Tuning your guitar to E Flat, also known as E♭ tuning or half-step-down tuning, involves lowering each string by a half step. This creates the notes E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, B♭, E♭ or D#, G#, C#, F#, A#, D#.
Many guitarists prefer E♭ tuning because it makes playing easier and gives a warmer sound. Iconic artists like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan often used this tuning.
I first started using E♭ tuning when I noticed some of my favorite songs required it. It took a little getting used to, but once I did, I found that my guitar felt more flexible.
If you’re looking to explore a different sound or make playing a bit easier on your fingers, E♭ tuning is worth a try. You’ll be surprised at how many popular songs are in E♭ tuning. From rock to metal, this tuning is a staple in various genres.
By trying it out, you’ll expand your range and maybe even find some new favorite songs to play.
Make sure you have a digital tuner, a physical one, or an app.
Low E string (6th string): Tune down to Eb (D#)
A string (5th string): Tune down to Ab (G#)
D string (4th string): Tune down to Db (C#)
G string (3rd string): Tune down to Gb (F#)
B string (2nd string): Tune down to Bb (A#)
High E string (1st string): Tune down to Eb (D#)
Tips for playing in E♭ tuning
If you’re used to standard tuning, there will be a slight adjustment period, but with these tips, you’ll be playing confidently in no time.
Fixed Bridges are better: Fixed bridges are better for alternate tuning as they mess up the action, intonation, and bridge height.
Check intonation and action: After tuning down, check the intonation and the action. Adjust the saddles on your bridge or the truss rod.
Practice Chords: Standard chords still work but will sound deeper. Familiarize yourself with how they feel and sound in E♭ tuning to adjust your playing style.
Use a Tuner: Always use an electronic tuner to get precise tuning. It’s easier and ensures your guitar stays in tune.
Adjust Technique: You might need to modify your finger pressure slightly, as the strings are looser. Play around to find the best touch for clean, crisp notes.
Try Different Genres: E♭ tuning works well across various genres. Experimenting with different styles can make your practice sessions more exciting.
Get comfortable with transposing: Remember that chords and scales will be a half-step lower. Get used to transposing if you’re playing along with songs in standard tuning.
Songs using E Flat Tuning
Lots of guitarists in different music styles like rock, metal, and blues use this tuning. This tuning allows singers to reach the song’s notes more comfortably if they find the standard tuning pitches too high.
If you’re looking to add some songs in E Flat Tuning to your playlist, here are some songs to get you started.
Related Post If you want to check more songs, here is a more extensive list I have compiledTop 40 Famous Guitar Songs In E Flat (Eb) Tuning – Tabs Included
Jacob
I have been playing guitar since 2004. As long as I can remember I always had a huge passion for rock music and I extremely enjoy playing it. Helping people on their rock journey is what drives me to keep on playing.ReadMore About Me
Leave a Reply
Recent Posts
link to 50 Campfire Guitar Songs To Ignite Your Next Singalong - Chords Included
50 Campfire Guitar Songs To Ignite Your Next Singalong - Chords Included
Gathering around a crackling campfire with friends and a guitar is one of life's simpleest pleasures. Picture yourself strumming the chords as everyone belts out the chorus under a starry sky. From...
Continue Reading
link to 25 Elton John Songs you Can Play on Guitar - Chords included
25 Elton John Songs you Can Play on Guitar - Chords included
Elton John, with his flair for melody and timeless appeal, has written songs that resonate with people across generations. For aspiring guitarists, his catalog offers a treasure trove of classics...
Tune down the high E-string (the highest-pitched string).
Drop the pitch slightly below D♯ (E♭) using the corresponding tuning knob.Then raise the pitch back to D♯ (E♭). Again, D♯ and E♭ are actually the same musical note. This D♯ (E♭) is one octave higher than the D♯ (E♭) for the lowest string.
Re-finger it so you're using your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers to play it, leaving your index finger free. Move the whole chord shape up one fret. It means that instead of tuning your guitar E, A, D, G, B, E, you tune it to Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb, Eb. Every string is de-tuned by a semitone.
Slash always plays in E flat, and both B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix also tuned down for a number of their songs. Inspired by the tones of these early players, modern blues and blues rock guitarists like Philip Sayce and Dan Patlansky also use the same tuning.
The result is the creation of notes, such as D# and Eb, that are note a semitone apart, but are also not quite the same note. Some instruments were created to enable both notes to be played. An example of this is shown in the video below, where an organ features a split black key, enabling both D# and Eb to be played.
Drop G tuning has been most commonly found in heavy genres of music, creating a dark, foreboding sound. While drop B tuning has been favored by heavy metal bands such as Slipknot, bands that fall into the categories of hardcore, grindcore, death metal, and doom metal are the provinces of drop G tuning.
Stevie Ray Vaughan was known for tuning his guitar a half-step down. This is where each string was lowered one half step from standard tuning. This tuning is often referred to as Eb tuning because the open strings, from low to high, are tuned to Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb.
No it's not. 432 tuning is an alternate to the standard 440 tuning which isn't a semitone lower. To get to Eb you would have to go all the way down to 415 which is a full semitone lower. You'll find a lot of tuners allow you to set it that low if you wish.
But it wasn't until I lowered the tuning by a half-step — from E standard to E-flat standard — that the guitar felt and performed at its best. And it turns out, I'm not the only one to have noticed this. It's a common observation that Stratocasters just work better in E-flat tuning.
When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of the E♭ above middle C (or E♭4) is approximately 311.127 Hz.
To tune your guitar a half-step down, you'll need to lower the pitch of each string by one semitone. This tuning method is also known as Eb tuning or E flat tuning, as each string is tuned down to the nearest flat note.
The open sixth string, E, is tuned one half-step lower to E♭ (hence the name “E flat tuning“), the open fifth string, A, is tuned one half-step lower to A♭, and so on with the rest of the strings. E♭ tuning may be used for a couple of reasons: You can play in a lower key and use open strings.
On many of the Rolling Stones' greatest hits Keith Richards played in Open G tuning. Often he has the lowest string removed, so that he plays a five string guitar. If you don't want to remove that string, you can touch the lowest string with one of your fingers (fretting hand).
We can easily convert standard tuning to an open E tuning by tuning the fifth and fourth strings up one whole step, from A to B and from D to E, respectively, and tuning the third string up one half step from G to G#. The sixth, second and first strings remain tuned normally.
Strum both strings in the open position to determine their relative pitch. Complete the tuning by adjusting the high E, or first string, down a whole step and a half to Db. Verify the pitch of this string by strumming either the sixth or fourth string in the open position.
Eb tuning is still with A=440Hz, every string is a half step down. Eb is 100 cents lower than E. 432Hz is 31.8 cents below 440Hz. The notes are the same whatever frequency you choose as your A4 reference, they're just slightly different frequencies.
Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.