A question the musicians here about playing e flat

[DLR'sCock]

Ok, about 2 and a half months ago, a guy who has started jamming with us suggested we perhaps detune to E flat for which I was like kool, no prob. It's heavier sounding, and a bit easier on the voice too of course. I have always performed in standard E 440 over the years in every band that I have been in, except one, which was in D tuning with a drop C.

So now the problem is that I dig playing in E flat now for many reasons, but mostly because it feels good on the voice and after all this time they're telling me that they don't want to tune to E flat anymore. The claim is that it is due to it's affect on the tuning of the guitars, especially if we do drop D, which we do for a bunch of songs, but not all, so then it would be drop D flat over E flat tuning.


I know a ton of bands do this, of course classic VH and Alice in Chains come to mind.

I need some amo to make my case to them about keeping the E flat tuning. I write the songs, sing them, and I play bass. Now I play my acoustic guitar at home all of the time, but I never chose to try and be a "guitar player" in a band, so I want to know what you guys think. Any thoughts, questions or suggestions?

[jhale667]

I always insist on E flat tuning with my cover bands or whatever. Just sounds cooler to me. :D

Besides, VH and AIC can't be wrong...

[Matt White]

Originally posted by jhale667
I always insist on E flat tuning with my cover bands or whatever. Just sounds cooler to me. :D

Besides, VH and AIC can't be wrong...

WORD


Damn skippy....tell 'em to pull up their skirts and play like men

[cdwillis]

If you're singing and it's easier for you to sing in e flat that's good enough reason to continue tuning lower.

If they don't like how the strings feel tuned down to drop d have them use a heavier top string.

[DLR'sCock]

Yeah, that's true they can use a heavier string or strings.


When I was in the one band(as my only band), Horsy, check them www.myspace.com/horsymusic
with the D/drop C tuning I went out and bought heavier bass strings and had it set up for that.


Of course the one guy is gonna say that he needs his guitar in regular tuning for his other band, but they rarely ever play.


And the "heresay" from the one guy about the other guy is that he won't have his guitar setup for e flat, but i don't even get that since, he hasn't done anything else for the last few years at all.....this is his first situation in a long time. Oh and he suggested he try E flat, before he started jamming with us.

[Nitro Express]

E flat tuning seems to work better on a 25.5 scale guitar than the shorter scales. Probably another reason Eddie uses that scale.

I just copy Ed 9-40 quage strings on a 25.5 scale tuned E flat. Can't go wrong in my book.

[jhale667]

Originally posted by Matt White
WORD


Damn skippy....tell 'em to pull up their skirts and play like men

Exactly, exactly. :D

[naturochem]

90% of the time, I'm a half-step down (sometimes even a full step..) I use Ernie Ball orange label 'Hybrid' Slinky's with fat bottoms - 09-11-16-26-36-46 on most of my guitars...

[DLR'sCock]

Well, we're gonna jam soon tonight and we'll see how it goes.


I was talking another friend and his cover band plays in E flat as well.

Supposedly the big "deal" is the D flat for the drop D songs, of which I have written quite a few with the drop D.

[naturochem]

It really helps to have more meat for the D flat bottom, hence the 46 guage...

[Nitro Express]

Originally posted by naturochem
It really helps to have more meat for the D flat bottom, hence the 46 guage...

True, but I have found you can make a lighter guage work pretty will if the right pickups and amp are used. There's more than one way to skin the cat, especially now since we have such a huge selection of pickups, pre-amps, and amps.

[naturochem]

Originally posted by Nitro Express
True, but I have found you can make a lighter guage work pretty will if the right pickups and amp are used. There's more than one way to skin the cat, especially now since we have such a huge selection of pickups, pre-amps, and amps.

It's not only the sound, but the lack of tension that makes grabbing a fatter string work better for me... Fat bottom's won't work well with the smaller, or worn fret's though... you'll be buzzin more than Ed was in '04!! :D

another "personal preference" individuality quirk, I suppose...

[Diamondjimi]

Switched gauges years ago. Can't stand light gauge strings anymore.

Nothing lighter than .10-46 will suffice. Today lights feel like banjo strings to me.

But if you're tuning down def. increase string gauge to compensate lower string tension...

[Panamark]

Fuck, If you are the songwriter and singer, you hold all the
cards mate !! Tell them what key they have to play in for
your voice.. Fuck em...

[SNIPER]

My band tunes a full step down and we also drop the E string on top of that for a really low C. Our guitars are set up for that with a really fat gage E string ofcourse.