Why you prefer lower tunings over E standard?

[Georgeclooney5150]

For me I don't mind listening to hard rock and Metal songs in standard tuning but the moment I try to learn them I don't like how my distorted tones sound. So for some reason tuning half step down, personally, sounds better. Learning Jazz, country or other genres is not a problem.

 

[USMarine75]

E-flat to A-432 tunings are life.

 

[AwakenTheSkies]

For me it doesn't really matter. Some songs only work with low tunings and others with normal tuning.
IMO the advantage of standard tuning or Eb is that it makes guitars really easy to set up and play. Like 10-46 on my PRS SE tuned in Eb standard it doesn't get any better in terms of comfort.
But as you tune lower and use thicker strings you start to run into intonation problems, too floppy, thicker strings sound dead quicker, etc.
With a 7 or 8 string you get the best of both worlds..

 

[Mboogie7]

standard tuning for daily noodling
Drop C for chugga chugga boom boom.
Open D for shits and giggles

tunings don’t really impact my experience but with that said, I hate drop D. Just awful.

 

[ArtDecade]

I mostly play in E# but sometimes I will drop it a half-step when I am getting reallllly heavy.

 

[budda]

i have some in E and some in B. I play differently in B.

 

[Choop]

Eb is fun to play in. Lately I have been playing in D Standard and I like that as a middle ground between E standard and truly lowwww tunings. It's lower than E but doesn't start to blend too much with the bass.

 

[ArtDecade]

Anyone remember what the band Conan is tuning their instruments do? I feel like it was E... but down a whole octave.

 

[SalsaWood]

I tune my guitars down a whole step during the winter. Because I am that lazy.

 

[wheresthefbomb]

I like the death rattle of the floppy strings.

Anyone remember what the band Conan is tuning their instruments do? I feel like it was E... but down a whole octave.

That sounds right. Bongripper tunes to F, same as you!

 

[l1ll1]

The FEEL. And the sound. One whole step down is the best for me. I like thicker strings but softer feel, love the lower frequency response and that I can get an even wider spectrum out of my 7s / the higher registers feel more usable to me when the strings are pitched down.

 

[Fenriswolf]

I got into metal because of metalcore, so obviously Drop C is the right tuning.

 

[Dayn]

I prefer standard, but since i have more than 6 strings that doesn't really mean much.

I do have guitars in other tunings. Mostly for fun and the differences in sound. After a lifetime of my Strandberg being in standard tuning, dropping it a full step made it sound and feel a lot better to play. I don't know why.

 

[nightsprinter]

Open C because Strapping Young Lad. All hail the new flesh, baby.

 

[TedEH]

Standard tuning 4 lyfe.

 

[Matt08642]

Open C because Strapping Young Lad. All hail the new flesh, baby.

I spent a solid 5 years with my only guitar in Open C/B playing nothing but Devin/SYL stuff. Hell yeah man.

These days though (aside from unique tunings like Open C), I find standard E with the lightest strings possible feels and sounds the best for what I want.

 

[sneerim]

It’s about feel for me. I usually prefer standard or drop D, but sometimes riffs or songs just call for different keys or registers. Something that slams in a low tuning might sound anemic in standard, for example.

I keep guitars in a bunch of tunings. Most are in standard (6 and 7), a couple in D standard, one in Eb, one in open C for when I get on a Devin Townsend kick, and I have a multiscale 7 on the way which will be kept in A standard/drop G.

 

[PuckishGuitar]

D standard is my preferred for metal, on 25.5" scale. Little bit more oomf, sounds good for me, and strings have the right feel to it.

I recently tuned a guitar to C standard, and having fun actually playing most riffs as F standard on the 5th string, and dipping down to C for the br00tz.

E standard is great all around, Eb for a looser feel. C# I don't use so much. Drop tunings are fun but I don't regularly keep anything in those tunings.

 

[cindarkness]

Tuning down doesn't necessarily mean heavier, unless we talk about absurdly low tunings in sludge etc.. Riffs in E-standard can sound as brutal as C or B - it's more about the composition. I believe, that I don't have to bring out any examples, we all know them already..

Personally, a big fan of drop C/C#. There is something special about chugging the open strings in that tuning which gives me the good vibeys. Very metalcore as some might say

 

[Hoss632]

I just prefer drop tunings in terms of playing. I like the chord shapes better. A lot of that might have to do with a lot of the bands I really got into played in Eb or Drop tunings, usually D-B growing up. Drop A when you include stuff like Korn or Slipknot. So my ear just is in tune with that more. But there's plenty of older rock n roll that I like that's in standard as well. For me personally I like 6 strings in Drop C# to Drop B the most.