going up to .80!

[@UnderEternalSkies]

Loving my SC-207 everyday.

[@SevenDeadlyCinema]

I love Stef so goddamn much

[@jakedavis8194]

These guys are so fucking amazing i'd love to see 'em tour with Nightwish or Suicide Silence!!! (insert hearts)

[@MichaelD8393]

2:37 Yeah Steph!

[@gmanhirt8818]

all these different tunings are only possible when you have a tech on the side of the stage tuning all your guitars. the rewards of "making it"!

[@dimidium]

We need a sponsorship from jimdunlopusa Deftones are dope! Support independent music!

[@born.to.rage.against.it.]

I really enjoyed that.

[@kirkwagstaff9916]

awesome insight

[@kmw5100]

"If you're not in the thick of that at all times, then it's whatever to you." That's a pretty roundabout way of telling dude "Man, I really don't care how the string was made, I just want one that sounds good and doesn't go to shit in a matter of minutes."

[@MrWillyWonka]

On Saturday Night Wrist why are some of the songs using a A# and D# as the high 2 strings? For a couple songs on that album Steph uses F# C# F# B E A# D# instead of F# C# F# B E G# C#. And I cannot for the life of me figure out why. It seems for many of his songs he's rarely using those 2 strings, especially the highest string/lightest gauge string. Hopefully someone knows the why he changes the tuning on those 2 high strings. The songs he uses the A# and D# as the high 2 strings are Hole In the Earth, Rapture, possibly others but he hasn't uploaded a playthrough of all of this album yet

[@michellef.8895]

ITS NOT" THE DEFTONES " ITS JUST "Deftones"!!!

[@aaronsalinas518]

Marry me

[@ericportillo8277]

anyway works lol

[@smileybear420]

Deftokes

[@kylekramer2239]

Thanks for the info Karen.

[@erickh82082]

Their tuning is like " Letters and stuff"

[@suhasrn]

4:57 "69 is not thick enough" Stephen Carpenter

[@idanshahar]

Deftones is the reason I know about all these tunings! Drop D, C#, C, A#, G# and 8strings dropped to E! Hell yeah! Most of the players I know (in Israel) don't know shit, only standard... sad.

[@peradox2203]

Theres no israel man you mean palestine ....

[@vincecarpenter661]

Standard is still heavy as fuck! Opeth some tritium songs engine no. 9 by deftones is heavy as balls

[@godsmacking99]

Standard is just so... boring. The more tunings you utilize, the more sounds it opens up to you. Doors really open up when you start using open tunings and you can really write some outside-of-the-box stuff. You'll never bother with standard tuning again. Playing only in standard and you're literally putting yourself in a box.

[@Carnstein]

I feel like they are all stoned as fuck haha.

[@joshmills6179]

Carnstein that was completely out of line man. and im usually cool about weed shit but damn dude dont judge a bone by its marrow, brother. blessings bro..

[@Carnstein]

Joshua Mills Out of line? Lol wtf are you talking about.

[@blueskythinking4745]

Stephen always has a joint on hand

[@raoulduke806]

+Carnstein Indeed, specially stephen

[@virtuallyunknownn]

i could listen to Steph talk about that 69 all day

[@IamtheActionman]

Awesome interview

[@prymawl4130]

2:37 "it sounds like BWAOUUUU" lmaoo

[@stationaryhearts7173]

That’s why I just buy whatever and waste thought on the next note. 🤣

[@IceKoldKilla]

I wanna smoke with Steftone one day. Bucket list.

[@recurseofficial7261]

i use an 86 on my 8 string and drop it down to D, but i know the issue steve is talking about. the relative thicknesses make the low string's tone WAY different, like hitting a brick wall. there's no top-end growl to it, only bass (which would be good if they were on two separate instruments lol)

[@EhEsDeeEf]

stef look like he on that Za in this interview lol

[@tonywhitburn]

Change (In the House of Tunnings)

[@adonisx-.-.790]

Badass guitar!

[@jessejafrnd]

I have a sneaking suspicion Deftones smoke out with all these dudes before they film these bits of awesomeness..

[@meony66]

it's the Deftones... wtf do you want? let em jam! They're good at it!! I love the Deftones and....they're from my hometown of Sacramento!!!! Sac Rocks!!

[@isolan9]

Great video, some people want to hear a few things. Like 7 or 8, like what kind of studio/live rig.

[@timboking2]

this is awesome

[@MataNui1231]

Stephen trying to explain to the interviewer that there's other drop tunings than drop D

[@CMX431]

I'm now hearing he plays a 9 string, can someone explain to me in layman's terms the technical necessity of that many strings on a guitar or why anyone would feel the need for them? Why have a bass player at that point?

[@TheseBitchesWantNikes]

Well it's Basically like having an 8 string guitar tuning. But with an extra string in C# at the very top. Stef doesn't overuse that top string, only in very specific parts. And as low as that is, a bass is still occupying a lower frequency than that guitar. So a bassist is still warranted.

[@dramaface]

Chino 4:25

[@jrmaldito2331]

+Brannon McLeod Music HAhaha! !

[@TheLordGoat]

Steph looks like he's constantly exhaling grass. Yeah dude

[@calumcan]

Stef is sooooo baked :L

[@MacncheeseChris]

thats fucking good shit right there

[@Gaafar93]

I get what Chino is saying. I play songs that are easier to be played on standard but when you down tune it sounds different because of where you're playing it and the strings. Personally I drop tune for the harmonics that I get. They sound more satisfying and clear than on standard. It's not facts and science. Its just feel.

[@ted__ryan]

His tuning is that way because he is an Robert Smith fan. He is emulating Robert's guitar tuning.

[@2isceez]

that siouxsie shirt on chino tho. and steph is fucking hilarious xD