How to Tune Your Guitar a Half Step Down

Co-authored by Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA

Last Updated: January 2, 2022 Approved

Many guitarists' hearts sink when they see tune a half step down at the top of tabs. This can be a pain in the neck if you're not used to tuning your guitar into different keys. It also adds wear to your guitar's truss-rod in the neck. Don't be intimidated to play and tune to Eb. This is a great way to experiment with your guitar's sound and add a deeper tone to your guitar.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Tuning with a Chromatic Tuner

1
Find a chromatic tuner. It is not necessary to go out and spend $60+ on a chromatic tuning pedal. If you have a smartphone, there are plenty of applications that cost anywhere from $0 to $3. Invest in a chromatic tuning pedal if you plan to perform live a fair amount.^{[1]
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2
Start with your low E. It doesn't matter if your E is out of tune because you're going to change it anyway. Tune your low E string down until the screen reads Eb or D#.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA
Professional Guitarist
Expert Interview. 27 August 2019.}

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3
Tune your A string.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA
Professional Guitarist
Expert Interview. 27 August 2019.} Tune down your A string until the screen either reads Ab or G#. Don’t tune too fast or else you could pass Ab and become lost.
4
Detune your D string. Tune your D string down until the screen of the tuner says Db or C#. Use a relaxed pace when tuning down your string.
5
Fix the G String. Tune your G string down until the tuner says Gb or F#.^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA
Professional Guitarist
Expert Interview. 27 August 2019.}
6
Tune the B string. Lower the B string’s note until the tuner says Bb or A#.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA
Professional Guitarist
Expert Interview. 27 August 2019.}
7
Tune the high E string. Detune the E string at slow pace until the screen reads Eb or D#.^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA
Professional Guitarist
Expert Interview. 27 August 2019.}
8
Recheck each string. Usually after detuning all your strings your guitar will not hold the new tuning at first. Go through each string and make sure they are all in tune to EbAbDbGbBbEb or D#G#C#F#A#D#.^{[7]
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- You might need to check the tune of each string a few times.
- Test the tuning by playing a chord. Pluck each string in the chord and make sure each string sounds in tune.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Your Guitar and Ears

1
Check the tuning of your guitar. Make sure that you are in standard tuning. You'll tune down a half step to whatever you are currently tuned to if not.
2
Start on the A string. Play the 4th fret on the low "E" string. This is an Ab. Tune the "A" string down until it sounds the same as the "E" on the 4th fret. The "A" is now an "Ab".
3
Fix the low E string. Play the 7th fret on the A string. This note is an Eb. Play the E string open and the A string on the seventh fret. Tune up the low E until the sound matches the A string on the seventh fret.
4
Finish tuning the rest of the strings. After tuning the low E and A strings, tune like you would normally. Follow this order:
- Tune the 4th string to the 5th fret of the 5th string.
- Tune the 3rd string to the 5th fret of the 4th string.
- Tune the 2nd string to the 4th fret of the 3rd string.
- Tune the 1st string to the 5th fret of the 2nd string.
5
Double check your tuning. If you have the means, use an app or website that has a tuner and check your tuning. Tuning your guitar down a half step changes your guitar neck's tension. It'll need time to settle before holding a new tuning.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Capo

1
Place the capo on the first fret. Capo's are easy tools that help shift between different keys. They're usually used to play in a different key or voice, without changing the tuning. When the capo is on the first fret the low E will instead be an "F."
- You'll tune the guitar into standard tuning, which is a half step lower than the first fret. Then when you remove the capo, you'll be tuned a half step lower.
2
Find a tuner or a piano. Tune the first string down to an E. If you are using a piano, play an E note and match the low E string to that note. Take it slow and make sure the notes are synchronized.^{[8]
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- This can be a good technique if your tuner is not chromatic. Chromatic tuners hit all the notes including sharps and flats.
3
Tune the rest of the guitar normally. Go through each string either using a tuner, piano, or your ear. Play a standard E chord and check to see if everything sounds tuned.
4
Remove the capo. After adjusting your tuning, you should now be tuned down a half step. Play an E chord after you've removed the capo.^{[9]
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5
Adjust the tuning. Go through each string within a chord, and make sure it sounds in tune. Rely on your ears, but you might need to use a tool.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you use an electronic guitar tuner?

Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA
Professional Guitarist
Carlos Alonzo Rivera is a guitarist, composer, and educator based in San Francisco, California. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from California State University, Chico, as well as a Master of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Carlos specializes in the following genres: classical, jazz. rock, metal and blues.

Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA

Professional Guitarist

Expert Answer

To use a guitar tuner, you have to know the names of the strings first. You will start tuning from the low six-string to the top one it's E-A-D-G-B-E. Once you know the names of the strings, you want to tune and play a string and you want it to read the note that is the string. For example, you want to play the string and have it read E on your tuner and with most tuners, there's a meter that reads right in the middle, and you want it to say for example letter "E" in the middle of the tuner.
Question

Will that affect how the open chords sound?

Community Answer

Yes, because the strings are in a different tuning and therefore the open chords will sound different.
Question

What about A-440 vs A-430?

Community Answer

Tuning your guitar to E flat is roughly the equivalent of tuning to A-415. You can see that 430 is somewhere between those two. It might not make a noticeable difference in tone, but if the rest of the band tunes to 430 as well, it will sound fine.