Half step down tuning
All six strings down a half step. Your chord shapes stay the same, everything just sounds a half step lower. Common in rock and blues, and easier on the singer.
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String notes: Half step down (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭)
At A = 440 Hz. The tuner measures each plucked string against these frequencies.
| String | Note | Frequency | vs. standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | E♭2 | 77.8 Hz | ↓ 1 semitone |
| 5. | A♭2 | 103.8 Hz | ↓ 1 semitone |
| 4. | D♭3 | 138.6 Hz | ↓ 1 semitone |
| 3. | G♭3 | 185.0 Hz | ↓ 1 semitone |
| 2. | B♭3 | 233.1 Hz | ↓ 1 semitone |
| 1. | E♭4 | 311.1 Hz | ↓ 1 semitone |
How to tune
- Press “Start tuning” and allow the microphone. The sound stays in your browser and is never uploaded.
- Lower every string one semitone: E→E♭, A→A♭, D→D♭, G→G♭, B→B♭, E→E♭.
- Looser strings are easier to bend, which is why many blues and rock players tune this way.
- To play along with a recording made in this tuning, you need the tuning itself. A capo can't go down.
- When the needle sits in the green middle zone (±3 cents), the string is in tune. Anything within 5 cents sounds in tune to the ear.
All tuned? Here are the chords, with shapes and sound →
More tuners and tunings
Frequently asked questions
What is half step down tuning?
E♭ – A♭ – D♭ – G♭ – B♭ – E♭: standard tuning one semitone lower on every string.
Why do guitarists tune down a half step?
A deeper, fatter tone, easier bends, and a slightly lower, more comfortable key for the singer.
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