Originally Posted by: malcolm.king

I am playing as standard tuning, I have heard of the expression to down tune half or full. What does this really mean?

[p]Tuning down usually means to tune the strings lower than standard tuning. There are several options.

Standard tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E

Tuning down a half step is called slack tuning (the strings are typically a little looser & thus slack) & you tune each string down a half-step. This is also referred to as tuning to E-flat because that's the lowest string.

Half-step down, slack tuning: Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb

Examples:

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1349

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=2106

Tuning down a whole step is sometimes called D tuning because the lowest string in D.

Whole-step down tuning: D-G-C-F-A-D

Or you can tune even lower & some modern metal bands do that for a lower heavier sound.

You can also just tune the D string down while leaving the other strings in standard, called drop D.

Drop D tuning: D-A-D-G-B-E

Example:

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1289

Hope that helps!