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.

[@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

[@youreatoilet]

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

[@ElectricTurkey1]

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

[@hazmatman2010]

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

[@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

[@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 😂😂😂😂

[@kyleparsons145]

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

[@cowboygeorge5056]

Coke bro vs Pot head the duality of man

[@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.

[@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.

[@deftonesleep1]

Steph is baked like betty crocker

[@gokhan9395]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gustavb6062]

😅

[@AlejandroBravoC]

Deftones is making paintings with sounds.

[@jordanbowling9424]

Best way to describe their sound

[@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.

[@NoSubjection1]

Stephen is such a cool dude

[@NoSubjection1]

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

[@Angeldustlover98]

+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.

[@Angeldustlover98]

+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.

[@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

[@komando8365]

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

[@pseudoplotinus]

Post-hardcore blackgaze?

[@fatboydashredder9877]

​@@pseudoplotinusalternative metal

[@pseudoplotinus]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@Northafrican2097]

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

[@mosshark]

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

[@SecretEyeSpot]

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

[@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

[@meineomakenntdieroten]

2:39 Steph made my day.

[@dragonborn4045]

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

[@SlightlyWetFart]

Chino's wearing a Siouxsie and the Banshees T-shirt. Clearly a man of good taste

[@markhill2406]

SlightlyWetFart nice pick up

[@danielcastaneda4356]

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

[@jarudunn5827]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@Muppio]

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

[@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.

[@davidwallin5734]

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

[@Chillprotocol]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@mellonitis666]

Braaaaauuuunnnnnng

[@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.

[@ericdavid199]

Man, I love this band

[@borocasanovo]

Stephen Carpenter is such an under rated guitarist.

[@Ok-uw3jq]

Facts

[@benpsampson]

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

[@user-me2xf4pi9x]

its sounds like "bwaaaaaaooonnnggg"

[@MuyTristeza]

ROTF! :D

[@nipulkradmsinatagras8293]

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

[@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 .

[@channingaustin]

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

[@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!

[@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!!

[@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.

[@fishbeef3000]

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

[@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.

[@kirHaz]

nicely shot and lit

[@8senotfed]

2:38 is priceless

[@IamtheActionman]

Awesome interview

[@ObsidianLife]

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

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

I really enjoyed that.

[@digitalbath5590]

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

[@19jaredbarsuglia81]

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

[@kirkwagstaff9916]

awesome insight

[@timboking2]

this is awesome

[@Monsterdrumma]

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

[@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

[@VacationWanter]

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

[@road_king_dude]

2:37 well put. 🤘

[@84hendrixnirvana]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@SevenDeadlyCinema]

I love Stef so goddamn much

[@MichaelD8393]

2:37 Yeah Steph!

[@adonisx-.-.790]

Badass guitar!

[@UnderEternalSkies]

Loving my SC-207 everyday.

[@skeptischism1324]

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

[@orellanajuan9431]

Real deal. I love it!!

[@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

[@silviaadriana4299]

It s just "Deftones"

[@jakedavis8194]

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

[@silent_blues]

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

[@dimidium]

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

[@raiden403]

"I feel like 8 it's too much for me" Well, that didn't age very well considering some songs in Ohms are in 9 strings.

[@damvid21]

That's not what he said, he said the .80 gauge string is too much for him compared to the .69 he's used to.

[@tonywhitburn]

Change (In the House of Tunnings)

[@isolan9]

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

[@tonycarpaccio9550]

awesome

[@prymawl4130]

2:37 "it sounds like BWAOUUUU" lmaoo

[@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)

[@insaneirishND]

Steph is nice and high! love it

[@erickh82082]

Their tuning is like " Letters and stuff"

[@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"!

[@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.

[@ChaziChaz89]

Steph...luv this guy haha

[@michellef.8895]

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

[@aaronsalinas518]

Marry me

[@ericportillo8277]

anyway works lol

[@smileybear420]

Deftokes

[@kylekramer2239]

Thanks for the info Karen.

[@IceKoldKilla]

I wanna smoke with Steftone one day. Bucket list.

[@81dsend]

I got 6 strings, I'll stay there but love you guys!!

[@sirchess1807]

Stephen is King!

[@MacncheeseChris]

thats fucking good shit right there

[@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."

[@RubenLopez-fh1ix]

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

[@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!!

[@numunukiid138]

❤

[@jessejafrnd]

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

[@noahbtwofouronethree3225]

Stephen reminds me of the Cheshire Cat

[@Crazymofoinamajikbox]

4:23 Smooooooooth BOOM

[@CliveBarnesMusic]

Is this the Old Rollins Show studio..?

[@justingreaves6769]

i want more deftones beer

[@mauromansilla.ds3]

2:38 lmao Stephen's the best 😂

[@Shadein]

Chino Moreno is such a cutie