This Is Why You Should Tune Your Guitar LOW (w/ Philip Conrad)

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Alternate tunings have always been an important part of my playing and songwriting process as a guitarist, but which alternate STANDARD tuning truly sounds the best? To find out we did a little tuning shootout with help from my good friend @philipconradmusic
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[@123Ir0nman]

I just want to clarify that Hendrix tuned down to Eb because when he was playing with Velvetones, all the songs were in keys that suited brass better so F, Bb, Eb and tuning down to Eb made playing parts easier for those keys. After he left to do his own thing, he just kept doing it because it felt comfortable. He also played a lot in E standard.

[@andbenitz]

But some people don't realize that there are a lot of Hendrix songs in standard tuning, it's not all half step down.

[@123Ir0nman]

@@andbenitz yes

[@AhrenField]

A bunch of those Hendrix shows like Isle of Wight he ends up in like Db standard. I think he just pulled it out of his case and tuned it to itself. Always just tuning by ear at those shows

[@jperryfan]

Also for singing purposes as well

[@axandio]

@@jperryfan And those crazy bends and dive bombs on the whammy

[@kenmccawguitar]

I play guitar one handed (due to a stroke) and on my acoustics I use 13-56 tuned down to C which creates the ideal tension for my hammer on/pull off style

[@Hevvvyyy]

C standard rocks, nice

[@kingbrutusxxvi]

Very cool. I also like my acoustics at C. The way the low notes resonate it's so good for blues (slide, too).

[@Human-hq3dy]

I love hearing how people overcome difficulties to continue playing, rock on man

[@kenmccawguitar]

My favourite tuning is CGCCGC - I know it sounds a little odd but it’s surprisingly versatile when you take advantage of droning open strings.

[@Hevvvyyy]

​@@kingbrutusxxvithat's great, I only tuned to it because of qotsa and kyuss lol

[@danoeb-g418]

Last October I was in an accident and ended up with nerve damage in my left (fretting) hand. Can't feel my left pinky and the ring finger is half asleep. Inspired by Joey Landreth I tuned to open D. It's now my favourite tuning and probably my main tuning from here on out. Once you figure out the open voiced chords it's super easy to play with only 3 fingers and the reduced string tension helps a lot

[@CliffGraham]

Hold up, did @arielposen leave that band cuz they wouldn’t go low enough? (Pretty sure he does C std)

[@danoeb-g418]

@@CliffGraham I think he mostly left because he started his own solo career. If I remember correctly Joey played mostly in open C, Ariel was in B or C standard, and the bass was BEAD tuning. But I could be wrong

[@NiechoBGC]

I have nerve damage in my left (fretting) hand as well. I'm having surgery actually on Thursday to correct it if all goes well. I was just starting to learn and had to hold up til this was scheduled, so I am hoping to have sensation and strength again soon. Sadly, I don't know enough about it all to do different tunings. There's a whole new finger chart for chords for new tunings though, right? I know so little and am just starting over, plus I have a tendency to overthink, that it's making me think I have to learn a whole new fingering chart for chords for every tuning standard. :(

[@ruvchbrevth]

I too was in a car accident and my fretting hand the left hand is pretty jacked up, I’ve been playing guitar since then and I’m going to try that. I do love some drop D, I just need to adjust to the tuning/notes. My ring and pinky fingers are a constant 8 out of 10 pain level, thanks for sharing.

[@nedim_guitar]

​@@ruvchbrevth The original comment said open D, not drop D. Open D gives other opportunities and flavor than the drop D. I hope you'll fully recover from your injury!

[@xPBKM4x]

Lately I’ve been writing songs with one guitar in E standard and the other guitar in C# standard. They’re relative to each other (E major’s relative minor is C#) and it forces different voicings between guitars. It also creates a very good separation in the mix because of the different voicings. I like writing in C# and E standard together because it makes the guitars feel like totally different instruments.

[@vaughnquinlan6722]

That's a cool trick! I play baritone (B standard) in my band to separate myself from the other guitarist in E, and to step on the bass players toes. It's a lot of fun.

[@chzzyg2698]

Sounds like a cool recipe to implement a baritone guitar for a dynamic between bass and lead.

[@armata6530]

I’ve been using D standard as my go to for a while now. Just can’t beat it.

[@BobSince1981]

Same, it is wonderful.

[@mikeloosen53]

it is a super sweeeeeeet zone fer a bunch o music!!!!!

[@davedavem]

Yes! That's where it's at for me too. Occasionally drop from there to drop C.

[@Mikey__R]

Do you guys use a capo when the band wants to play in E?

[@armata6530]

@@davedavem same. When you wanna get heavy

[@kapers5772]

I definitely like my strat tuned down. I think a very important reason why is the fact that it starts to produce a sound that we are not accustomed to hearing from our guitars. In my case I learned in e standard. Then I found out about Jimi and SRV and tuned down to eflat and it felt way cooler. Although after playing in e flat for years that became my standard, my brain got numb to it. Mean while I discovered drop D and that was the new cool thing because mt ears werent used to that sound. Since then I've tried all sorts of different tunings, d standard, c standard, even b standard, on the same strat and I feel like the same rule applies. Its just a matter of disturbing the norm and in a way surprising your ears and your brain. The same thing happens when I try open e or g or dadgad. Thats why we hear players saying if you are in a creative rut, switch it up by just changing your tuning. Once you do it you can discover a whole new world of sounds with the same instrument.

[@nuthinbutlove]

Great synopsis 👍

[@Jake28700]

Ever since Rhett made the D standard tuning video I still have my strat and jazzmaster tune in it. Absolutely love how they sound and I wouldn’t have done it without seeing the video

[@Musicsports]

Hendrix tuned to D as well.

[@IDriveAnAudi]

I’m on the verge of impulse buying a Jazzmaster. Maybe this is the push I need! 😀

[@Jake28700]

@@IDriveAnAudi The Jazz master pickups in any lower tuning I think sounds great!

[@doeboydavis7643]

same

[@sohamsarker]

I'm a guitarist but man that bass sounded so good. Imo bass doesn't get the respect that it deserves.😍😍😍😍

[@egisshield]

Davie504 has entered chat

[@saedt]

A P-Bass’s sound is so great

[@rhodesjazz]

The bass should have tuned down to Eb as well. Down tuning gives a bass a thick meaty tone without added effects. Try it. You will be surprised.

[@olredbeard420]

I just ordered a new Fender Strat from Sweetwater and had them plek it based on an Eb tuning setup with my chosen strings and I've never enjoyed playing a guitar more. So easy to play and it sounds so good! I just recieved it last night and I opened my youtube feed today to see this! Synchronicity at its finest.

[@chickenaddict6128]

Lovely 😊

[@James-eg3nf]

I learned something new - had no idea you could have a guitar pleked for a certain tuning. Does that mean the playability would be slightly off in E standard, or other, for example, open tunings?

[@olredbeard420]

@@James-eg3nf Yeah, I only just found out when I was ordering this guitar. It does mean it will be just slightly off when you change the tuning. If you tune the guitar I just ordered to standard it would raise the action slightly because neck tension is increasing.

[@olredbeard420]

@@James-eg3nf but if you set your guitar up (Plek'd or not) for a standard tuning and a really low action and then tune it down to a c standard it can create string buzz or dead strings

[@olredbeard420]

@@James-eg3nf you ideally want to to set the guitar up for a specific tuning so that when it's in tune and at a specific string tension on that specific guitar body so that the neck is as straight as possible. You would do the same thing during a traditional guitar setup

[@philipatoz]

To me, its astounding the genius of people like Leo Fender, whom back when only about 20 years had passed since the invention of electrics, got so much right and musical about the design of pickups - especially the angling of the single coil bridge pickups on the first Broadcaster / Teles. A lot of research, engineering and experimentation went into that - so now, with various tunings, string types / gauges, effects - amazing what is possible, tonally.

[@thedaver8]

I would like to hear you do this the other way around. Play a low tuning and THEN play a standard tuning. I think the experiment itself tends to favor whatever you play NEXT. And I think playing standard tuning after would also sound "better"

[@nuthinbutlove]

I don't know whether or not it would sound "better" but I would love to hear him playing the same thing in both tunings for comparison. My issue is that in these comparison vids he seldom plays the same chords and licks but more "plays around" so it's hard to tell how one actually compares to the other.

[@grapejuice2589]

That's silly just watch it from the last example to the first

[@sinjon]

@@nuthinbutloveI agree. These comparisons while playing different licks on each tuning/amp/guitar/etc is silly. We’re only going by what the person making the video says and taking it at face value rather than making up our own mind

[@nuthinbutlove]

@@sinjon right!

[@allenmitchell09]

The lower the cooler 😎

[@v.harlot]

I love Eb and C#, been playing Eb for a few years and now I feel like C# has grown on me. P-90s sound fantastic with it. Really enjoyed the video, too. I'd love to watch some more stuff like this, it's pretty inspiring

[@emmiejo1]

I use drop tunings all the time. My favorites are D and C. The DigiTech Drop pedal is nice to have as well. My baritone is also useful.

[@ChrisJustice]

What an excellent video Rhett! Well done!

[@TheSkooterbords]

For the specific track that you jam, I think Eb sounds the best. Alternate tunings, even those that are just lower than normal DOES actually change your playing. I've been stuck on rut for years. But when I changed one of my guitars to baritone tuning, I, suddenly felt inspired to play again.

[@dmccrary1974]

You describing the vibration over the bridge pickup was an excellent breakdown 👌

[@HollywoodRecordingStudio]

Love this video. I set up my Strat to Eb and a Gretsch 5220 to D - doing this made each guitar easier to bend, and more importantly, the tone felt very rich. On the Gretsch I used 11’s.

[@stratman1192]

Eye-opening (ear) post. I have not previously heard such a succinct discussion and illustration of these tuning possibilities. Well done, great coverage of some new ground (at least for me)!

[@insanetubegain]

I don't play metal, but about ten years ago I played my friend's guitar that was tuned down a whole step to D because he plays metal, and I've been tuning my guitar that way every since. Never owned a capo until then, now it a standard component in my case.

[@johngraves2185]

I’ve been playing Eb for decades and love it, but if I was a blues player, D standard might be my jam. Then I might have to pay drop C on the low E and that would cover a lot of ground for me. Nice demo!

[@renebauch9316]

Originally i'm from the metal side of the universe with a jazz influence and the love for classical guitar. The jazz influence became bigger over the years but, what kept the same was my love for the 8 string guitar. Regarding the lower tunings, it is really fun to play around with it altough, i have to say it's quite hard to get chord voicings out of the low F# that suits the situation, beside metal and Ambiente. People should be more open to different tunings and strings on the guitar. Btw. Great video from you

[@thecruxpodcast7553]

Loved that. Definitely going to experiment with these tunings

[@DaveWalshMusic]

I started playing in eb full time last year to help my voice get through the busy gig season. Strings also last longer a half step down imo.

[@ianstawarz7776]

John Fogerty's D standard guitar sounds amazing. Gives CCR's songs a unique sound for sure

[@Boog-pv2qy]

Absolutely. In the 80's, Motley Crue also used D tuning. Wildside, Girls, Feelgood... It gave them a down & dirty sound and helped set them apart sonically.

[@sinocte]

I knew I was getting a swamp rock vibe from the lower tunings, but couldn't figure out why. Saw this comment, went and listened to Born on the Bayou and was like "Oh yeah... that's the stuff right there"

[@neal_laugman]

​@@sinocteSwamp Rock - I love it! Never heard that before. 😁

[@organicchime1263]

When you drop to D you are also reducing the string tension on the neck which lowers the action. The strings get closer to the pickups which increases output. It’s always a good idea to lower the pickups slightly when you do this so that it doesn’t affect your sustain. When you do that you will really hear and feel a difference in the guitar:)

[@davisphillips6409]

I believe the amplitude of a vibrating string is also higher when it's at lower tension, so you actually need a tiny bit more bow in the neck so the strings aren't hitting the frets.

[@organicchime1263]

@@davisphillips6409 yes, you can do that as well upon inspection of the neck. The gauge of strings can determine how much tension there is as well. The neck radius can also play into the equation. Bottom line though is if you like how it plays and feels, that’s all that matters:). You definitely don’t want pickups that are too high such that they pull against that string vibration and kill the sustain.

[@davedavem]

Interesting that Hendrix and SRV both favoured Eb, yet their choice of string gauge was vastly different.

[@russellzauner]

That's also proven to me again that string gauge isn't the gatekeeper of tone.

[@JoaoGabriel-lz3wp]

@@russellzauner but their tones were different 🤨

[@jlynnb1]

Styles were wildly different, as far as how they played what they played. SRV played so heavy handed and aggressively he needed 13’s to hold up to the abuse.

[@uno1industries]

@@JoaoGabriel-lz3wpHendrix played with a good amount of effects and Marshall amps. They both played loud as fuck, I doubt you’d hear a tonal difference in the string gauges

[@JoaoGabriel-lz3wp]

@@uno1industries yes. It does not make sense to compare them in this case

[@davedavem]

Super interesting! I'm addicted to D standard myself. Just picked up your alt tunings course. Thanks!

[@younken24films]

Wow, for some unknown reason I tuned my Strat down to D a couple of weeks ago and instantly fell in love with how it felt and sounded! I'm thinking I will keep it there. I tuned down to Eb for many years in my power trio days and my bass player would tune down also. When sitting in with others in standard tuning it was a PITA. But D tuning will be easier for me to instantly transpose when playing with folks in standard tuning.

[@stevennapodano4289]

I started tuning my 12 string down 1/2 step a few years ago. I liked the sound so much I have just about all my guitars (acoustic and electric) 1/2 step down.

[@uhoh007]

I'm 66....and you just changed my life. I know what to do with my quiver of cheap guitars. I don't need a baritone. I can buy less Rev Willys, too. Already I was tuning lower on some instruments, Lute as low as 410hz. The simple mellow jam is also nice inspiration, as my background is keyboards, and reeds. I got a cheap bass....the strings cost more than the guitar. Very cool video for me.

[@russiangoose7053]

I love the way a Gibson scale guitar sounds and feels in C standard with a bit heavier strings. It's still a bit slinky but dark and thick sounding. I think it's especially great into something like an old marshall cranked up, not high gain but just loud and driven. It's just perfect to me

[@georgealfredcordeiro]

I watch, enjoy and learn from all of your videos Rhett. -I've used C # in the bass with standard tuning and playing in the key of E for a long time and have written with that tuning. On electric. I had the honor of playing with Eric Bibb in concert, and backstage he hipped me wise to the fact that he tunes to D Standard. It's nice when one guitar is tuned that way and the other player is in standard and the different colors derived. Because we play shapes and guitarists love open string shapes it sounded great with him in D standard and me in E Standard. -Your new course is what I've been looking for, having played in tunings, etc but always searching scale wise. And, just dwelling perhaps in one or 2 tunings. KZbin and books help but they are scattered whereas this looks like an encyclopedia. Thanks! -

[@IDriveAnAudi]

Tried this with my strats and a tele today. I’m digging the vibe with everything tuned down 1/2 step.

[@gcvrsa]

For the past few years, I've been tuning some of my guitars to A Standard (ADGCEA), five semitones above E Standard, but recently I started thinking about going the other direction, and tuning to D Standard, both for guitar and bass. I plan to increase my string gauge; normally, I use .010 gauge on a 24.75" scale length, but I will probably go up to .011 gauge, because I do want to maintain the tension to which I am accustomed. I do this primarily because I have a low voice, and it helps me with transposing songs. When tuned to A Standard, I use .008 gauge strings, which end up about the same tension as .010 gauge in E standard. I can play the "normal" chord shapes, and the guitar will play a perfect fourth above, while I can sing a perfect fifth lower than the original melody, and be in tune with my instrument. However, .008s are prone to breakage, especially on scale lengths longer than 24.75". I'd like to acquire a 24" or 22.72" scale instrument, but my choices in those scale lengths are limited, so I thought of going the other way, and tuning down a whole step to D Standard, instead, which would mean I could use any standard scale guitar or bass easily, although I will have to have the nuts on my guitars and basses recut for the thicker strings.

[@macsarcule]

Down-tuning a strat definitely helps tame that ice picky bridge pickup. The bass player here is a serious pro, he’s killin’ it!

[@jacobwatson5264]

I’ve kept my acoustic half step down for the past six months now and it sounds really good. When I want standard I just capo.

[@jpizzleforizzle]

Always preferred a range of Eb to Db standard because it fits my vocal range better. The string tension and slight tone change are side benefits.

[@mike__durrett]

It's really rad to see you guys testing this stuff out. I write and play metal and my current favorite 6 string tuning is AGCFAD. You get really interesting standard tuning play between the A and G since the octave is between those two, not the first and third.

[@LxE9799]

I use that tuning in my band too! High five. It's awesome for a sludge/death/black hybrid sound.

[@timeconsumer325]

I love D standard for a fender scale length guitar. I also keep an inexpensive takamine acoustic in D standard to compensate for the fact that I've never been able to set it up all that well. It's always sounded good and now it's much easier to play AND sing with.

[@jeffanderson8384]

I've got an old Washburn acoustic MIJ Festival (great guitar!). Loves D standard tuning, strung with light gauge strings. Sounds great and reduces stress on this cherished guitar.

[@segueoyuri]

I had the opposite experience with my Epiphone in Eb. The B string never tunes properly unless it's in E standard lol

[@timeconsumer325]

@@segueoyuri definitely depends on the guitar!

[@jeffanderson8384]

@@segueoyuri Certainly depends on the guitar. My Larrivee ONLY plays in standard. Anything else and it sounds awful.

[@segueoyuri]

@@timeconsumer325 it sure does. I guess it's easier on electrics because with most bridges you can intonate each string individually (the intonation changes with different tunings), while on acoustics you have a "static" bridge so it sorta is what it is. I was just trying to make it easier on the neck with the lower tuning, didn't work as expected lol

[@vogangabor25]

Always been a huge fan of lower tunings for other styles aside from metal. I started playing super low because of bands like Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age and Electric Wizard but tuning down really can bring so many different timbres and harmonics out of a guitar that were never there in a higher tuning. It completely changes the way you attack and approach the guitar and it isn't something that can be replicated using a pedal that artificially changes your tuning. You're not getting the physical changes in the instrument that change the way the strings vibrate over your pickups and the way the strings bounce when you attack them. It just feels like the instrument is "breathing" more if that makes any sense. Harmonics and overtones jump out at you a lot more and thus changes your approach. Playing a guitar in C Standard through a big clean amp with some P90s or low output humbuckers with some reverb is one of the coolest and most unique sounds I've been able to conjure. I'm not normally one to comment on videos but this is something I've always been a huge proponent of and love when you touch on this topic or talk about lower tunings.

[@Hevvvyyy]

Yupp, was looking for someone to mention queens, they're great. For example Song for the deaf has a killer chorus with some open strings (b,e) and it sounds damn good

[@harshtruth9148]

I have my strat with 10-52 in D standard....perfect set up.....I have others same strings C# standard, and a few in Drop tunings B, D

[@leokoehne]

I was ready to argue but at the end I agree. It’s all about strings tension lower and more facilitated bends and vibrato

[@wallqvistphotography4937]

Great playing in this episode!

[@Fallub]

Great video. That bass tone was amazing btw.

[@dougcrowe1226]

Man i love both of you guys tubes- together is super cool. I also play some bass ( utility guy) so my experience with your episodes is grand

[@trevorford8702]

Low tunings absolutely thrive on single coil guitars, cause they maintain clarity in the low-end if they have good pickups. PAFs usually already have a darker sound, unless it’s like the Lollar El Rayo or something voiced like that.

[@sarahlizzy6033]

Great video! I haven’t used standard in years, I’m usually in CGCFGC or CGCEGC. If I need standard I’ll tune a step down and capo. It’s kinder on the guitar too (acoustic anyway, hopefully increasing the time before a neck reset is required).

[@treshull]

I’d like to see this same experiment with Gibson scale length/humbucking guitars and see what happens with clean sounds.

[@chainlinc218]

I changed my tuning to D standard on my Seagull acoustic for solo gigs and am digging it. Guitar sounds bigger and it’s somehow easier to solo. Likely because of the lower string tension, and because I’m really digging the tone, which inspires me to dig in a little more. Also love that it makes singing more effortless, especially on songs that bump against the top of my range. That’s freeing, too. And I notice when I sing those same songs in a band setting in E standard, they’ve become easier to sing, which surprised me. A final benefit of D standard is that it allows you to play songs with the same chord voicing you normally use, which keeps the songs sounding like the original version while lowering the key. Would love to do this in a band setting and see how it sounds in D standard. P.S. - 432 tuning standard rocks. It just feels good!

[@philipwacker4629]

Love your musicality and playing.

[@Matthordika]

Here's what I wonder though. Is the preference for lower tunings simply a matter of being so used to E Standard, that the change up in of itself is enough to make it seem "better?" When something is so common and a regular part of everyday life, you can become dull to it. Like if you eat an apple for lunch every day, but one day you run out of apples and have to resort to an orange, that orange is going to be a lot more exciting and fresh. In fact, you may even believe the orange is the superior fruit. Now of course, its all subjective, but I do have to wonder if that applies here. Just, food for thought.

[@mikkejohansson]

I feel like I agree with your notion. I feel sort of the same "energy" from an up-tuned guitar, say to F. Like some of The Smiths songs, or playing with a capo. But I also agree that lower tuning sounds and feels "better". What ever that means. :)

[@dasherf17]

I really appreciate your playing...your chords are fascinating, Rhett... I have a Strat tuned to D Standard...very interesting things I come up with...very true about how changing things on a guitar changes what you feel to play... C U next!

[@haj_endot]

i end up playing in c and a# a lot, because i like the tones you can get with that as a base and a lot of effects stacked on top. listening to boris really opened my ears to what you can do with super low tunings.

[@chinmeysway]

Yessssss Boris!!!

[@Zorakirr]

I have a few slightly faulty acoustic guitars that can only be set up to D standard with comfortable string height and I love them.

[@matt926uk1]

i generally like the feel and sound of 9-42 in standard on a strat so when i go lower i try to find that same tension so 10-46 in eb and 11-48 in d standard feels good

[@thormusique]

Great video, thanks! I prefer D-standard and Eb-standard, though I personally tend to use the D tuning the most on my 'alternative' guitar, simply because it's easier for me to think in whole steps when rethinking a concert key. The scale length on my guitars is only 25", but I'd say tuning down to D-standard works well nonetheless. I just use one string-gauge heavier than I would in E-standard. Cheers!

[@MaPa60]

Very inspiring video! I gotta try experiment more with down tunings.

[@rcannonp]

It would be interesting to hear this with other guitars. I tuned my Telecaster to Eb, but ended up going back to E standard because it didn’t sound right. I love my Martin dread in D, though.

[@duanekogut757]

Yes. Oddly i feel like my Tele sounds good in D, but not Eb?

[@josephvega3763]

I've kept one of my guitars in d standard for about 2 years now because of the old video. Awesome tunning

[@komobabo]

I recently dropped my Tele to drop Db and it sounds really cool. I am working on some heavier pop-punk/easycore stuff so that made sense. I might just end up leaving it between there and Eb standard for when I play at my local church.

[@BobPerrone]

I settled on D a couple of years ago on my acoustics. Even there the tone changed. Eb works great on my Jazzmaster and Tele.

[@SamBrockmann]

I am not a fan of downtuning my guitars. But I am a fan of lower tunings. "THAT MAKES NO SENSE, SAM!" Well, I have a 7-string guitar. I don't like lowering it to Drop A or otherwise lowering things. But I love having an extra 5 low notes. I love the power added to chords with that extra low note, when I want it. My daughter (who is 7) listened to Yvette Young, and we tuned daughter's guitar to a tuning similar to Ms. Young's. FACGCE, or "Open Fmaj9". Lowering D to C and raising B to C, E to F was just what sounded cool to us.

[@socialclubmusic_]

That open fmaj9 is beautiful ! I've heard it called Midwest emo , but the way Yvette Young uses it is savant like and almost ethereal !

[@SamBrockmann]

@@socialclubmusic_ , absolutely.

[@3J_Music]

I've played primarily in Eb for many years. Definitely agree that a strat sounds better 1/2 step down

[@philipwacker4629]

This is the second video by you I've seen; I just stumbled across your channel. It's facts all the way so far. Cheers.

[@NehemiahHughes]

D-Standard (DGCFAd) is a great tuning for guitarist. You can transpose along with the band on the fly with a capo to move up in key (Open-D std, Capo 1-Eb, Capo 2-E std…etc.) or you can move down in key within reason, with drop tunings (Open - Drop C, Capo 1 - Drop C#, Capo 2 - Drop D). Lots of flexibility, especially if you play gospel or worship music.

[@johnnymacsmusic]

I have my Breedlove acoustic tuned down to D standard and I enjoy it so much! I'm thinking about tuning my Martin down as well. I like the ability to go lower when my ear hears it.

[@MrStrawberryhurrican]

Beautiful tone

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Lower tunings are a lot of fun! B is about as low as I care to go, but I love me some C for some Queens of the Stone Age vibes. 😎

[@Ilurk247]

Good timing, I was about to change strings and I wasn't sure what tuning I wanted to use. I think the Eb is bluesy (Zep, etc.) but the D Standard has more of a Robert Johnson type of blues sound, I liked the C# tuning sound the most in this video but most likely I'll use D standard when I change strings. Thanks for the comparisons.

[@Rockin_Rocco]

this is awesome! when i tune down my 71 tele it sounds so good. people never talk about teles tuned down though.

[@hunterjessup]

There’s so many songs that have been written in standard tuning, it’s nearly impossible to hear an open cowboy chord or progression without your brain instantly recognizing countless songs from the past that sound similar. Tuning out of standard introduces your ear to progressions in new keys and new trails that haven’t been so nicely paved before you.

[@stephenmiller5023]

Nice T-shirt Rhett👍. Old Norman Harris is “ The Man” when it comes to having some killer old guitars . As I live here on West coast in San Diego his shop is like a “ Candy store for Adults “ & is only a couple hours north of me in Reseda up in L.A. Enjoyed this video here very much , thanks 👍. I’ve always tuned my Strat ‘s down 1/2 a step . Trying different tunings is fun & can really open some new musical doors . 😊

[@louaguado995]

7 years ago I joined a blues band. All the Trower, Hendrix, and S.R.V. songs we played were in e flat. I've gotten so used to it that standard tuning sounds weird to me now. I left that band and now I tune down to D standard. Sounds great with single coils, p90's, and it helps acoustics sound fuller too.

[@aronfebles]

Always moving between Eb and D standard, both are magical on a Strat with 10's!

[@ZachRHuff]

Thanks for the video Rhett. I’m gonna try some lower tunings today.

[@nicgundy]

I spent lots of time in high school getting familiar with alternate/low tunings . Its my advice for anyone who’s got the basics down to apply those to other tunings & inspirations will come your way

[@SandauxBeats]

This video was very timely. I just had my Squier Jazzmaster Vintage Modified returned to me from my guitar tech. It now has an 11-50 D'Addario Jazz Light Flat Wound strings! I agree. E flat is the way, the truth and the life for 10s and 11s. 9s is for E standard, in my opinion.

[@thebrysmith3]

So after watching, I grabbed my G&L Tribute Fallout and rolled it back to D Standard. Can't say that worked for me. Maybe with 11 or 12's. So I went up a half and now THAT'S where it's gonna live! It really gave the neck P90 something to say.

[@ToneDeth.]

I like tuning down to C# but keeping a real light string gauge. Like 9s. Worked for Tony Iomi. People think the tension is too loose but i think its fine. Just need a real light touch as it is easy to fret things sharp.

[@davedavem]

On the pickup position chat, it's "nodes" not "modes". The nodes are where the waveform passes through zero: -〰️ When you tune down, the nodes still sit in the same places because the scale length isn't changing, but for a given note, the pattern of nodes is shifted: in D standard, the "D" nodes are where the "E" nodes are in E standard. So playing in E with the guitar tuned down sounds different to playing in E in E standard.

[@nickturgeonguitar]

i keep all of my strats in Eb, it’s just so much more comfortable to play than standard imo, but i’m definitely trying D standard after this!!

[@hisproperty1438]

G'day Rhett, Thanks for an interesting video. I watched your recent video where you recommended tuning down to C# std, but this latest video gave me the hint I needed. The reason for the change in tone when tuning down could be due to the weight of each string between the nut & the bridge. The frequency & amplitude of vibrations in steel are dependant upon the natural frequency of the steel, the energy exciting it, & its weight (or the assembly's weight). If you change any 1 of these factors, the steel will vibrate at a different frequency, or stop vibrating altogether. As you release tension on the strings, the amount of string between the nut & the bridge is increasing, as is the weight. Since the natural frequency of the string's steel hasn't changed, it will vibrate at a lower frequency. Or, you will have to strike the string harder to reach the same tone. This is similar to a problem occurring on motorcycles many years ago, where handlebars would vibrate contsantly, causing the rider's hands to go numb. They added bar-ends to the handlebars, which added weight to them, & changed to assembly's natural frequency such that it wouldn't be excited by the existing vibrations in the whole motorcycle. The handlebars stopped vibrating, & increased the rider's comfort. I hope this sheds a little light on the subject. Once again, thanks for a great video. Keep up the good work. Andrew

[@xaviconde]

I started tunning my acoustic guitar half step down because I rarely play without capo. I think it makes the guitar softer and since I always play chords with capo, the strings are always closer to the fret. Even if you tune half step down and then you capo on first it feels more comfortable than no capo and standard tuning.

[@Rikamortis6stringer]

Pretty cool video, I don't tune any lower than D. And I thought D sounded best on your video. I appreciate you doing all the work testing it out it's nice to have a video to be able to play it back and hear it. And with a Floyd it's out of the question! Great video as always I'm a newer subscriber. Pretty cool channel you've been very informative lately. Thank you

[@kingbrutusxxvi]

I spent years (decades) as a rock/metal player and always tuned standard or a half step down. As I've gotten older my playing turned more bluesy and melodic and my ear just tends to prefer lower tunings. I now keep my electrics at C# or D and my acoustics at C or C#. Of course, after 40 years of loud, high gain amps my hearing might also be going. 😉

[@TheDrunkenScoundrel]

I was in the Guitar Center I West LA and they had a used Danelectro baritone that someone had put 10s on and tuned to E-standard....that was a seriously cool feeling and sound.

[@mikegray-ehnert3238]

I believe it is Paul Winter who said that nature and the universe is in D flat minor. Perhaps as you tune lower you get to sound that you recognize from the world around you.

[@JoeDread316]

I think singlecoil pickups sound better in lower tunings. When I had a strat I usually had it in D standard/drop C.

[@stratotele12]

I agree that the tone seems change with less string tension. Remember the string gauge video you did with Beato? 9s sounded way better than 10s. Maybe it's also finding the right gauge for each tuning.

[@KEPHALLE]

I have an old cheap made in Indonesia Ibanez RG with some stock humbuckers pickups: tuned to C standard with 10s sounds fantastic, I kid you not sometimes it reminds me of a telecaster, especially on the neck pickup.

[@carlparna]

thanks for reminding me! i m busking saturday and sunday on my strat....just tested it and sounds great! and warmer!

[@ImNotOld_ImVintage]

With most of my guitars in Eb or E standard, I was struggling with the playability of my acoustic with the 12's and a slightly higher action. As an experiment I went down to D standard and fell back in love with my acoustics. Just a much better feel and sound tuned down a whole step.

[@rockstardr]

I tuned my G&L Comanche down to D standard after watching this and I love it! I'll have to reset my trem and maybe heavier strings....

[@splashesin8]

I kept mine tuned down one whole step for a few years. It was handy for quick changing to three other tunings. I finally put it back in ordinary tuning sometime during the pandemic, trying to just give myself some other real estate to have fun with, and get my muscle memory for space more standard. I can't really look, and so far haven't put anything along the back of the neck, to line me up quick. l just like the smoothness of my neck.

[@splashesin8]

If I had another couple of guitars I would want to keep one always tuned down to D, and one always with the nashville strings.

[@MattLawhonMusic]

A favorite for me has been D Standard with 14’s on a semi hollow humbucker setup. All the bass response but still plenty of treble punchiness and cut in the mix. I also play a lot of slide, so the string tension from 14’s helps(:

[@kennethnick3213]

I Tuned an acoustic guitar down to C Because the strings were hurting my fingers and i figured it would ease the tension and be easier to play. Not only was it easier to play, but i liked the sound of it. I didn't realize how common it was for people to do that. Later i went and bought light strings for my acoustic and 9s for my electric just cuz 9s were the only gauge i hadn't tried yet. The 9s feel great in E standard. Then i put it in D natural and wow i love it. It's super slinky. 10s might be better for D natural, but I'll probably keep 9s on for awhile. Feels like water

[@Hyce777]

For me, it's definitely a fun thing to try with - both lower, and higher, give different spice. The moody vibes of lower tunings are kickass, but the increased tightness can be cool even going a little higher pitched. Trying it all and rotating through has lead to the most fun for me.

[@paulcarter105]

Dropping to a point brings out a more vocal piano like quality. Eb/drop C# seems to be the most harmonically rich for me. On a 24.75 schecter But I do like D standard/drop C. For slightly heavier stuff on my 26.5 Ibanez. Use 10-52 on both. The added tension of the baritone does make me play differently and is better suited for chords and single note grooves.

[@hawkeye2816]

I have an Ibanez S with a set of Joe Satriani signature pickups (I can't remember which ones) that I keep in C standard or Drop A# and it sounds pretty epic, even without a ton of gain on it. Those pickups just interact so well with my amp (Victory Kraken) in the tuning that I can even go completely clean and it just sounds warm and smooth.

[@jeremyturner2873]

I play in two bands regularly and use a different basic tuning in each. The first is an Americana/Classic Rock type of group and we tune to Eb, including detuning a half step for open Gb and open Db. The second band is more of a Grungy Nu-Metalish deal and there we pretty much stick to D (drop-C). I generally use 24.75" scale guitars with 10-46's for Eb and 11-54 for Drop C.