Down Tuning


dvenetian
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dvenetian
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02/16/2007 1:49 am
Originally Posted by: TekimeI play with drop D sometimes and it's fun, a lot of bands like System of a Down use it. Quick way to drop D is tune 12th fret harmonic on the sixth string to an open fourth string.

Drop C is fun too... even lower. Tune to drop d, then drop 1-5 strings down a step too, then drop D down a step to D.

That's probably a terrible explanation. I found it gets in the way of progressing with the basics when I spend time messing with tuning though!

It's funny when you look at Drop C tuning because the whole guitar changes from standard tuning compared to Drop D where only the low E string changes. Everything else is still standard. Drop D tuning allows most of your soloing work to remain intact with the familiar positioning on the neck. Drop C tuning confuses even the seasoned veteran because everything has to be shifted up a whole step which brings you up to Drop D tuning again. (Drop D tuning begins at the 2nd fret when playing in Drop C).
Alternate tuning has it's moments and is fun to play around with, but I wouldn't recommend it for beginners at all (for those who are trying to understand how to play guitar). The mixed standard can hold you back from your potential.
# 1
iceandhotwax
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iceandhotwax
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02/23/2007 11:49 am
drop D is fairly simple and for the beginner it is a nifty way to get some of the gutiar from hell tones you hear ..
# 2
polansky
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polansky
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02/23/2007 8:46 pm
Originally Posted by: dvenetianFrom My understanding it's called "A 440Hz" and it's the amount of vibrations per second (I believe) that the lowest "A" note produces when in tune. The "A Octive" has twice as many vibrations (A 880Hz)


Being a bit technical the whole enchilada is this:

FREQUENCY

A PITCHED SOUND is one that has a repetitive CYCLE or PERIOD. PITCH is determined by the number of CYCLES per second and is called FREQUENCY. The term, HERTZ (Hz) refers to the mathematician, Henrich Hertz and is used to represent the number of cycles per second. The RANGE OF AUDIBLE FREQUENCY FOR THE HUMAN EAR is between approximately 16 Hz and 20,000 Hz (20 kHz). The note 'A' above Middle C (C3) has 440 cycles per second (Hz).

Check this site has some intresting facts and graphics that make it really easy to understand

http://ftp.ec.vanderbilt.edu/computermusic/musc216site/what.is.sound.html

Class, you are dismissed.. :D
Power corrupts. Absolute power is kinda neat.
# 3
dvenetian
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dvenetian
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03/03/2007 1:25 pm
Originally Posted by: polanskyBeing a bit technical the whole enchilada is this:

FREQUENCY

A PITCHED SOUND is one that has a repetitive CYCLE or PERIOD. PITCH is determined by the number of CYCLES per second and is called FREQUENCY. The term, HERTZ (Hz) refers to the mathematician, Henrich Hertz and is used to represent the number of cycles per second. The RANGE OF AUDIBLE FREQUENCY FOR THE HUMAN EAR is between approximately 16 Hz and 20,000 Hz (20 kHz). The note 'A' above Middle C (C3) has 440 cycles per second (Hz).

Check this site has some intresting facts and graphics that make it really easy to understand

http://ftp.ec.vanderbilt.edu/computermusic/musc216site/what.is.sound.html

Class, you are dismissed.. :D

The site created a flashback to my studies in the Architectural Acoustic Articulation Index, especially with resourcing to Longitudinal Wavelength. Using White and Pink Noise synthesizers for many of the sound related projects I encounter, the site refreshed my memory on a few things.
Thanks for the enchiladas.
# 4
polansky
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polansky
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03/04/2007 7:29 pm
Originally Posted by: dvenetianThe site created a flashback to my studies in the Architectural Acoustic Articulation Index, especially with resourcing to Longitudinal Wavelength. Using White and Pink Noise synthesizers for many of the sound related projects I encounter, the site refreshed my memory on a few things.
Thanks for the enchiladas.


You are welcome bro... allways a pleasure.
Power corrupts. Absolute power is kinda neat.
# 5
paullly
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paullly
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03/07/2007 12:11 am
I read somewhere that you cant just drop D tune on any guitar...it affects the nut or bridge or something??? the tension of the strings affects the guitars integrity????Any truth to these statements..
# 6
iceandhotwax
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iceandhotwax
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03/07/2007 1:06 am
if the guitar has a floating bridge (whammy bar that you can pull up) any change in tuning will effect the rest of the strings
# 7
Kevin Taylor
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Kevin Taylor
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03/07/2007 3:24 am
Nah...that's total bull.
I just finished downtuning my D for a recording session.
Then retuned to open D, then Open G.

It might be a pain with a tuner system, but overall it's not gonna hurt anything.

Hell.... 15 years ago I pawned my guitar and downtuned all the strings until they were slack. I didn't pick it up for over a year and it still played fine.
# 8

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