half step lower tuning

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n85ae

Posts: 877
Joined: Sep. 7 2006

half step lower tuning

I have a Pedro De Miguel blanca that I play, and while working on an exercise I tuned
the guitar a half step low as indicated on the notation. It's like a different guitar now
and the sound somehow seems to have opened up a lot. Enough that I just want to
keep the guitar tuned this way. Just feels and sounds a lot more alive.

Any ideas why this might be? It's not important really, I'm just curious.

Thanks,
Jeff

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 5 2013 15:52:36

Ricardo

Posts: 14828
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: half step lower tuning (in reply to n85ae)

quote:

ORIGINAL: n85ae

I have a Pedro De Miguel blanca that I play, and while working on an exercise I tuned
the guitar a half step low as indicated on the notation. It's like a different guitar now
and the sound somehow seems to have opened up a lot. Enough that I just want to
keep the guitar tuned this way. Just feels and sounds a lot more alive.

Any ideas why this might be? It's not important really, I'm just curious.

Thanks,
Jeff

string tension and harmonics. The top of every guitar is tuned to a certain note and that affects the sound a lot. But a capo does the same thing in this respect.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 5 2013 17:05:29

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: half step lower tuning (in reply to n85ae)

Realistically you can't keep the guitar tuned down, unless you never make music with other people.

But what can do, and should do, is experiment with different string tensions and different brands. Strings can make a big difference, because, as Ricardo says, the maker has tuned the top to a certain note (and with a certain stiffness/tension).

Different strings and tensions will stimulate different resonances and harmonics and so can give quite different sounds and response.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 5 2013 17:20:18

tri7/5

Posts: 570
Joined: May 5 2012

RE: half step lower tuning (in reply to n85ae)

I almost always prefer Eb tuning on electrics. I just like the extra depth it provides and has a more violin like tone.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 5 2013 17:48:56

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: half step lower tuning (in reply to n85ae)

Another thing is that when tuned lower, the guitar is looser and more relaxing to play.
So maybe its just you being looser and more relaxed, which you maybe translate into a more open sounding guitar.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 5 2013 20:44:21

n85ae

Posts: 877
Joined: Sep. 7 2006

RE: half step lower tuning (in reply to tri7/5)

I think all of the above makes sense. I like it, but maybe it'll wear off in a week and
I'll be back to normal tuning :) It is harder to play fast, as it has 660 scale and the
strings feel a bit rubber bandy ...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 5 2013 21:28:36