tuning my guitar

[adam bombsack]

i'm pretty a beginner at playing the guitar
i mostly practice easy death metal covers (six feet under, obituary, benediction, ...)
but i dont really now how to tune my guitar the right way
i see that my powerchords sound ok and i think i tune it one lower (D?)
can anybody tell me how it works and what kind of tunings bands use?

[BestialWarrior]

Hey. I think I can help you out.
Ok. In tunings, you have 6 of them, ranging from E to G. G being the lowest of course..
Drop tuning to D is the easiest way to tune down from.
I would invest in a sabine guitar tuner, or just a good one showing all the notes,:e,a,d,g,b,e,f,c...
For now, why don't you just stick to Regular D tuning...
Easy way for me to tune to D is just hit the open E and A strings, then drop the E (down a whole step) until you can play power chords..
like this(it be dropped D tuning first)

5.(A)-0-
6.(D)-0-
Then tune the A to G by hitting fret #7 on the A or hit the #2 on the A, till you can hear it playing like a regular power chord.
The best way to find a bands tuning(in my experience..)
Listen for open notes and palm muting.. If you hear something heavier than where your tuned, lower the string to that note.. Keep doing that over until it sounds right,etc.
Tuning ain't easy to get down at first, but you'll catch along soon.
Ok. Bands that are at Regular D tuning..:
Asphyx(All cds.)
Kataklysm(Sorcery)
Obituary(All)
Death(all)
Vital Remains(dechristianize, and I'm not too sure about the past ones)
Sinister(Creative Killings, Hate, Savage or Grace)
Deicide(insineratehymn, In Torment In Hell)
Napalm Death(I think all of them)
Vader
Cannibal Corpse(most releases, not too sure about newer material)
Gorguts
Cancer

Dflat bands.
Suffocation, Internal Suffering..

Bands that I know that are tuned at C:
Immolation
Accidental Suicide
Hypocrisy(Penetrailia)

Tuned at B:
Exhumed
Carcass
At the Gates
Hypocrisy(most releases...e.g.:The Fourth Dimension, Abducted,The Final Chapter, Hypocrisy(99),Into the Abyss,The Arrival, ...
Withered Earth?(not for sure)...

Tuned at A:
Hypocrisy-Osculum Obscenum

Tuned at G#.(g sharp)
Mortician-(Most Material)

That's what I can tell you so far...
It really helps to have a guitar tuner!!..
But in any case, take your time to learn stuff....it comes about eventually..

BestialWarrior...
:vampire:

[fritz]

Also, keep in mind that if you tune down, your guitar will sound and play much better if you use thicker strings. If you're going down past D I would use at least 10's.

Finally, if you want to go really low and keep it there, you might consider raising the action on your guitar. If you do this, you will find that your guitar plays like it is in standard tuning.

However, adjusting the action can be kind of a bitch, as you may have to adjust the positions of the saddles so all the tones will sound right all over the guitar...so...only do it if you're sure you want to.

[BestialWarrior]

Thanks for reminding me of the strings part. I didn't dawn on me at the moment..heh...
For strings on my Ibanez rg120,. I'm tuned at a D and using 10's..
On my Ibanez Ex series, I'm tuned at a B, and using 12's light gauge.(Though I could be using 13's.. But I'm satisfied with 12's for now..
:vampire:

[adam bombsack]

thx a lot guys i think i got it
the only problem is that my strings are to thin and tuning it lower would make tremelo picking too difficult
so buying thicker strings should solve that problem
( probably i should buy a new guitar too, i've got a squier you know, I nearly got it for free from a friend to look if i would like playing the guitar, but i certainly do now, so new gear is a must )

[MoonRaven]

hell, if you are tuning to D, i would go atleast 11-50, but that is me, with 10's, i find that i have too much slack. i would use 10's for Eb and E, but thicker for any lower

[freek666]

i got thirteens in my ibanez rg350dxwh for c-standard tuning (low to high, C,F,Bb,Eb,G,C)... my friends cant handle it... it's probably because i'm used to the tighter feel of 11's for standard tuning and they use like 10's for drop g!!!NO LIE!!!

[MorbidGuitar]

i got thirteens in my ibanez rg350dxwh for c-standard tuning (low to high, C,F,Bb,Eb,G,C)... my friends cant handle it... it's probably because i'm used to the tighter feel of 11's for standard tuning and they use like 10's for drop g!!!NO LIE!!!

Youll probably need a bass amp to play that low heh. I noticed that you have to modify the string slots with a razorblade or professionally if you go any lower then 11 on a lot of the cheaper guitars. The strings just wont fit.