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Fellow Musicians Talk - drop c and other low tunings problem
chop-suey-in-half - Mar 09, 2008 - 01:34 PM
Post subject: drop c and other low tunings problem
hey, what stirng size is the best for drop c ?
i have been using baritone and almost baritone strings , but they hit the fretboard and screw the sound...
Drop tunings need thick or thin strings?
or is it juts my crap guitar? (i guess some guitars are not good for drop tunings..)
in standart everything is ok (except the fact that it`s standart tunings ^ )
012 .016 .022 .038 .048 .060
too thick?
i`ll try some thin strings tomorrow , but i`m not sure..
SEBASOIL - Mar 09, 2008 - 01:47 PM
Post subject: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
the thicker the better for low tunings. 
plain and simple
chop-suey-in-half - Mar 09, 2008 - 01:50 PM
Post subject: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
but thick strings hits the frets all the time and makes that unnesecery sound..
Crutchy wrote:
And I'd also like a guitar that can tune down without "hurting the guitar."
What I mean is like, when you tune down (lets say, to Drop C), your guitar sounds like total shit when you play it, and it seems like when you strum, the guitar is having a hard time handling how loose the strings are. I tried it on my cousin's Epiphone Les Paul and that's what happened.
oh, i see. some shitguitars (like mine) are not good for drop tunings... ;/
hackthesystem2 - Mar 09, 2008 - 03:04 PM
Post subject: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
Does anyone actually know how to tune to drop C? I can't get the hang of it 
Boozeclues - Mar 09, 2008 - 03:15 PM
Post subject: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
I know 2 easy ways of getting down to drop c. the first step is to get youe guitar in standard tuning. once thats done, match the 12th fret of your A sting to your open g. now just move down the strings, matching the 5th fret of your A (which you just tuned downed to G) to the next open string. remember that on the third thinnest string you match the 4th fret, not the fifth. once all of those strings are tuned, match the 12th fret of your thickest string to the open third string....................if thats too hard, heres a good site that allows you to change the not for each string, and it then plays it back. http://www.chordbook.com/guitartuner.php
XSider1 - Mar 09, 2008 - 06:28 PM
Post subject: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
Tune to D, then drop the low D a full step.
What guitar do you have chop-suey?
BTW. The string size's good. And if you think about it, Daron had been using a Stratocaster, and it was good for drop tunings. If you have tremolo bar, maybe that's the problem. Guitars with whammys are not really good for drop tunings. Maybe it can be done with hybrid strings (like .09, .011, .016, .026, .036, .046, the standard would be the same but the last three would be thinner) but I'm not sure... I've never tried it.
chop-suey-in-half - Mar 09, 2008 - 06:40 PM
Post subject: Re: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
XSider1 wrote:
Tune to D, then drop the low D a full step.
What guitar do you have chop-suey?
BTW. The string size's good. And if you think about it, Daron had been using a Stratocaster, and it was good for drop tunings. If you have tremolo bar, maybe that's the problem. Guitars with whammys are not really good for drop tunings. Maybe it can be done with hybrid strings (like .09, .011, .016, .026, .036, .046, the standard would be the same but the last three would be thinner) but I'm not sure... I've never tried it.
a shit-guitar. it`s a tupid copy of SG which i hate, but i`m really money-les at the moment
Skit - Mar 09, 2008 - 07:09 PM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
How low is your action?
Its probably set really low for standard tuning but when loosening the strings for dropped tunings its too low and the strings just buzz
chop-suey-in-half - Mar 09, 2008 - 07:23 PM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
how to do that?
stlpujols5 - Mar 09, 2008 - 07:58 PM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
I have a SG knock-off and I use the Skinny Top and Heavy Bottom strings on drop c and it sounds just fine. I think it may just be your action. I think you can change the action from the bridge of the guitar.
WeirdoYYY - Mar 10, 2008 - 03:44 AM
Post subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
Skit wrote:
How low is your action?
Its probably set really low for standard tuning but when loosening the strings for dropped tunings its too low and the strings just buzz
That's what I think.
The guitar isn't set up correctly.. Do you know anyone who is good at working with them?
chop-suey-in-half - Mar 10, 2008 - 12:07 PM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
i fixed it. i raised the action a bit, finally. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! i played 3 hours of total pleasure, no more buzz. omg, this feels so good ^^
Noahferfer - Mar 18, 2008 - 01:10 PM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
Anyone really tuning tower than drop C# (especially if they're using strings any bigger than 12's) should have a neck adjustment to raise the action, very simple solution 
daronfan66 - Mar 25, 2008 - 10:22 PM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
i live in mexico and i say
please give me a 13# strings
i dont know if where you live its same
psycrypto - Mar 26, 2008 - 06:44 AM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
Drop C doesnt need that much attention to the neck, action and strings, of course its always a lil better but most guitars can take it. The last Ibanez i bought is made for drop tunnings, so i use that one for the dropped tuned songs. But before that guitar, i only had my iceman and id drop tune my Iceman that low, like Drop A kinda low.
Just like everyone mentionned, thicker strings (ive got .13 to .60 atm) for better note sustain, neck adjustment to avoid neck damage and raising the action a lil to avoid fret buzz and youre in buisness.
And if youre gonna tune as low as B or A with all those adjusments, avoid tunning that guitar to D or standard, its best to stay in a range of tunning depending on the adjustments made on your guitar for the sake of your axe.
SEBASOIL - Jul 01, 2008 - 07:44 PM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
what if u want to tune 'UP to "dropped c" like would songs soung gd if the guitar is tuned up 2 dropped c would it be better if u playin a song with 2 guitars 1 normal dropped c and the other is up a dropped c (an octave difference)
Lorax - Jul 01, 2008 - 07:55 PM
Post subject:
I found most Ibanez can handle Drop C no problem. I always wanted to try A tuning although I'm a little scared to. 
(OFF TOPIC)--- Chop, what concert is your Avatar from?
Dream0ver - Jul 01, 2008 - 08:36 PM
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just read tho the thread...I have the same problem, that fret-buzz. So I needed to played in drop D...
Gonna try to change the action, hope I won't scew it up though
tnx guys 
Btw;
@Lorax; Pledge of Allegiance ´01
SEBASOIL - Jul 01, 2008 - 08:50 PM
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what i meant is would songs sound shit if u tune up to dropped c instead t of unning down , i mean if u thightten your strings instead of loosenning them??
Lorax - Jul 01, 2008 - 11:46 PM
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From E up to C would be a ridiculous change if you ask me. If changes weren't made to the neck I'd believe they would snap?
visagepoissons - Jul 02, 2008 - 01:16 AM
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SEBASOIL wrote:
what i meant is would songs sound shit if u tune up to dropped c instead t of unning down , i mean if u thightten your strings instead of loosenning them??
WTF? No way, that would be really odd. DO you mean like tuning the whole thing up to Drop D or something? Or tuning from standard UP to a drop C? It'd snap your strings in no time and sound plain weird. Try fast forwarding a SOAD song and imagine it being played at normal speed but at the same pitch (Or if you can change the pitch with a program on your computer just do that) It might sound a but like that lol.
SEBASOIL - Jul 02, 2008 - 10:32 AM
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yeah i tried it for the bottom 3 strings , they would barely vibrate u d barely get distortion and i m sure the first 3 strings cant hold that much tension.
it was just another try for me to avoid fret buzz, even in standard tunning i have fret buzz , my action is already raised and raising it some more would make solos impossible and palm muting a pain.
guess the only way is 2 get a new guitar . how about those deans???
dufto - Jul 02, 2008 - 12:20 PM
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SEBASOIL wrote:
yeah i tried it for the bottom 3 strings , they would barely vibrate u d barely get distortion and i m sure the first 3 strings cant hold that much tension.
it was just another try for me to avoid fret buzz, even in standard tunning i have fret buzz , my action is already raised and raising it some more would make solos impossible and palm muting a pain.
guess the only way is 2 get a new guitar . how about those deans???
get it fixed in a store...your neck is probably fucked up
visagepoissons - Jul 03, 2008 - 01:32 AM
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Are you putting your finger RIGHT behind the frets? If they're in the middle you're going to get buzz no matter what you do. And how hard are you picking. I know that cause me problems with buzz on the bass when I pluck too hard.
ufcdanny - Jul 03, 2008 - 01:59 AM
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I've always had trouble getting my guitar into Drop C. I never really understood what it means when the strings "match" When I try to tune two strings, they never sound exactly the same. And I don't think its guitar. Its an Epiphone SG Special, so I don't think its a cheaply made guitar. And I know its not the strings because I just put really thick Ernie Ball strings on not too long ago.
What am I doing wrong? 
HEROIN:BOB - Jul 03, 2008 - 09:31 AM
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I got a gay assed stagg guitar and brought some Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings dropped to C and it sounds really good does it help that im not using the same amp that came with the guitar?? I use a Squier SP-10 amp with the treble on 5 and Bass on 10 with distortion obviously on an volume on 10 aswell it sounds really good.
kingmchris - Jul 03, 2008 - 09:47 AM
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if your strings keep hitting the fretboard it is because your bridge is too lower. raise it up.
i use skinny top heavy bottoms for my alternate tunings. works just fine.
SEBASOIL - Jul 03, 2008 - 12:42 PM
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visagepoissons wrote:
Are you putting your finger RIGHT behind the frets? If they're in the middle you're going to get buzz no matter what you do. And how hard are you picking. I know that cause me problems with buzz on the bass when I pluck too hard.
i noticed i pluck hard but thats because most of the time when i practice i m too lazy 2 hook on the amp. but i dont think thats mainly it cause i have like 1 string that buzzes a lot the others r way better, even though the action on that string is way higher than all of the others
visagepoissons - Jul 04, 2008 - 04:07 AM
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ufcdanny wrote:
I've always had trouble getting my guitar into Drop C. I never really understood what it means when the strings "match" When I try to tune two strings, they never sound exactly the same. And I don't think its guitar. Its an Epiphone SG Special, so I don't think its a cheaply made guitar. And I know its not the strings because I just put really thick Ernie Ball strings on not too long ago.
What am I doing wrong?
Each string has a different timbre that is different to it's pitch. They won't sound exactly the same, but if they're in tune the pitch will be the same. Listen for pitch not sound. If you're having trouble with it get a tuner first and learn what they sound like.
4thofJuly - Jul 04, 2008 - 08:55 PM
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Having a 7-string guitar would help.. but that's out of the question.
dancingskeleton - Jul 04, 2008 - 11:41 PM
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: drop c and other low tunings problem
The person that set up my iceman in Drop C recommended that i use Guitar Boomers-TNT...size 10-52 and so far i haven't had any trouble with them.
here's a link for musiciansfriend.com, but you can get them almost anywhere...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=100516
hope that helps
4thofJuly - Jul 12, 2008 - 10:34 PM
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Lorax wrote:
I found most Ibanez can handle Drop C no problem. I always wanted to try A tuning although I'm a little scared to.
Chances are, it will sound way too muddy. If you had a baritone guitar, it would work. Having a 7-string guitar would help too.
visagepoissons - Jul 13, 2008 - 02:39 AM
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4thofJuly wrote:
Having a 7-string guitar would help.. but that's out of the question.
Why's that out of the question?
4thofJuly - Jul 13, 2008 - 04:59 AM
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Well.. it's not TOTALLY out of the question. I just don't think a good number of people would want to play a 7-string guitar personally and some people might not like it as well as a 6-string.
I mean.. you would have to agree, everybodies first guitar is a 6-string guitar. If you owned a 7-string then you really wouldn't need a 6-string anymore. However, having a 7-string has its advantages. If you wanted to tune to Drop A then you could do it easily. They cost more money but that's the only downside if you have a budget.
It's more common to see people play with 6-string guitars, a majority of successful artists may feel like they don't need a 7-string when they prefer playing with 6 strings.
It's all based on preference really, like that Guitar.com interview with Daron. The interviewer asked him if he would play a 7-string and he responded no lol.
If anyone plans on starting a death metal, black metal, or just a regular metal band, you're better off having a 7-string if you don't want your music to sound muddy.
I know I would buy a 7-string, it would be badass
Crutchy - Jul 16, 2008 - 09:03 AM
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XSider1 wrote:
Guitars with whammys are not really good for drop tunings. .
wat
4thofJuly wrote:
If anyone plans on starting a death metal, black metal, or just a regular metal band, you're better off having a 7-string if you don't want your music to sound muddy.
Or you could get it set up in a shop (intonation and whatnot), have it sound sexy, and not blow a fuckload of money on a 7 string. You're kinda anti-6-string, aren't you?
ufcdanny wrote:
I've always had trouble getting my guitar into Drop C. I never really understood what it means when the strings "match" When I try to tune two strings, they never sound exactly the same. And I don't think its guitar. Its an Epiphone SG Special, so I don't think its a cheaply made guitar. And I know its not the strings because I just put really thick Ernie Ball strings on not too long ago.
What am I doing wrong?
Get a chromatic tuner. You can tune to any tuning with ease if you do.
4thofJuly - Jul 17, 2008 - 09:39 AM
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Far from it actually, I just think having an extra would help out with experimentation.
As of now I only have a 6-string but I also wouldn't mind having a 7-string.
BurningPoop - Jul 18, 2008 - 05:44 PM
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^Dude, that'd be totally badass..
visagepoissons - Jul 19, 2008 - 03:26 AM
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Guitars with floyd rose or similar tremolo systems are not GOOD for drop tunings. That does not by ANY means mean you cannot do it. It's just that they're bitchy to tune. They're bitchy to tune anyway, but with drop tuning (especially lower drop tunings) they're the biggest bitch there is.
video/radio - Oct 28, 2008 - 06:20 PM
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i agree with that...i have a guitar with floyd rose and i hate tuning it and the guitar's not really good for drop tunings or low tunings at all .
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