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Half step down tuning

Half step down tuning is E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭, from the lowest string to the highest. Compared with standard: every string down a half step. Tap a string to hear it.

Tap a string to hear its note, then tune yours to match.

About half step down tuning

Half step down, also called E flat tuning, lowers every string a half step: E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭. Every shape stays where it is and everything sounds a half step lower.

The looser strings bend more easily and sound a little warmer, which is why it is common in blues and rock, and it can suit a singer whose range sits a little lower.

Half step down tuning notes

Each open string from the 1st, the thinnest, to the 6th, with the frequency a tuner looks for.

Half step down tuning: each string’s note and frequency, with A4 at 440 Hz
StringNoteFrequencyFrom standard
1stE♭4311.13 HzDown a half step from E
2ndB♭3233.08 HzDown a half step from B
3rdG♭3185 HzDown a half step from G
4thD♭3138.59 HzDown a half step from D
5thA♭2103.83 HzDown a half step from A
6thE♭277.78 HzDown a half step from E

Every other note’s frequency is on the note frequency chart.

How to tune to half step down tuning

Start in standard tuning and move only the strings that change, lowest first.

  1. Tune the 6th string down a half step, from E to E♭.
  2. Tune the 5th string down a half step, from A to A♭.
  3. Tune the 4th string down a half step, from D to D♭.
  4. Tune the 3rd string down a half step, from G to G♭.
  5. Tune the 2nd string down a half step, from B to B♭.
  6. Tune the 1st string down a half step, from E to E♭. It should match the open 6th string, two octaves higher.

To lower a string, go a little below its new note and come back up to it: a string tuned up to its note holds its pitch better.

To tune with your mic instead, in this tuning or another, use the guitar tuner.

Playing in half step down tuning

Play exactly as in standard: an E chord shape now sounds E♭, a G shape G♭. To play along with a record in this tuning without retuning, you would play every chord a half step lower.

The fretboard in half step down tuning

The note on every fret in this tuning. Tap one to hear it, or light up one note or a scale on the neck.

Frets

Tap any fret to hear its note.

Six steps to learning every note on the neck are on the guitar fretboard page.

Questions about half step down tuning

What are the notes of half step down tuning?

E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭, from the 6th string, the lowest, to the 1st: E♭2 A♭2 D♭3 G♭3 B♭3 E♭4.

How do I tune my guitar to half step down tuning?

Start in standard tuning. Tune the 6th string down a half step, from E to E♭. Tune the 5th string down a half step, from A to A♭. Tune the 4th string down a half step, from D to D♭. Tune the 3rd string down a half step, from G to G♭. Tune the 2nd string down a half step, from B to B♭. Tune the 1st string down a half step, from E to E♭. It should match the open 6th string, two octaves higher. A tuner showing each note in the table makes it exact.

More guitar tunings

Standard tuning

E A D G B E

The tuning every other one is measured from.

D standard tuning

D G C F A D

Every string down a whole step.

C standard tuning

C F B♭ E♭ G C

Every string down two whole steps.

All 14, side by side with how far each string moves, are on the guitar tunings page.

Play along in E♭ minor

Open the free editor with a beat in E♭ minor playing, then add your guitar part, a bass line or your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Start a beatAll guitar tunings

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