Tuning in D

[Nightburst]

I just had a talk with the lead player of the band I'm in and he said he wanted to tune lower, just to sound heavier and to make singing more easy.
I like the idea of tuning lower to sound heavier but there are definately some things that need to be done with our guitars to prevent sounding like crap.
We already tune a half step down now but it sounds a little flat sometimes so I wonder if tuning into D will make singing more easy.

I made a little list of things that needs to be done, I was hoping someone could chime in and add something I forgot or give me some additional advice.

We both use a guitar with a floyd licenced bridge and locking nut, so we need to:

-Intonate for D tuning

-He uses .13 now and I use .11, should I go to .12? I like the tention I get when tuned in Eb with .11 strings.

-We never use our floyd anyway and I blocked mine so we need a new cut (bone?) nut.

Any suggestions would be helpful, thanks in advance.

 

[Chi3f]

Re: Tuning in D

i am in drop c with .11-52's which are the same strings teppei supposedly uses (thrice) on his drop c guitar. So you should be alright with .11-50's tuned to D

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Tuning in D

Yeah I just tuned down a played for an hour, I think I'll go for .11 with some fatter low strings. I'll check it in the stores tomorrow. Thanks Chi3f.
I think I'll try to cut a nut myself, any tips on what materials are best to get and are easy to cut? Any tips on that are greatly apreciated.

 

[nuntius]

Re: Tuning in D

is one semi tone gonna be enough?

if you wanna make singing easier maybe going down a whole tone would better, but see how it goes in D

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Tuning in D

I tune in standard A440, and the other guitarist in my band tunes to D with a Floyd using 11's, so they will do fine.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Tuning in D

I think 9's work really well for D-tuning, they're a little buzzy, but that's just my guitar, I think. They flex much more easily when their down there, and even in drop C the guitar sings and the strings perform really well. I'm consider changing over to 10's though.

 

[Chi3f]

Re: Tuning in D

are you crazy? i had a set of 9's tuned down to drop c and eww is all i heard. just alot of slop and buzzing because of it.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Tuning in D

Thanks for the advice guys, I've been playing around a few days now with .11-.49 in D tuning and I like it a lot exept for the top strings which need to be a little heavier. Too bad D'addario doesn't sell .11-.52 strings...
Anyone knows a brand that sells this gauge set in a standard package?

 

[Chi3f]

Re: Tuning in D

Ernie Ball makes 11-52 and i know GHS guitar boomers also makes a set

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Tuning in D

The only brand that sells an 11-52 set is Dean Markley. GHS makes an 11-50, and ernie ball makes an 11-54.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Tuning in D

GHS makes some 11-50 (GBMs) and 12-52 (GBH). May want to check them out as well.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Tuning in D

I like the Dean Markley Blue Steels, and the GHS boomers have a great feel as well. I just experimented with DR, and I like the feel and long lasting tone, but they aren't that great for hammer-ons/pull-offs.