Half Step Down Tuner
Press Start, allow the microphone and play a string. Half step down is set: Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb, every string one semitone lower.
Press Start and allow the microphone.
Tap a string to hear its note and tune to it by ear.
Half step down (Eb) tuning notes
Half step down tuning, also called Eb standard or E flat tuning, is Eb2 Ab2 Db3 Gb3 Bb3 Eb4: every string lowered by one semitone from standard. The tuner shows these notes as sharps (D#2 G#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 D#4); they are the same pitches.
| String | Note | Frequency | From standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | Eb2 / D#2 | 77.78 Hz | down a half step |
| 5th | Ab2 / G#2 | 103.83 Hz | down a half step |
| 4th | Db3 / C#3 | 138.59 Hz | down a half step |
| 3rd | Gb3 / F#3 | 185.00 Hz | down a half step |
| 2nd | Bb3 / A#3 | 233.08 Hz | down a half step |
| 1st | Eb4 / D#4 | 311.13 Hz | down a half step |
Frequencies at A4 = 440 Hz; change A4 in the tuner and the table follows.
Why players tune down a half step
Tuning down a semitone loosens every string a little, which makes wide bends and heavy vibrato easier and gives a slightly darker tone. Singers like it too: every song comes down a semitone. Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Slash all recorded in it.
Only the pitch changes, so every chord shape is the same as in standard. A capo at the 1st fret brings the guitar back to standard pitch, so you can play along with recordings in either tuning.
How to tune half a step down
- Press Start tuning and allow the microphone. Half step down is already selected.
- Lower each string by one semitone, from the 6th to the 1st: E to Eb (D#2), A to Ab (G#2), D to Db (C#3), G to Gb (F#3), B to Bb (A#3) and E to Eb (D#4).
- Stop each string when the tuner says In tune. If you go past the note, drop below it and come back up, so the string holds.
- Play all six strings again and touch up any that drifted.
Songs in Half step down tuning
A few well-known recordings in this tuning:
- Purple Haze by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Pride and Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Sweet Child o' Mine by Guns N' Roses
Want to learn a song you heard but can't name? Identify it with the microphone first.
Strings and setup
A semitone barely changes the tension, so your usual strings and setup are fine. Players who want the feel of standard tuning back often go one gauge heavier; Stevie Ray Vaughan used very heavy strings in Eb.
Half step down tuning: frequently asked questions
What are the notes in half step down tuning?
Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb, from the 6th string to the 1st: Eb2, Ab2, Db3, Gb3, Bb3 and Eb4. On the tuner: D#2, G#2, C#3, F#3, A#3 and D#4.
Is half step down the same as Eb tuning?
Yes. Half step down, Eb standard, E flat tuning and "tuned down a semitone" all name the same tuning.
Why does the tuner show D# instead of Eb?
D# and Eb are the same pitch; the tuner always uses sharp names. When the 6th string reads D#2 In tune, it is on Eb.
Why do guitarists tune down a half step?
For easier bends and a slightly darker tone, and to bring songs down a semitone for the singer. Many classic rock and blues players recorded this way.
Do I need different strings?
No. One semitone barely lowers the tension. If the strings feel loose, use a set one gauge heavier.
How do I play along with songs in standard tuning?
Put a capo at the 1st fret: the guitar sounds at standard pitch again and the chord shapes stay the same.
D standard tuning
D G C F A D: every string a whole step down.
Drop D tuning
D A D G B E: only the low E goes down to D.
C standard tuning
C F Bb Eb G C: every string two whole steps down.
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