You can tune a guitar but you can't tuna fish...all about tunings.

[outforblood]

So, it's a rainy *** day and I'm sitting here playing around with tuning my SG from E standard to Eb seeing which I like better...I think Eb is working for me. Why? Better bends, and when I decide to drop the E string (I'm using Hybrid Slinkys btw)it now becomes a C# instead of D, which is a bit heavier but not as loose and noodley like playing in C. So..what do you SG players tune to out there and why?

[jimmiJAMM]

Standard's fine but usually a 1/2 step down or drop D. Kinda depends on my mood.

[Blackie]

explain more these tunings.........as I have no experience in alt tuning

[jimmiJAMM]

explain more these tunings.........as I have no experience in alt tuning

 

Seriously, Blackie? Let the doors of perception swing wide!

 

 

 

Read up, tune in, DROP OUT

 

http://eceserv0.ece.wisc.edu/~sethares/alternatetunings/alternatetunings.html

[gearhead]

I usually tune 1/2 step low, but we've always done that for the vocalists sake, half step makes a big difference in hitting those high notes! Plus a LOT of the covers we play are 1/2 low (Alice in Chains e.g.)

[outforblood]

I'm just now starting to rock the slide and have been fooling around with open D and G tunings also....quite fun.

[GIANTRobOT420]

I tune a down a half step. I think it give you a deeper darker sound. As for slide I mostly use open A .

[Yew]

yeah, i like 1/2 step down on my other guitars, but it doesnt feel right on my sg

 

It is the BEST tuning for a cheap accoustic to make it sound better.... and for playing its a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll on my filtertron equipped Epi Firebird

[vourot]

I leave my AJ a half step down. I like to put it in open G

sometimes as well.

[jimmiJAMM]

I leave my AJ a half step down. I like to put it in open G

sometimes as well.

 

Open tunings (E,A and G) are especially cool for playing slide and 1/2 down works well for Van Halen, Hendrix and SRV, to name a few.

[outforblood]

Open tunings (E' date='A and G) are especially cool for playing slide and 1/2 down works well for Van Halen, Hendrix and SRV, to name a few.

[/quote']

Don't forget Slayer.

[brundaddy]

I like 440.

[Nick Beach]

When I gig on original music I take four guitars. One for standard tuning, one for drop d, or for Eb and one for open Eb minor.

[gsxrrr]

I tune the SG half a step down, started doing it to play along with AC/DC, but just leave it like that now.

[SGplayer1994]

I prefer standard, half step down, and drop d flat.

[Apothecurious]

You guys are wimps.

 

I tune my SG to C Standard

 

(c, G, D#, A#, F, C)

 

I have to use 13-56 gauge strings to keep tension. The guitar sounds massive.

[BoyVader]

Standard, open G for slide, and open G with sixth tuned to regular E, for one fingered Keith Richards 'Exile on Main St' type stuff....

[GibSinCity]

I'm just now starting to rock the slide and have been fooling around with open D and G tunings also....quite fun.

 

A half step-down sounds more "Familiar" to me, maybe just the kind of music I grew up listening to, and as others have noted, it's easier on the vocals.

 

Not to get off topic, but you said that you've been tryin' slide playin', and I've heard that some players have a certain guitar that they play slide on that has the action set higher than a guitar set-up for regular playing.

I'm not sure if this is more of a tone, sound thing, or an "action" issue, for lack of a better term, that might keep you from "fretting out" when using a slide.

Anyone have thoughts on "Slide-Playin' Action" setups?

[kevoT]

usually standard but now i'm getting into tuning my sg a half step down