slash's tuning

[pizzicatopicker]

So I'm learning a few G'N'R ditties, and ive noticed that Slash always tunes down half a step.... Why is that?

[magicninja]

To accomadate Axl Rose's voice.

[Jolly McJollyson]

I assume because it's easier to do bends and legato when tuned down.

[Krunek]

I assume because it's easier to do bends and legato when tuned down.

Yep, I think so too. I mean, Axl has a range over three octaves... I don"t think half a step would mean that much to him. Or would it? Anyhow, it is easier to do bends, I am for that theory.

[Trinivalts]

I donno but for me it seems that doing bends on elctric guitar is is easy enought because of thiner strings compared to a western acoustic witch I play, and I find it hard to bend two frets up on almost any position of fretboard, it's easy only around the 12th fret.

[Krunek]

I donno but for me it seems that doing bends on elctric guitar is is easy enought because of thiner strings compared to a western acoustic witch I play, and I find it hard to bend two frets up on almost any position of fretboard, it's easy only around the 12th fret.

Yeah, if you play acoustic, bending on electric is easier... But if you tune electric down you can bend more tones... get what I mean? While if it is in a tandard tuning, you will most probably broke a string. But it is a whole new topic. ;)

[Jolly McJollyson]

I donno but for me it seems that doing bends on elctric guitar is is easy enought because of thiner strings compared to a western acoustic witch I play, and I find it hard to bend two frets up on almost any position of fretboard, it's easy only around the 12th fret.
Try playing the gauge SRV plays without tuning down.

[ericthecableguy]

It also changes the pitch. It makes everything a little lower, or heavier, especially in clean sections, where they use alot of open chords.

[PRSplaya]

I keep all my guitars tuned half a step down as well. I do this mainly because of my vocal range, but also, I like how it sounds. To me, it has a slightly thicker tone to it. YMMV

[pizzicatopicker]

yeah, i know it aleviated the tension and what not, making bends at the lower registers easier, though slash plays a lot in the "nosebleed section"...

I'll look into tuning this way my self...