What are the notes of Half Step Down tuning?

Half Step Down tuning on guitar is E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭, from the lowest string to the highest.

How do I tune to Half Step Down from standard tuning?

Starting from standard (E A D G B E): string 6 down a half step, string 5 down a half step, string 4 down a half step, string 3 down a half step, string 2 down a half step, string 1 down a half step. Every other string stays the same. Use the tuner above to check each string.

Is Half Step Down tuning bad for my guitar?

No. Changing tuning is completely safe. Just tune gradually, and when raising pitch go slowly so you don't over-tighten a string. After a big change, the neck can take a day to settle, so check your tuning again.

Half Step Down tuningE♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭

Half step down (E♭ standard) lowers every string by one semitone: E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭. Chord shapes stay the same; everything just sounds a half step lower.

Lots of classic rock and blues is recorded in E♭ standard. It also makes bends a little easier and suits singers who find standard pitch slightly too high.

Also called · E♭ standard · Eb tuning · D# standard

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String chart

String 1 is the thinnest. Frequencies are exact at A4 = 440 Hz; change the reference on the A4 knob.

StrNoteFrequencyFrom std.

1E♭E♭4 · Re♯311.1 Hz▼ a half step

2B♭B♭3 · La♯233.1 Hz▼ a half step

3G♭G♭3 · Fa♯185.0 Hz▼ a half step

4D♭D♭3 · Do♯138.6 Hz▼ a half step

5A♭A♭2 · Sol♯103.8 Hz▼ a half step

6E♭E♭2 · Re♯77.78 Hz▼ a half step

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Tuning your guitar to Half Step Down

Automatically with the microphone, or by ear: tap any note on the headstock to hear a real recorded reference.

1
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2
Pluck one string at a time and let it ring. The tuner detects which string you're playing.
3
If the needle is left of centre the string is flat, so tighten it. If it's right of centre the string is sharp, so loosen it.
4
Turn the peg slowly until the note turns green and the needle sits in the middle. Then move on to the next string.
5
Go round once more: tuning one string slightly changes the tension on the others.

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Questions & troubleshooting

What are the notes of Half Step Down tuning?: Half Step Down tuning on guitar is E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭, from the lowest string to the highest.
How do I tune to Half Step Down from standard tuning?: Starting from standard (E A D G B E): string 6 down a half step, string 5 down a half step, string 4 down a half step, string 3 down a half step, string 2 down a half step, string 1 down a half step. Every other string stays the same. Use the tuner above to check each string.
Is Half Step Down tuning bad for my guitar?: No. Changing tuning is completely safe. Just tune gradually, and when raising pitch go slowly so you don't over-tighten a string. After a big change, the neck can take a day to settle, so check your tuning again.

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