Tuning question.

beardedmoose

Ok so im sitting with a issue. i tried tuning my guitar from Standard E to Standard D (D,G,C,F,A,D) it didnt work as desired.. obviously.. lol

Ok so heres my question. im playing with 9 gauge strings at the moment in standard E. What gauge will work for standard D? im obviously going to have to set the guitar up for the new tuning... ??? i hate not knowing what to do when it comes to guitars.. lol

Psean

beardedmoose wrote: Ok so im sitting with a issue. i tried tuning my guitar from Standard E to Standard D (D,G,C,F,A,D) it didn't work as desired.. obviously.. lol

Didn't work in what way?

Ok so heres my question. im playing with 9 gauge strings at the moment in standard E. What gauge will work for standard D? im obviously going to have to set the guitar up for the new tuning... ??? i hate not knowing what to do when it comes to guitars.. lol

What scale length is the guitar? I only have experience on 25.5" guitars, and 10's have been fine, although I usually use 10-52's (in E or D standard), so the low E is nice and fat, but 10-46's have been okay for occasional down tuning. I imagine 9's would be seriously floppy...

I'd guess that going up to the next gauge should be fine for a whole step down.

ezietsman

Going a whole step down is a lot. 11s on Eb tuning feels like 10s, so maybe they'll feel like 9s (more or less) at D. I found that you don't need much setup change when you change between 10s and 11s (on a LP), but if you go 12 gauge you'll prob need the nut recut as the strings may stick. Anyway, trying this with 11s won't hurt plus you can still play the guitar like that in standard tuning, grows them callouses. (It'll be hell if you are used to 9s though).

beardedmoose

Psean wrote:
beardedmoose wrote: Ok so im sitting with a issue. i tried tuning my guitar from Standard E to Standard D (D,G,C,F,A,D) it didn't work as desired.. obviously.. lol
Didn't work in what way?

The 9s were way floppy my man. lol also because i had it in E when i tuned to D it detuned constantly.. i recon when you string your guitar you have to tune it to the desired tuning

beardedmoose

Note* the scale length on my sg is 24 - 3/4"

Psean

Jeez, 9's on a Gibson scale length must be floppy even in standard ?
I don't think have have to decide on the tuning when you re-string. Heavier gauge and a guitar with good tuning stability should get you there AFAIK.
I only have one electric guitar, so I tune my Strat from E down to D every now and then and often leave it that way for a few days and it just requires the usual fine tuning each time I play. When I'm done I tune back up and it settles in fine. I wouldn't want to tune down during a gig, but for occasional use it gives me no problems. I think the nut is cut well, so it settles fairly quickly. Also the 3 bass strings are 30-42-52 so my A string is as thick as your Low E and the scale length is greater. So EZ's suggestion of 11s sounds right now that I think of it.

beardedmoose

Ok cool makes sense. no the 9s on the sg is quite lovely ?