How to Tune a Guitar Down Two Steps

Guitarists tune their instruments down for various reasons. Often it's because making chords for a particular song is easier with a tuned down guitar. Sometimes it helps a singer when the guitar is tuned down. Whatever the reason, a guitar can be tuned down until the strings become too loose to play. Tuning a guitar down two steps, for instance, is actually four half tones. Here's how you can tune your guitar down two whole steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electronic tuner

1. Use an electronic tuner if one is available. This is the best, most accurate way to tune down two half steps. Turn the tuner on and tune your thick string down (loosen the string) until you reach the C below the E. The notes on your guitar, starting with the thickest string, are E, A, D, G, B and E. Tune each of these notes down until you reach the note two before it.

2. Lower your first string to a C if you would rather tune by hand. This is your thinnest string, or what guitar players refer to as the top string (because it is the highest pitch). Use a reference note to get the correct starting note.

3. Place your finger on the fifth fret of the second string and drop the note until it matches the first string played without fretting. You can tell when the notes are in tune by listening to the "beats" between them. The "beats" are little pulses of sound you hear when notes clash. The closer the two notes are to being the same pitch, the slower the "beats" will become. When they disappear altogether, your two notes will match in tone.

4. Place your finger on the fourth fret of the third string and match that note to the second string played without fretting (played open).

5. Continue tuning your guitar down two steps by fretting the fifth fret of the string below the last string tuned. This will lower your guitar two whole steps equally, keeping it in tune with itself.

References

• Alternate Guitar Tunings