3 Ways to Tune a Guitar 1/2 Step Down

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Learn to down-tune your guitar to play music in a different key

Co-authored by Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA and Johnathan Fuentes

Last Updated: March 9, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using a Chromatic Tuner

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Using a Capo (Guitar Clamp)

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Tuning by Ear

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Video

Tuning your guitar a half-step down is common practice in certain genres of music—like punk rock and heavy metal—and gives your instrument a deeper, richer sound. But how do you down-tune a guitar and make it sound great? We’ve got you covered. This guide will teach you a few easy methods for tuning your guitar a half step down. Keep reading to learn how to down-tune your guitar by ear, or by using simple gear like a capo and chromatic tuner.

Things You Should Know

Use a chromatic tuner to adjust each string ½ step down. Your final tuning should be D♯, G♯, C♯, F♯, A♯, and D♯, lowest to highest.
Place a (guitar clamp) on the first fret and tune the strings normally, then remove the capo. Your open strings are now ½ step down.
Use a piano to tune your guitar by ear. Press the piano key for D♯, G♯, etc., then tune your guitar strings until they match the piano notes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Tuning Your Guitar with a Chromatic Tuner

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1
Buy a clip-on chromatic tuner and clip it to your guitar’s headstock. A chromatic tuner is a device that precisely measures the pitch of musical notes. Use one to tune your guitar quickly and easily.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA
Professional Guitarist

Expert Interview. 27 August 2019.} Choose a chromatic tuner with a digital display and clip it to the top of your guitar’s headstock. Make sure it doesn’t touch the strings or tuning knobs.^{[2]
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- You can purchase a clip-on chromatic guitar tuner for $20-30 on Amazon. This type of tuner works for both electric and acoustic guitars.
- You can also download a tuning app from the iPhone App Store, or from the Google Play Store on Android devices.
2
Use your tuner to tune the low E-string (the top string) ½ step down. Turn on your tuner and pluck the top string to confirm that it’s currently turned to E. Then pluck it again and turn the corresponding tuning knob to lower the string’s pitch.^{[3]
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Research source} Turn the knob until the display reads D♯ (or E♭). Drop the pitch a little lower, then turn the knob in the other direction to bring the pitch back up to D♯ (or E♭).^{[4]
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- D♯ (pronounced “D-sharp”) and E♭ (pronounced “E-flat”) are the same musical note.
- Most chromatic tuners won’t display flats (notes with the ♭ symbol), and instead only show sharps (notes with the ♯ symbol). Your chromatic tuner will probably show D♯, not E♭, but remember that both of these are correct.
- Sometimes, the strings on your guitar will stretch as you tune them, causing the pitch to change slightly. To compensate for this, always drop the pitch a little lower than you want, then tune back up to the desired note.
- If the top E-string wasn’t originally tuned to E, tune it to the correct note first. Then tune it down to D♯ (E♭).
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3
Tune the A-string (the 2nd-lowest pitched string) down ½ step. Pluck the A-string to confirm that it’s tuned to A. Then pluck it again and twist the knob for the A-string to lower the string’s pitch.^{[5]
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Research source} Continue turning until the tuner’s display drops below G♯ (A♭). Then turn the knob in the other direction to raise the pitch back up to G♯ (A♭).^{[6]
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- G♯ and A♭ are the same note. Your chromatic tuner will probably display G♯, but both are correct.
- If the A-string wasn’t tuned correctly to begin with, tune it to A first. Then tune it down to G♯ (A♭).
4
Drop the D-string (the 3rd-lowest pitched string) ½ step down. Pluck the D-string to make sure it’s tuned to D, then pluck it again and turn the corresponding knob to drop the pitch.^{[7]
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Research source} Keep lowering the pitch until the display on your chromatic tuner drops just below C♯ (D♭). Then twist in the opposite direction to bring up the pitch to C♯ (D♭).^{[8]
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- Your tuner will most likely display C♯, but remember that C♯ and D♭ are the same musical note.
- If the C-string was originally out of tune, use your chromatic tuner to tune it to C. Then follow the steps above to tune it to C♯ (D♭).
5
Tune down the G-string (the 3rd-highest pitched string). Pluck the G-string to check that it’s tuned to G.^{[9]
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Research source} If it’s slightly off, tune it to G first, then drop the pitch using the corresponding knob until your chromatic tuner reads F♯ (G♭). Drop the tuning a little lower, then tune it back up to F♯ (G♭).^{[10]
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- F♯ and G♭ correspond to the same note, but your tuner will probably show F♯.
6
Tune the B-string (the 2nd-highest pitched string) ½ step down. Puck the string to make sure it’s tuned to B, using the corresponding tuning knob to adjust the pitch up or down as needed.^{[11]
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Research source} Once you’re sure it’s tuned to B, drop the tuning down below A♯ (B♭). Then turn the knob in the other direction to raise the pitch to A♯ (B♭).^{[12]
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- Remember that A♯ and B♭ are the same note, but most tuners will only display A♯.
7
Tune down the high E-string (the highest-pitched string). Use your chromatic tuner to tune the high E-string to E (if it’s not already in tune).^{[13]
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Research source} Drop the pitch slightly below D♯ (E♭) using the corresponding tuning knob. Then raise the pitch back to D♯ (E♭).^{[14]
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- Again, D♯ and E♭ are actually the same musical note. This D♯ (E♭) is one octave higher than the D♯ (E♭) for the lowest string.
- As always, your tuner will probably show D♯, not E♭.
8
Pluck each string again one at a time to check the tunings. It’s normal for your strings to go slightly out of tune when you detune all of them at once. Use your chromatic tuner to check the pitch for each string. Use the tuning knobs to adjust their pitches as needed, until all the strings are in tune.^{[15]
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- Your strings should be tuned D♯, G♯, C♯, F♯, A♯, D♯ (or E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, B♭, E♭) from lowest to highest.
- You may need to adjust the tuning several times before all the strings are perfectly in tune.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Tuning Your Guitar with a Capo (Guitar Clamp)

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1
Place a capo (guitar clamp) on the first fret of your guitar. A capo, also known as a guitar clamp, is a device that clamps onto the neck of your guitar, holding all the strings at a specific fret. Place your capo on the top (uppermost) fret of your guitar. This will help you tune your guitar in future steps.^{[16]
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- You can buy a guitar capo on Amazon for $7-15, or check your local music shop.
- When the capo is on the first fret, the low-E string plays an F.
- Capos are usually used to make a guitar sound higher-pitched. By placing a capo on a specific fret, the player can treat that fret as the lowest notes on each string, allowing them to play higher-pitched chords more easily.
2
Use a chromatic tuner or a piano for tuning your strings. If using a tuner, opt for a clip-on chromatic guitar tuner with an electronic display.^{[17]
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Research source} If using a piano, find a full-size piano or electric keyboard. Find a quiet setting to tune your guitar since you’ll need to listen carefully to the notes.^{[18]
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- You can buy a clip-on chromatic guitar tuner on Amazon for $20-30. These work for both electric and acoustic guitars.
- If you’re using a tuner, clamp it to your guitar’s headstock away from the strings and tuning knobs.
3
Tune your guitar normally starting with the lowest string. With the capo on the first fret, pluck the lowest string (the E-string) and tune it to E. If using a chromatic tuner, drop the pitch until the tuner’s display reads “E.”^{[19]
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Research source} If using a piano, press the E2 key, then tune your guitar’s low E-string higher or lower until it the pitch matches the piano key.^{[20]
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- The E2 key is the second-lowest E key on the piano. Press the sustain pedal (the rightmost pedal) to make the note ring out when you release the key.
- When tuning each guitar string, drop the pitch a little lower than desired, then tune it back up to the correct note. This compensates for stretching or warping that sometimes occurs when the strings are adjusted, which can make them go out of tune.
4
Tune the remaining strings from lowest to highest (top to bottom). Leaving the capo on the first fret, continue by tuning the A string. Then tune the D, G, B, and high-E strings, in that order. Once you finish, check all the strings again and adjust them as needed. Do this multiple times until all the strings are in tune.^{[21]
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- If using a piano, press the A2 key for the A-string, D3 for the D-string, G3 for the G-string, B3 for the B-string, and E4 for the high E-string.
- Remember to press and hold the sustain pedal to make notes on the piano ring out.
- When tuning, drop the pitch slightly lower than desired, then tune back up to the correct note.
5
Remove the capo so that all the strings are tuned down ½ step. Your open (unclamped) strings will now be tuned D♯, G♯, C♯, F♯, A♯, D♯ (or E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, B♭, E♭). If you play chords with conventional finger positions, they’ll automatically sound ½ step lower.^{[22]
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- You can now play songs that require drop-down tuning. For example, you can play a song in the key of D♯ minor using the same finger positions as you normally would for E minor.
- Remember that D♯ and E♭ are the same note—that is, ½ a step below E is the same as ½ step above D. This also means that D♯ minor and E♭ minor are the same keys.
6
Adjust the tuning of the open strings as needed. Use a chromatic tuner or piano to test each open string. You may need to adjust the strings several times to get all of them perfectly in tune.^{[23]
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- Your strings will slowly go out of tune as you play your guitar. Check the tuning in between songs and retune the strings as needed.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Tuning by Ear

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1
Make sure your guitar is in standard tuning (E, A, D, G, B, E). Tune your strings from lowest to highest. Start with the low E-string (the thickest, lowest-pitched string on top). Then tune the A-string (the string just under the low E-string), then the D-string, etc. Finish with the high E-string (the thinnest, highest-pitched string on the bottom). Make sure the strings are tuned precisely since you’ll refer to their pitches in the next steps.^{[24]
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- Use a piano or clip-on chromatic tuner to get the pitches just right.
- If using a chromatic tuner, clip the tuner to the guitar’s headstock and tune each string until the correct note appears on the display.
- If using a piano, press the E2 key for the low E-string, A2 for the A-string, D3 for the D-string, G3 for the G-string, B3 for the B-string, and E4 for the high E-string.^{[25]
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- Hold the sustain pedal to let the piano notes ring out.
2
Tune the A-string to match the 4th fret on the E-string. Press the 4th fret on the E-string, then pluck the E-string and A-string together. Using the corresponding tuning knob to lower the pitch of the A-string until it matches the note produced by the 4th fret on the E-string.^{[26]
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- The A-string will now be tuned to G♯ (A♭).
- G♯ and A♭ are the same note, represented differently.
3
Tune the low E-string one octave below the 7th fret on the A-string. Press the 7th fret on the A-string, then pluck the A-string and open E-string simultaneously. Tune the E-string down until it matches the note from the 7th fret on the A-string. The E-string will sound lower, but the note will be the same.^{[27]
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- The E-string will now be tuned to D♯ (E♭). It will sound one octave lower than the D♯ (E♭) produced by the 7th fret on the A-string.
4
Tune the remaining strings from lowest to highest. Tune each string by pressing the corresponding fret on the string above it. Then adjust the pitch of the open string to match the pitch of the fretted string:^{[28]
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- Tune the D-string to the 5th fret on the A string. The D-string is now tuned to C♯ (D♭).
- Tune the G-string to the 5th fret on the D-string. The G-string is now tuned to F♯ (G♭).
- Tune the B-string to the 4th fret on the G-string. The B-string is now tuned to A♯ (B♭).
- Tune the high E-string to the 5th fret on the B-string. The high E-string is now tuned to D♯ (E♭), one octave higher than the low E-string (which is also tuned to D♯/E♭).^{[29]
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  Expert Source
  
  Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA
  Professional Guitarist
  
  Expert Interview. 27 August 2019.}
5
Check the tuning of each string again from lowest to highest. Begin by making sure the A-string matches the 5th fret on the E-string. Use the corresponding tuning knob to adjust the A-string’s pitch up or down as needed. Then do the same for the D, G, B, and high E strings.^{[30]
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- Tune the E-string by making sure it’s exactly one octave lower than the 7th fret of the A-string.
- Keep in mind that the B-string is tuned to the 4th fret on the G-string. Other strings match the 5th fret of the string above them.
- For more precise tuning, use a piano or clip-on chromatic tuner.