Drop-tuning etc

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Mish

Mish

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Alright, so me and my band have an audition for a rhythm guitarist and I had a chance to talk to zillion of guitar players.

What really quite annoyed me is that every other dude has to throw "what tuning do you play in, man?" thing into a conversation.

Maybe I should explain abit - not only I'm self-tought, I've also never watched any 'learn guitar online' vids, I never bothered learning how to read the tabs so whenever I want to learn a song - I just start playing along with it and an hour later I have it all studied and I'm ready to play.

Now, I had some of those guitar people saying "dude if you play metal you just HAVE to tune to D and drop-C, man! coz that's METAL ARRRR!!! PIRATE!!"

I can play any single "evil deathcore" song in my standart E-tuning. Even my low-E palm mute sounds just as low as their drop-C because of my rig settings. All my original songs are written for E-tuning and to be honest I really don't see the point in re-learning all of them after having tuned my guitar down, low-E string tuned twice down, just because "That's what *insert band title* do" . I had actually been complimented on youtube for playing metalcore in a standart tuning - for what I know the only difference is you have to play 4 frets higher on the neck, for the sake of palm-muting the low-E for 10 seconds during the song. Well unless you're in a band like As Blood Runs Black and your whole album is one long-ass palm-mute :rolleyes:


Why I'm concerned is that when we have a rhythm guitarist, I don't really wanna have an argument who needs to change the tuning, or am I being old-fashioned and I should learn to play in drop-C ?
 
I'm in a metal band and we play everything in drop d tuning... I don't know how this came about but we've never changed it. In most cases faster riffs are easier to play when you stick one finger across the frets to make a power chord. If are perfectly happy playing how you do then why change? Let the rhythm guy play in whatever tuning he wants, if you're playing mostly standard chords he can find the equivalent pretty easy.
 
you're auditioning them ....... they have to play with whatever you play, not the other way around, especially if it's your originals.
How they choose to tune doesn't matter as long as they sound like what you're looking for. But no one gets to come into your band situation and tell you how it's gonna be. It's the other way around.
 
Our band plays in Eb standard or dropped-Db. Its low, but not too low. But, let them play in whatever tuning they like. Its not like they know your songs or anything. Let them play through some licks and some stuff and see how you think they'll fare.
 
Why does it annoy you for an auditioning guitarist to ask what tuning you play in? Don't you think that's a necessary piece of information?

Alot of metal music is very percussive in nature and the weight of the palm mutes does mean everything. So yes, it's worth it to tune down just for those 10 seconds of open string heaviness. I prefer the sound of standard tuning personally, but still I have been in bands where it wouldn't have worked.

In your situation, if you like to play in standard tuning and it's your band - there should be no question as to whether the new guitarist should accomodate you or vice versa.
 
Mish said:
Why I'm concerned is that when we have a rhythm guitarist, I don't really wanna have an argument who needs to change the tuning, or am I being old-fashioned and I should learn to play in drop-C ?
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Why does it matter what tuning a rhythm guitarist or any guitarist plays in? It's the key that's important. If the song is in C, everyone plays in the key of C whether they're in standard tuning, drop D, drop C, DADGAD, etc.

I only play acoustics but I do play some songs in alternate tunings. The main reasons are that alternate tunings give you chord voicings that might not be possible in standard tuning and alternate tunings give you more open strings ringing out and that results in a fuller sound.
 
I ususally have my guitar tuned down a whole step, but it's not a rule. I just like the sound of it. I don't go much lower than that. If I really want lower, I'll pull out the 7-string I barely ever use. I think the notion that 'you have to drop tune for metal' is absurd. I generally avoid playing in drop D just because I don't think it's as much fun. That doesn't mean I never use drop D. I have a few tunes are done that way but only because I happened to come up with those particular riffs when I've been screwing around in drop D.

Personally if you are auditioning someone who is hung up on 'the best tuning to use', then you can pretty much scratch them off the list. Unless they are really good.

Next time somene asks you what tuning you play in, say "Dobro open G6" and write down their reaction. If the guy mentions something about getting himself a lighter string guage, you may have a keeper.

That said, they may be asking just so that they can tune their guitar to yours, which is hardly a bad thing.
 
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My two cents - most of my guitars have floating bridges. I ALWAYS ask what a band tunes to if I'm auditioning, not because I'm going to judge them if they say something other than E standard (my sixes) or B standard (my sevens), but because if I show up at the audition tuned to B, only to found out they all play in drop-A down a half step, I'm going to spend the first 20 minutes of the audition retuning, and I don't particularly want too be remembered as "that guy we sat around and scratched our balls while he tuned up."

It's just good stuff to know - part of being prepared for an audition, you know?
 
I hate "drop-tuning" personally as well, but I've been in situations (as I am in now...) where the other guy is VERY used to playing in drop-tuning.

You certainly can come up with some intersting riffs, but it always feels...like I'm cheating...like it's fake!:eek::rolleyes::D
 
cellardweller said:
You certainly can come up with some intersting riffs, but it always feels...like I'm cheating...like it's fake!:eek::rolleyes::D
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Yeah IMO that's the feeling I get - just power chord everything instead of playing bare chords!!

I agree with metalhead28 that for some music it's important (eg Black Label Society). I just wanted to know what's everyone elses take on this subject - I wasn't going to change the way I play anyway, but I'll be more confident waving my "E-TUNED!" banner when talking to whoever else. Thanks ;)
 
Mish said:
Yeah IMO that's the feeling I get - just power chord everything instead of playing bare chords!!
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I dunno if that's an issue. It horses for courses in that respect. Sometimes you don't want the sound of a barre chord, sometimes you do.

I do get the feel of cheating with drop D though. But at the same time often if I'm using drop D it's because the riff might be immensly fun to play that way, rather than because it's easier.
 
My Fender So Cal Speed Shop Strat is my only 1 of 18 guitars that is drop tuned; C - C. If I want to go lower than that, I have my Fender Bass VI, as I don't own a baritone guitar.

Matt
 
my new band insists on tuning to drop Ab
and we aren't even that heavy

and personally i hate it!
i may not be playing the guitar but it's to low for me
 
Like has already been said, it is an existing band, so the band decides what tuning to play in. Having said that, like metalhead said, the tuning you guys are playing in is pretty relevant. Don't assume that the majority of metal bands out there are playing in standard, cause they probably aren't. For me, I grew up in the 80s and played standard tuning for years. Now I wouldnt even show up for a metal band audition if it called for standard tuning. All my guitars are in drop tuning now, and I am not going to go back to standard...
 
What kind of settings do you have where your low-E sounds like a low-C, a E is a E and a C is a C I don't see how it would be the same? The reason I play in drop Db is because it is easier to play harder things and you can go lower if needed.
 
AMcB said:
What kind of settings do you have where your low-E sounds like a low-C, a E is a E and a C is a C I don't see how it would be the same? The reason I play in drop Db is because it is easier to play harder things and you can go lower if needed.
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Metal zone + EQ. I didn't say it sounds the same as low-C, but it definately sounds damn 'br00tal' enough for me (and yes, I'm into the whole deathcore stuff). With my originals though, I go more for an early post-hardcore sound like From autumn to Ashes.

IMO the whole "evil low sound" have gotted way over-cliche'ed in the past few years. It gets to the point where I can hardly tell the difference between As Blood Runs Black, With Blood Comes Cleansing, Still Remains, All That Remains, The More I See, Drop Dead Gorgeous etc. Or it gets even more overboard like this -

https://youtube.com/watch?v=2JJ5ZXVqCzU


To be even more honest, I was laughing so hard when I've seen that video for the first time :D
 
"Metal-zone--->br00tal"

..I'll try to remember that.:eek:

I've recently started a band tuned in B, since I like the sound of my LP-baritone.

No, your metal-zone will never, ever sound like a guitar in a baritone scale. Especially, if there are parts played without distortion.
As in, clean.
Not even with an octave-down of some sort.

And IF you'd be auditioning for my band in a guit tuned E, You'd be playing every single song from that high in the neck with a barre or a capo, how heavy does it sound there? Would it become hard to grip after an hour?
In any case, I'd have riffs playing an open H with 4 fingers on the frets simultaniously. EQ that.

It is, simpler, to be in same tune.

#F.. that's too low to separate anything. :D
 
Mish said:
As Blood Runs Black, With Blood Comes Cleansing, Still Remains, All That Remains, The More I See, Drop Dead Gorgeous etc.
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I'm pretty sure I can tell the difference because..well...I only rate 1 of those bands. :p


Jouni said:
"Metal-zone--->br00tal"
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Yeah holy shit I never knew....I'll be selling my 6505 tomorrow then....

:p
 
Jouni said:
"Metal-zone--->br00tal"

..I'll try to remember that.:eek:

I've recently started a band tuned in B, since I like the sound of my LP-baritone.

No, your metal-zone will never, ever sound like a guitar in a baritone scale. Especially, if there are parts played without distortion.
As in, clean.
Not even with an octave-down of some sort.
Click to expand...

Goddmnit i never said it sounded AS bt00tal :D . I said it drives my tone exactly up my alley - I love the low-end sounds of other bands but it just doesnt suit my style.

Oh heck I've missed you were from Scandinavia :cool: . You guys have some really damn great bands up there. Not HIM, obviously ;)
 
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