One advantage you didn't mention is double-tracking. Using a second downtuned guitar to double-track the same part with different chord shapes and voicings adds a ton of depth and character to recordings in a way that's not obvious to the listener. It also turns some downward shifts into upward shifts and vice versa, which can turn a pretty static, straightforward progression into something with a lot of dynamic movement.
@@CyclesAreSingularities I didn’t say a baritone in D. And you can do that with lighter gauge strings. Baritone is just a scale length. Rhett has used a baritone in B to double track before.
I’m a huge death fan so d standard is what I play all the time, not only just that I feel a more connection with d standard, e is fine but it’s a little to bright for me. Still playing guitar is one of the reasons I’m still on this earth, brings me endless joy
Yeah same here, death and gojira are the reason I mainly write in D standard. Writing a doom metal EP (maybe album) in A standard currently which is something I've never really tried before.
This might already have been commented on but standard D on an acoustic brings it alive with so much depth and tonality. It's easy to capo back to standard E when required.
Recently I tuned my 1988 Takamine NP-15C down to D standard. Not for the sound, but for some songs that I can no longer sing in the original key. But it does add a lot to the sound of the guitar. The cedar top seems to respond to the lower vibrations differently. I've decided to keep it there.
This is exactly how I've got my main acoustic tuned to. It's the biggest lil "hack" I learned about for this exact reason. *almost* no reason to have it tuned to standard. 🙏🙏
I discovered D standard years ago when I was learning "Yesterday." It's in F, but the standard-tuning chords (F-Em-A7-Dm....) in open position never sounded right. I saw a video of Paul playing it at Shea Stadium, and he looked like he was playing it in G, and I realized his guitar was tuned down a full step...
I have been playing in Drop C and D standard for about 6 years now. One of the things I like about it that you didn't mention is the feel. I like and play 10's, and simply tune down. Getting the feel of 10's with the reduced string tension is perfect for me. It just feels so good and it inspires me to write.
@@RJRonquillo once you start having one laying around, you start to miss that low B on blues turnarounds at the least lol There are also some very nice T style sevens as well with every wood/build config and scale length anyone would generally want to start with readily available at reasonable prices...we live in wonderous times for gear, boy howdy
One of the benefits of this tuning is, if you play a lot of jazz it turns the guitar into a Bb instrument. So a lot of standards become easier to play and you get more interesting creative options, like the Eb example you gave.
Ernesto! Love your vids mate, seriously incredible. I'd love to see you do some score covers like some Hans Zimmer covers in a low tuning with your Martin.
I've been playing in D standard for a while. The reason is to transcribe Bachs Tocatta en Fugue in D minor. I think it's awesome. D standard, and the tocatta.
I hope this applies my band has a lot of songs where the guitar is eastandard with a drop D but the songs are in A and then hook or chorus goes to the lower string and gives a little more of a crunchy dynamic
I wish I had guitars to do that... but I only have starter pack guitar which will go absolutely crazy intonation if I change the tuning even a half step
D-Standard is actually my go-to and probably favorite tuning, has been for a good few years now. I also really like C-Standard, Drop-C and Drop-B, but good ole Full-Step-Down is my standard. I only play in E-Std now if I'm playing along with the album or a backing track, but even then I usually just find a pitch-shifted track on RUclips, tune the song instead of my guitar 😂
I've been using Amazing Slow Downer for many years to tune songs. The iPad version even works with Spotify, Apple Music, etc. I don't have any financial interest in the company. I'm just sharing.
"Bad Moon Rising" - all the rockabilly Scotty Moore patterns are in D standard and are so fun to play. I toured with one Tele tuned D-Standard with a very heavy 6th string. The leader called more and more songs in D because he wanted to feel that feeling of the speakers pushing that kind of air. Also, when wanting to get closer to Albert King bends, lighter strings in D standard get you really close and it's easier than dealing with C#. I never thought about purposely playing new shapes over a standard tuned band though. That's fascinating. Good stuff, as usual Rhett.
@@morddas man. I used to work at Goodwill. A lady came by with tears in her eyes. She had her late Mother’s amp head and wanted it to go to someone who would take care of it. An old, fully functional TiescoTube head. She donated a bunch of stuff and kept the head. I met her later that day and she gave it to me. It sounds killer and it is a real treasure to me. As far as D standard goes. I’m a Ghost fan, so I know it well😎
But you have to tune to Drop Z for the br00talz... I'm kidding, D standard is my favourite, plenty of "heavy" riffs have been done in D Standard, it's great for stoner rock, it's just generally a great tuning, and my main guitar has pretty much always lived in D Standard
As a bass player I love when guitar players are adventurous with tunings. I especially love when I’m playing with an E standard guitar and a baritone guitar tuned to B or even A. Really helps break the redundancy because it encourages them to combine different voicings which helps avoids that linear dual guitar thing . Simple chord progressions like E minor to C become a completely different vibe because the the two guitars can go in different directions. For example the e standard guitar can go from E minor up to C and the baritone can go from E minor down to C.
@Justin Yeah and honestly, I’m a big fan of it as they really became one of the best metal bands once they started that, and the slower, groovier riffs with the harmonies. But Realm of Chaos is still a fucking brutal record, and probably my favorite overall release cuz 40K
I’ve been using D standard since the early 90s - for a long time exclusively, partly due to having a Baritone voice. I still have an RG permanently set to D standard and always have my 12 string in D standard. I have gravitated back to standard tuning otherwise, partly because I eventually felt that the ‘tightness’ and ‘brightness’ of standard tuning was better on some guitars - especially acoustic and floating bridges even after adjusting springs. I also have baritone guitars in B standard so switching between guitars tuned to B, D and E without changing fingerings is awesome!!
I've been using this tuning since 1991. I have some benchmarks to help out. #1. It works best on long scale (25.5") guitars, Strat's and Tele's. My Les Pauls are in E, my home made guitars and fender products and Night Hawk are in D. #2. Here's is a good starting formula. For each half step you drop, its 2 numbers for wound strings and 1 number for plain strings. Example: .046 to .048 for E flat and .046 to .050 for D. #3. Just Strings will sell you bulk strings in any gauge. I normally play Tens on an E tuned Guitar, the closest gauge for the same feel and reaction in D are: 12, 15, 19 Plain and 30, 40, 50 wound. I would experiment because everybody is different but this is a good stating point. You can get some REALLY COOL sounds when playing a D chord on an E tuned guitar with another guitarist playing a low E chord (actual D). Also, the same 2 number drop applies to basses too. Enjoy. Its worth it if you have multiple guitars to do one of them in D. Another plus is as we age, our voices change, tuning down for a mans voice really helps!!
I have used this tuning for a long time; including the Eb Standard tuning. I love these tunings and thank you for reminding me of the beauty of this tuning.
What I really love about this video is that you talk about how to utilize the tuning when playing with other guitarists in standard tuning. You make a G-shape and call it an F chord, where most guitar players would just keep calling it a G chord. Typically down-tuned guitar players will have the rest of the band match their tuning and everything sounds like it would as if they were in standard but transposed lower. This is all well and good, but having multiple guitars in different tunings opens up so many new possibilities.
I use D standard so I can move a lot of songs down a whole step but still use the same chord shapes, since I'm a baritone. Would recommend for others with lower voices
Good idea, i sing baritone. I think Gwar plays D stanard and some metal bands i listen too. i play bass too, something about those frequencies with me, lol!
Excellent video. I found your channel by seeing this. I have been playing in D standard for quite some time now and always wondered why more cats weren't using it. When I told other guitarists what I was doing, they always assumed I meant drop D tuning, which I honestly don't find all that interesting. Thanks for representing! I am off to try Nashville and C# tuning!
What an incredibly talented person! To be able to play all those instruments with such authority and grace.; then to be so facilitated in producing these well edited videos and script them for us all to grasp the intent so easily. Good for you!
You have now given us infinite “musical” reasons for buying more guitars. One can’t keep retuning all the time and it’s ultimately a math exercise which is good for our brain’s health. Brilliant, I say!!
Actually one can keep retuning all the time. In fact, I tune my guitars everytime I pick them up, might as well change tuning too. Anyway, just be mindful if your obsession for MORE guitars is not a neurosis and a way to compensate for other issues in your life. It was for me, and when I realized that, not only my llife improved, but my playing too. I now enjoy the few guitars I have way more than the dozen I had, and I play/practice more. Just my 2 cents. Recovering GAS addict here.
@@EdBender that’s some wisdom there. I’m OCD when it come to tuning. Having a bit of fun of course, along with being a bit lazy too :) Agree that less is more. I only have three guitars and its hard enough to stay crisp on all three - as each one is just a bit different than another. Thanks for the reminder to play what you got the best it can be played. Cheers!
I have kept an acoustic in D standard for about 8 years now and my right hand touch improved ridiculously by playing on it in ways playing in E just hadn't done for me. Just converted one of my electrics to B standard and I'm falling in love with songs I've had to play but never enjoyed. Letting an open E shape ring out for 8beats has never seemed cool for me, but I get compliments now on how I let songs breath. Alternate Standard tunings have made me a better musician. All that is to say I'm glad someone is talking about lower standard tunings.
Who has a tip about string gauge on a firebird? I have one with standard bridge and stop bar and I would try to go for D standard but in 10-46 gauge it's already too weak, should I go for 11-48 or 11-54? Thanks!
@@Sameold87 I'd recommend to try a few and see what you like best. If you want to go with 11s, it is best to try different brands, because unlike 9s or 10s (which are basically identical across the board) the way heavy sets are balanced out varies a bit from brand to brand. You can also try out 10-52s. If the 11-34 set you are mentioning is the Ernie Ball 2627 (Beefy Slinky), I tried that one, and wouldn't recommend it because the 3rd string is a plain 22 that doesn't feel very nice to play on a Gibson-scale guitar.
I used 12s for C standard and it was OK. I guess 11s for D standard would be allright. @andrew ratiani: Which gage are you using for B standard, and what scale lenght do you have? On my 25 3/4 I had to go with a set of 8 strings, because I couldn't find 13s and 12s were very ugly intonation wise.
Im a singer songwriter and Ive been rolling in D standard for ages for my vocal range. The extra color was just always bonus. This video gave me some things to think about witj voicings! Thanks Rhett!
That intro sounded like Anna Molly by Incubus in a different key. Also, that version of Voodoo Chile is amazing, I first heard it years ago in the opening scene of Lords of Dogtown.
I started using D Standard 15 years ago and been in love with it ever since. It all started with wanting a "heavier" sound, but it really changes the whole vibe of your sound, specially when you use open chords. And when you play with another guitarrist (that plays in E standard), the result is way more dynamic. Lots of love from Colombia! I love your videos!
hi, colombian friend. just wanted to say I loved Bogota and Certagena. Both places very distinct from each other, both very charming and welcoming. Wish I could go there again and enjoy a pint or three at a BBC and a fresh ceviche at La Cevicheria. Cheers from Brazil!
I use D Standard just because it's so warm and beautiful. Playing songs I already know in D Standard gives them a new freshness. I actually got into D Standard when I had a really heavy folk phase last year, because this tuning is surprisingly common in folk/blues songs going as far back as the 30s with the Carter Family and Skip James. I got introduced to it by Pink Floyd because the acoustic in Dogs is in D Standard, but Neil Young and Elliott Smith were the main reasons I got into it because they used it so frequently. And then when I got into the Beatles I realized they used it too, and so many others.
Elliott Smith got me there. It's my go to. Can be kinda distancing sometimes cuz I've learned to transpose keys easily with it but playing with others can be iffy sometimes. I love it too much to change it tho!
I switched to D ten years ago to accomodate for the singer from my band at the time, and Ive never looked back. Specially now being in a band with two guitarists, its a great method to ensure we never play the same thing, so we get a broader sound.
that's how you do it! The last band I was in had another electric guitarist and a lead singer on acoustic (dude could actually play; we always had to yell at him to turn up), and I was almost always either using a capo or in a different tuning altogether. Just like you said, the sound got much broader. People would tell us they liked that their ears weren't "tired" after hearing us play a couple of sets.
I've been playing guitar for 10 years and started to play the piano about 2 and a half and let me say that as a guitarist you reach a point of theory knowledge when you start to hear a lot of repetition, but this is because of the nature of guitar, because of how it's made and the patterns it has. That is why is so hard to reach a tasty level of harmony because you really have to be ON POINT with inversions (really meaning on point with inversion) and aux chords. Once I've changed to piano, having all the deep theory in my head, I couldn't believe my ears... Playing those chords, inversions, it is absolutely different. I wouldn't say that D standard is bad, in fact it isn't, but I think E just sounds better (Don't misunderstand me, I love the low bass notes on chords), it just sounds brighter. BUT on an acoustic nylon D standard sounds GOOD, and I've tried. My advise would be that if you want to sound different you should work on those inversions of triads, 4notes chords, maybe a Maj79 without the 3, etc and your sound won't be as much as repetitive as it was! Cheers to all, nice vid.
Started playing in D standard learning Motley Crue and loved the sounds I could get. Now that I started singing I find that D fits my vocal range really well and just fills out the sound more especially when I’m just playing solo.
N, thanks! I was wondering what that was. Really pretty! I like the Tele bridge pickup and the P90 in the bridge on a Tele. Been meaning to build one. Sounds great! Now I have to watch them build it!
Tuning down a whole step, how many people had that "a-ha" moment when they realized that's the key to getting the chords sounding right for "Yesterday." Another Paul McCartney tune I love that does that is "Heart Of The Country." I think John Fogerty likes this tuning a lot too.
every time I click one of your videos I learn something new and begin to challenge the way I typically approach the guitar. Thank you for creating content like this, much needed for any guitarist.
I'd tuned my acoustic 12 string to D standard many, many years ago just to relieve some tension off the neck and just used a capo when I wanted to jam in E or Eb and of course loved just hanging out in the low register for the sound. About ten years later, I started to transcribe the piano driven version of Joe Cocker's Feelin' Alright. When I played F7 and saw where I could without the capo there was no turning back for my 2 acoustics. It's nice to be able to walk the bass lines in key especially being one that is too busy and has to jam alone for the most part. About the same time as that, I had heard that piano players like to jam in F and Bb (like we do in Em/G and Am/C). Next thing you know a friend of mine wanted to learn Elton John's Tiny Dancer and it took me all of 10 minutes to figure out. On top of that, like Rhett said, the chord voicings and counter melodies that you can get while jamming with someone tuned E standard create quite a unique sound. All of that being said, with my 2 acoustics being tuned to D standard, I'm thinking I might need to add a third and maybe a fourth to the two electrics I have (and probably a another acoustic for slide😁).
I was learning to play the Beatles “Come Together” for an event, and since there was no bass player I discovered that by going to drop DvI could simulate the essential bass guitar riff easily. The rest just fell into place. Try it, it’s really fun to do Pauls riff on the bottom 3 strings with a basic slide up to barre.
My main Godin guitar has been in D standard for years. It’s one of my favorite tunings! And another awesome thing is i have instant access to drop C which is also an amazing tuning.
I'd like to see D Standard used more, just because I'm a Baritone Singer. A lot of times I really need for a song to be down a half step or a step for me to be able to hit the higher notes in the song. It can also remain flexible since if you need to be in E Standard for a song, you can put a Capo on, which will also change the tone and feel as well from a regular E Standard.
A musician friend of mine has one of the highest sopranos you've ever heard come out of any woman. She's tuned to D standard for almost the whole time I've known her. She loves the huge harmonic cushion it makes under her voice, even with the O-size models she usually plays.
It does sound cool and i like the band ghost because they also use that tuning. I also like QOTSA a lot as well because of their c-tuning which brings interesting sounds and riffs.
Great explanation… actually one of the best I’ve seen. I’ve been tuning to D standard for over 20 years… both guitar and bass. I love that low D. It definitely changes your guitar’s personality. I especially enjoy playing those other chord voicings alongside another guitar in standard tuning. It’s also fun to watch that other guitar player try to watch your hands to find his chords when he gets lost… 😂
Great advice, although it's worth mentioning that Billy Gibbons tunes down and uses lighter gauges than normal. It depends on your personal preferences but if you do a lot of bending it's great. Takes a while to get use to though.
I hear you on that. My 5-string is kept with the heaviest string tuned to A, so it does help a lot with being able to hit a low A or B-flat when needed. I keep one of my other guitars in D standard as well. Nice to have options.
I started tuning my guitars in D after getting used to it on five-string bass as well. It's definitely nice on the five-string when accompanying piano to be able to cover the full range, or with horns to have the low Bb.
I'm mainly an electronic musician and I've been wanting to do this because most of my music is in D. Also the lowest note I will go to is D on the Sub-Bass. Your vid has just given me motivation to buy a new set of strings and try this.
I’ve used D standard for awhile now and it’s an awesome way to think about note names and how it corresponds to standard tuning. Great for metal or any other genre. Awesome that you’re bringing more awareness to this musical secret.
I'm currently having loads of fun with an Eb all-fourths tuning. You should explore that one sometime. I'm thinking that it will become my new standard tuning. The patterns are the same all across the neck, it's great for logical chord voicing and has very near the same overall string tension as E standard.
The tuning I use is all-fourths in D (D-G-C-F-A#-D#). It gives me everything I need from a tuning, but the string tension is kinda hard to get right. I currently use the 1st and 2nd strings from a .010 gauge pack, and the rest are from an 0.011 pack. I've tried the "skinny top, heavy bottom" string sets, but they always make the 3rd string quite light, when it's only the first 2 strings I need to be lighter. In short, I have to buy two packs of strings every time I re-string the guitar, which can get kinda expensive.
I usually associate D standard with my beloved oldschool Death Metal so it's funny seeing Rhett play it. Just kidding, trying out different tunings helps your creativity by taking you out of staleness playing same shapes and voicings, forcing you to accomodate to different rules. By trying to play same stuff in different tuning it often leads to discovering new shapes and voicing. I guess shapes stay the same with D standard though but just hearing guitar in a different range is something to experience.
When you get used to a new tuning, staleness comes back. To get out of staleness, the only thing is to be fully aware while playing, and to search for new musical ideas, not new tunings.
Similarly, I was seriously surprised in the change of character when I moved my baritone and bass from B to A. Everything came out with different emotions.
The great R&B and gospel bassist Andrew Gouche tunes down a whole step. He plays a 6, mostly. I think you really need to plan for this kind of move, though, to get amplification that can handle lower notes.
Great vid, we've been using this tuning for nearly 20 years... Mainly because when we used to do covers and had locking nuts it would be a good middle ground for songs by Nickelback, Limp Bizkit etc on 1 guitar then a second guitar in E... We like the extra grunt, while still maintaining the clarity you seem to lose going much below a C, pretty much everything we record now is in D standard and we've never looked back...
I now have one of my guitars permanently tuned to D Standard / Drop C and I'm really starting to appreciate the warmth and darkness that this tuning has. Great video as always.
Another suggestion for some folks starting out or not being great at barring chords would be to use this tuning with a capo to use standard chords to get where they need to go also. Example, if you had hand issues (arthritis etc) capo on 1st fret and play E chord to play in Eb. That’s something I saw my father do because he can’t chord an guitar like he used to. Hope all of that makes sense.
I always keep a guitar in E standard, but C standard has long been my personal favorite. I'm also considering to get a 7 string tuned to drop A too, and use a decent capo to switch to drop C when needed. I still regularly have fun with alternate tunings, but Standard still seems to be the most versatile.
@@yaboi-km2qn I've been using 4ths tuning for about two years and chords aren't that hard as people say. It takes a while, but I can play most songs without problem
@@yaboi-km2qn Some chords are actually easier., such G and C. It's not a tuning for buskers, let's put it like that. Check out players such as Tom Quayle and Alex Hutchings, who have done videos on it.
Oh my goodness the intro track just felt like nostalgia for a song I’ve never heard. I love that. I wish you had a full song like that. That sounds like an amazing pop song I would actually listen to unlike most pop today.
You've vindicated me!!! LOL I tuned all my acoustics that I perform my fingerstyle solo work on to D standard years ago and felt guilty. I thought I was cheating...but what you experienced and showed so well is the creative magic that happens with that tuning. That was fun!
My favorite tuning, at least for a Strat, is E♭ Standard with 11-52 gauge. That gave me optimal tone and just the right amount of string slack for great vibrato and playability. I land my tremolo on the Strat and this set-up held it's tuning well. There is something about the low-end bloom of lower register chords and just an overall darker, more evil sound, when tuning down a half step.
I really like some half-step too, Angry Again - Megadeth and Lay It Down - Ratt got me into it and they've forever remained two of my absolute favorite tracks to jam, but I place it lower on my favorite tuning list; I really only break out the half-step for a handful of specific (hair metal) jams and retune soon as I'm done, but I _never_ tune out of D-Std unless another song needs a specific tuning
D standard, easier to sing, easier to play, keep a capo handy for playing songs in Eb or E easily. I keep a capo on the 2nd fret a lot when playing with others.
Yeah I've been doing this for years on acoustic. I feel it opens up some more ways to play different chords in songs, but like you say, you can use a capo for e which I quite like because then the action is really low
I just did this recently. I play a lot of Eb songs, but my acoustic feels SOOO much better in D with a capo. Then, learning new stuff (I'm a beginner) is easier with a capo on the 2nd so I can easily follow others
One of my guitars is tuned in B standard with occasional drop A. I had to put 8 strings guitar strings on it because Earnie Ball don't make 13s for electric, and 12s are just wayyyy too unstable. Sometime I might consider either a 7 stringer or a baritone, but before that I have to get my perfect main guitar... Still, playing System of a Down with a capo on the 2nd fret must have some people scratching their head. ;) To anybody wondering: The reason underneath that tuning is because one song we play calls for C-standard, but since we're playing everything half a step down it's lowered to B. BTW, 12s work OK on 25 3/4 scale length for C standard, but when in B the intonation starts getting all wrong and very ugly passed the 7th fret or so.
Originally I went to D Standard on an acoustic (an Ibanez Artcore) that just always felt like the strings were too tight - even though the action was low, it would tire my fingers quickly, and seemed to lack some resonance. Dropping the tuning to D Standard eased the tension and made the guitar much easier to play, and the sound improved tremendously! While the highs stayed very present, the mid and lower ranges seemed to blossom, and sustain (seldom a strong point on acoustics) improved dramatically! I've since used it on one of my electrics (a Squire Tele) also - and it does certainly make a difference in tone - and creates some interesting voicing opportunities :-) If you have an acoustic that just doesn't sound quite right - I highly recommend giving D Standard a try - it may be just what the doctor ordered!
I had a friend in California who played with some big bands in the 60s and I asked him about my 12 string acoustic and having the same problem you describe. He said always put a 12 string in E flat, it will be a lot easier to play. Use a capo for standard tuning songs. Going to D would probably be an even better application of the same principle.
@@bikeman123 - a couple of reasons off the top of my head: first, convenience. If one tunes to Eb, but the composition is in C, then one must play almost every chord as a barre - there would be very few open chords in common. Either one would use a capo, or have a much more limited set of voicings. Second, it might be surprising, but that half-step difference can have a notable effect on tone (particularly for acoustic instruments). In my case, Eb was still hard to play, and did not gain the resonance that the extra half-step to D gave it! Of course, that can be different for every guitar - if you play, try it on your guitar & see what the effect is for E, then Eb, then D - which one is better to your ear on your guitar? In the long run, I think the real point is to not be bound by the convention of tuning to E Standard - but also don't feel *forced* to reject it, either: have fun with it, & play around until you are positively challenged to grow as a guitarist!
Rhett. Mate. Thanks. I know I'm late on this but it's a revelation. You just wrote my guitar part for a song that didn't sound quite right. Now it does. thanks.
I've played bass in D standard for the past 5 years. It's a unique sound and once you learn the fingering and open notes many possibilities open up in a band context.
This is the reason I bought a Gibson RD. It’s one of the few Gibsons that has a 25.5” scale. Longer scale lengths are more forgiving for downtuning *no need to change string gauge. Your typical SG/Les Paul’s scale length (24-3/4”) isn’t AS ideal for D standard.
I've been playing a Jazzmaster in D standard and Drop C for 5 years now and couldn't be happier! Perfect middle ground for heavy riffs, solos and clean stuff!
About a year into playing guitar, I had wandered into a D standard tuning on the acoustic, and wrote about a dozen tunes. It’s been 15 years since, and now I might just go for it again!
I´m using D Standard in a Gretsch Baritone guitar for almost a year and I feel exactly like you said, there is a kind of freedom with that, something like move to a bigger department... Actually, for this guitar is a "high tunning" but, with 011 string the tension is just perfect for chords!!!!
This is just my personal experience, but back when I played 9s, I found that using 11s in D standard felt more like 9s in E standard. That being said, it’s all about personal preference.
Yeah and what scale length were you using? 10's in D on a 26" feel less slinky and bendy than 9's in E do on a Strat. so. Maybe you simply prefer more tension.
@@lynchlychfeld At the time, I was playing 24.75” scale guitars. (I forgot to mention that in the original comment) Now I play mostly 25.5” scale guitars because it seemed the most practical for partscasters.
Rhett, thanks so much for exploring a different sonic realm from E-standard. In the same way that a different guitar can bring out of you a style of playing, D-standard as you so clearly demonstrated has the same effect. Those lower bass ranges are immediately captivating. thanks for bringing to our attention.
The worship band at my church plays sets in D pretty often, going to have to give this a try sometime. Sometimes the normal cage shape D chord isn't quite satisfying, love the Standard D shape utilizing all the strings. Straight up beefy sounding 💪
Since I am into Between The Buried And Me, I mostly play in C # Standard and I'm lovin‘it. They have been playing that way for about 20 years and have a great discography.
I've been using D Standard and Drop C since the late 90's, those have always felt more natural to me than any other tunings. I'm mostly a metal player, but I find that everything I play ends up sounding better to my ears when using those particular tunings.
Love D standard! I have one acoustic and one electric dedicated to that tuning... started out as an accident a couple years ago because I has strings that were too heavy of a gage to be tuned up to E. After writing a few songs, I was HOOKED. have a hardtail Strait in D standard that I run 12s instead of 10s and it absolutely sings
"Every guitar sounds better when you tune it down. Doesn't matter if it's a Strat or not. Of course it sounds better but what song are we playing?" - Tom Bukovac
After watching this video I tried it out, and have been playing along to everybody hurts, its adds a really warm yet dark tone to it with the different chord shapes, I love it!
One advantage you didn't mention is double-tracking. Using a second downtuned guitar to double-track the same part with different chord shapes and voicings adds a ton of depth and character to recordings in a way that's not obvious to the listener. It also turns some downward shifts into upward shifts and vice versa, which can turn a pretty static, straightforward progression into something with a lot of dynamic movement.
I think he uses a Baritone for that quite a bit, adds a nice depth and extra resonance for sure.
That's a good idea
Whoa! How do u know this
Wow I'm learning a lot with this comment
@@CyclesAreSingularities I didn’t say a baritone in D. And you can do that with lighter gauge strings. Baritone is just a scale length.
Rhett has used a baritone in B to double track before.
I’m a huge death fan so d standard is what I play all the time, not only just that I feel a more connection with d standard, e is fine but it’s a little to bright for me. Still playing guitar is one of the reasons I’m still on this earth, brings me endless joy
Death are the reason I'm in D standard haha 👌
@@DH-hl5tc well that’s a very good reason 🤘🏻
Yeah same here, death and gojira are the reason I mainly write in D standard. Writing a doom metal EP (maybe album) in A standard currently which is something I've never really tried before.
Also why i have a guitar in D chuck was a riff lord
C standard is even better!!
This might already have been commented on but standard D on an acoustic brings it alive with so much depth and tonality. It's easy to capo back to standard E when required.
💯👍🏼I just discovered this today 😃
I love d standard on acoustic.
Recently I tuned my 1988 Takamine NP-15C down to D standard. Not for the sound, but for some songs that I can no longer sing in the original key. But it does add a lot to the sound of the guitar. The cedar top seems to respond to the lower vibrations differently. I've decided to keep it there.
This is exactly how I've got my main acoustic tuned to. It's the biggest lil "hack" I learned about for this exact reason. *almost* no reason to have it tuned to standard. 🙏🙏
I’ve been doing this too, loving it!
I discovered D standard years ago when I was learning "Yesterday." It's in F, but the standard-tuning chords (F-Em-A7-Dm....) in open position never sounded right. I saw a video of Paul playing it at Shea Stadium, and he looked like he was playing it in G, and I realized his guitar was tuned down a full step...
Hi John, 12-string guitars are tuned to D standard (so the neck can take the strain). Yesterday is played on a 12-string guitar.
@@DarcyPerry it definitely isn't
@@DenKulesteSomFins You are definitely right!
@@Foxikaze Not by a country mile. Not sure where I got that from.
Yep
I have been playing in Drop C and D standard for about 6 years now. One of the things I like about it that you didn't mention is the feel. I like and play 10's, and simply tune down. Getting the feel of 10's with the reduced string tension is perfect for me. It just feels so good and it inspires me to write.
When you’re ready, join me down in drop-B land 😉😂
I’m on the way
@@RhettShull No Rhett! Noooooooo!! *cue dramatic music upon falling to my knees in hysterics*
Why lord!? Yyyyyy?!
@@RhettShull Might as well get a 7 string too
I’ve played in a band that’s been in Drop C for years but never B! 👀
@@RJRonquillo once you start having one laying around, you start to miss that low B on blues turnarounds at the least lol
There are also some very nice T style sevens as well with every wood/build config and scale length anyone would generally want to start with readily available at reasonable prices...we live in wonderous times for gear, boy howdy
That Driftwood “Tidalcaster” sure sounds great dropped down to D. Thanks for playing her in this video.
Chris and Matt be like: "Hey bro! We built that!"
That is an absolutely gorgeous instrument...
One of the benefits of this tuning is, if you play a lot of jazz it turns the guitar into a Bb instrument. So a lot of standards become easier to play and you get more interesting creative options, like the Eb example you gave.
nice observation, trumpet was my first instrument...
Ernesto! Love your vids mate, seriously incredible. I'd love to see you do some score covers like some Hans Zimmer covers in a low tuning with your Martin.
Exactly
Played in a big band, every tune was Bb F or Eb.... I never thought to tune down
@@thomashogan1985 you can tune up indeed, to F 😜
Metal musicians: "We were beginning to think you guys would never show up"
I've been playing in D standard for a while. The reason is to transcribe Bachs Tocatta en Fugue in D minor. I think it's awesome. D standard, and the tocatta.
Just had a burst of nostalgia remembering “Anna Molly” by Incubus
Okay I'm not the only one who caught it lmao
Same here! Hahahaha
Bingo lol
I was just about to comment that until I read this first! Lol.
Lol same
Been playing in Eb Standard for a while and have a guitar in Open C#. Detuning in general is a jam. Opens up so many more chord voicings.
I have a Squier Mini-Jazzmaster that I tune to A-standard, and it's too much fun to bang around on!
That's the exact same tuning as my two main gig guitars. The absolute best
Me too!
I hope this applies my band has a lot of songs where the guitar is eastandard with a drop D but the songs are in A and then hook or chorus goes to the lower string and gives a little more of a crunchy dynamic
I wish I had guitars to do that... but I only have starter pack guitar which will go absolutely crazy intonation if I change the tuning even a half step
D Standard/Drop C has been my staple tuning for a decade now. Feels like home.
D-Standard is actually my go-to and probably favorite tuning, has been for a good few years now. I also really like C-Standard, Drop-C and Drop-B, but good ole Full-Step-Down is my standard. I only play in E-Std now if I'm playing along with the album or a backing track, but even then I usually just find a pitch-shifted track on RUclips, tune the song instead of my guitar 😂
I've been using Amazing Slow Downer for many years to tune songs. The iPad version even works with Spotify, Apple Music, etc. I don't have any financial interest in the company. I'm just sharing.
"Bad Moon Rising" - all the rockabilly Scotty Moore patterns are in D standard and are so fun to play. I toured with one Tele tuned D-Standard with a very heavy 6th string. The leader called more and more songs in D because he wanted to feel that feeling of the speakers pushing that kind of air. Also, when wanting to get closer to Albert King bends, lighter strings in D standard get you really close and it's easier than dealing with C#. I never thought about purposely playing new shapes over a standard tuned band though. That's fascinating. Good stuff, as usual Rhett.
6 weeks later Rhett: "This is why I am switching to double drop E on a Boden 8"
Oh boy. Rhett is a djent lord convert! haha
boden 8’s are the superior guitar
I use this tuning quite a bit! ✌🏻👍🏻
Love your channel, brother! Amazing playing and really cool resto videos. The Goodwill Les Paul came out far better than I expected!
Yeah you do! And it sounds great.
@@morddas man. I used to work at Goodwill. A lady came by with tears in her eyes. She had her late
Mother’s amp head and wanted it to go to someone who would take care of it. An old, fully functional TiescoTube head. She donated a bunch of stuff and kept the head. I met her later that day and she gave it to me. It sounds killer and it is a real treasure to me.
As far as D standard goes. I’m a Ghost fan, so I know it well😎
Matt this looks a lot like your firebird
@@chadperkinson965 not it though.
I keep my one acoustic in D standard and absolutely love it. Easier to sing in, easier to play, and super easy to get back to E with a capo.
As a Gojira fan, I'm surprised D standard isn't more talked about! It's my default and has been for years.
Death, Gojira, Exodus, early Decap... I'm stuck in D standard for a while now.
But you have to tune to Drop Z for the br00talz... I'm kidding, D standard is my favourite, plenty of "heavy" riffs have been done in D Standard, it's great for stoner rock, it's just generally a great tuning, and my main guitar has pretty much always lived in D Standard
@@PetarJovanovic993 Children of bodom too
@@PetarJovanovic993 most Pantera is in D Standard too 🤘
Motley Crue uses drop d a lot I’m gonna try it out for live wire and cannibal corpse songs
As a bass player I love when guitar players are adventurous with tunings. I especially love when I’m playing with an E standard guitar and a baritone guitar tuned to B or even A. Really helps break the redundancy because it encourages them to combine different voicings which helps avoids that linear dual guitar thing . Simple chord progressions like E minor to C become a completely different vibe because the the two guitars can go in different directions. For example the e standard guitar can go from E minor up to C and the baritone can go from E minor down to C.
This is the beginning of a slippery slope Rhett. You’ll soon be in A Standard
And by the next year, he'll be using bass strings tuned one octave under E standard.
@@JohnsDough1918 and then one octave under Nashville tuning... before, finally, E standard down an octave and then up one octave
@@JohnsDough1918 Ah, the Loathe way
@Justin First two albums only on Bolt Thrower. War master and on is C#
@Justin Yeah and honestly, I’m a big fan of it as they really became one of the best metal bands once they started that, and the slower, groovier riffs with the harmonies. But Realm of Chaos is still a fucking brutal record, and probably my favorite overall release cuz 40K
I’ve been using D standard since the early 90s - for a long time exclusively, partly due to having a Baritone voice. I still have an RG permanently set to D standard and always have my 12 string in D standard. I have gravitated back to standard tuning otherwise, partly because I eventually felt that the ‘tightness’ and ‘brightness’ of standard tuning was better on some guitars - especially acoustic and floating bridges even after adjusting springs. I also have baritone guitars in B standard so switching between guitars tuned to B, D and E without changing fingerings is awesome!!
I use D standard G standard on my 12 string
I've been using this tuning since 1991. I have some benchmarks to help out. #1. It works best on long scale (25.5") guitars, Strat's and Tele's. My Les Pauls are in E, my home made guitars and fender products and Night Hawk are in D. #2. Here's is a good starting formula. For each half step you drop, its 2 numbers for wound strings and 1 number for plain strings. Example: .046 to .048 for E flat and .046 to .050 for D. #3. Just Strings will sell you bulk strings in any gauge. I normally play Tens on an E tuned Guitar, the closest gauge for the same feel and reaction in D are: 12, 15, 19 Plain and 30, 40, 50 wound. I would experiment because everybody is different but this is a good stating point. You can get some REALLY COOL sounds when playing a D chord on an E tuned guitar with another guitarist playing a low E chord (actual D). Also, the same 2 number drop applies to basses too. Enjoy. Its worth it if you have multiple guitars to do one of them in D. Another plus is as we age, our voices change, tuning down for a mans voice really helps!!
I have used this tuning for a long time; including the Eb Standard tuning. I love these tunings and thank you for reminding me of the beauty of this tuning.
What I really love about this video is that you talk about how to utilize the tuning when playing with other guitarists in standard tuning. You make a G-shape and call it an F chord, where most guitar players would just keep calling it a G chord. Typically down-tuned guitar players will have the rest of the band match their tuning and everything sounds like it would as if they were in standard but transposed lower. This is all well and good, but having multiple guitars in different tunings opens up so many new possibilities.
I thought the opening track was gonna be a straight up cover of Incubus' Anna Molly for a second.
Yeah, me too! I love this song
I thought I was tripping for a moment lol
I got so excited when he started playing because that song is a jam and Rhett is one of my favorite players
THIS
I didn’t realize it, but you’re right.
Gotta admit, D standard sounds very appealing to my tired, almost 70 year old, ears! I'm going to give it a shot.
Rock on!
Quack
I use D standard so I can move a lot of songs down a whole step but still use the same chord shapes, since I'm a baritone. Would recommend for others with lower voices
Good idea, i sing baritone. I think Gwar plays D stanard and some metal bands i listen too. i play bass too, something about those frequencies with me, lol!
Same here.
Excellent video. I found your channel by seeing this. I have been playing in D standard for quite some time now and always wondered why more cats weren't using it. When I told other guitarists what I was doing, they always assumed I meant drop D tuning, which I honestly don't find all that interesting. Thanks for representing! I am off to try Nashville and C# tuning!
What an incredibly talented person! To be able to play all those instruments with such authority and grace.; then to be so facilitated in producing these well edited videos and script them for us all to grasp the intent so easily. Good for you!
You have now given us infinite “musical” reasons for buying more guitars. One can’t keep retuning all the time and it’s ultimately a math exercise which is good for our brain’s health. Brilliant, I say!!
Actually one can keep retuning all the time. In fact, I tune my guitars everytime I pick them up, might as well change tuning too. Anyway, just be mindful if your obsession for MORE guitars is not a neurosis and a way to compensate for other issues in your life. It was for me, and when I realized that, not only my llife improved, but my playing too. I now enjoy the few guitars I have way more than the dozen I had, and I play/practice more. Just my 2 cents. Recovering GAS addict here.
@@EdBender that’s some wisdom there. I’m OCD when it come to tuning. Having a bit of fun of course, along with being a bit lazy too :) Agree that less is more. I only have three guitars and its hard enough to stay crisp on all three - as each one is just a bit different than another. Thanks for the reminder to play what you got the best it can be played. Cheers!
I have kept an acoustic in D standard for about 8 years now and my right hand touch improved ridiculously by playing on it in ways playing in E just hadn't done for me. Just converted one of my electrics to B standard and I'm falling in love with songs I've had to play but never enjoyed. Letting an open E shape ring out for 8beats has never seemed cool for me, but I get compliments now on how I let songs breath. Alternate Standard tunings have made me a better musician.
All that is to say I'm glad someone is talking about lower standard tunings.
Cool, I got this intuition too few years ago. I tune now in c#, on ceramic single coils strat. Lot of fun
Who has a tip about string gauge on a firebird? I have one with standard bridge and stop bar and I would try to go for D standard but in 10-46 gauge it's already too weak, should I go for 11-48 or 11-54? Thanks!
@@Sameold87 I I have 12-56 on mine in D, but I think 11s would also work well
@@Sameold87 I'd recommend to try a few and see what you like best. If you want to go with 11s, it is best to try different brands, because unlike 9s or 10s (which are basically identical across the board) the way heavy sets are balanced out varies a bit from brand to brand. You can also try out 10-52s.
If the 11-34 set you are mentioning is the Ernie Ball 2627 (Beefy Slinky), I tried that one, and wouldn't recommend it because the 3rd string is a plain 22 that doesn't feel very nice to play on a Gibson-scale guitar.
I used 12s for C standard and it was OK. I guess 11s for D standard would be allright.
@andrew ratiani: Which gage are you using for B standard, and what scale lenght do you have? On my 25 3/4 I had to go with a set of 8 strings, because I couldn't find 13s and 12s were very ugly intonation wise.
The collar bone replacement resonates well with D tuning, gives a good slide tone.
Im a singer songwriter and Ive been rolling in D standard for ages for my vocal range. The extra color was just always bonus. This video gave me some things to think about witj voicings! Thanks Rhett!
That intro sounded like Anna Molly by Incubus in a different key.
Also, that version of Voodoo Chile is amazing, I first heard it years ago in the opening scene of Lords of Dogtown.
Anna Molly is an amazing song. It cannot be a coincidence that Brett played it almost exactly the same way.
I started using D Standard 15 years ago and been in love with it ever since. It all started with wanting a "heavier" sound, but it really changes the whole vibe of your sound, specially when you use open chords. And when you play with another guitarrist (that plays in E standard), the result is way more dynamic.
Lots of love from Colombia! I love your videos!
hi, colombian friend. just wanted to say I loved Bogota and Certagena. Both places very distinct from each other, both very charming and welcoming. Wish I could go there again and enjoy a pint or three at a BBC and a fresh ceviche at La Cevicheria. Cheers from Brazil!
@@drdj2626 In fact, I live in Bogota! Cheers meu amigo!
IIRC a lot of CCR is 1 guitar in E and 1 in D.
I use D Standard just because it's so warm and beautiful. Playing songs I already know in D Standard gives them a new freshness. I actually got into D Standard when I had a really heavy folk phase last year, because this tuning is surprisingly common in folk/blues songs going as far back as the 30s with the Carter Family and Skip James. I got introduced to it by Pink Floyd because the acoustic in Dogs is in D Standard, but Neil Young and Elliott Smith were the main reasons I got into it because they used it so frequently. And then when I got into the Beatles I realized they used it too, and so many others.
@Come Aun Oooh I might just have to try that. ;) I've already got 13's on my downtuned acoustic.
Elliott Smith got me there. It's my go to. Can be kinda distancing sometimes cuz I've learned to transpose keys easily with it but playing with others can be iffy sometimes. I love it too much to change it tho!
I switched to D ten years ago to accomodate for the singer from my band at the time, and Ive never looked back. Specially now being in a band with two guitarists, its a great method to ensure we never play the same thing, so we get a broader sound.
that's how you do it! The last band I was in had another electric guitarist and a lead singer on acoustic (dude could actually play; we always had to yell at him to turn up), and I was almost always either using a capo or in a different tuning altogether. Just like you said, the sound got much broader. People would tell us they liked that their ears weren't "tired" after hearing us play a couple of sets.
Heck yes! Julian Lage, "World's Fair" uses a lot of D standard. I love it on a good boomy acoustic, and it really breathes new life into Tele playing.
I've been playing guitar for 10 years and started to play the piano about 2 and a half and let me say that as a guitarist you reach a point of theory knowledge when you start to hear a lot of repetition, but this is because of the nature of guitar, because of how it's made and the patterns it has. That is why is so hard to reach a tasty level of harmony because you really have to be ON POINT with inversions (really meaning on point with inversion) and aux chords. Once I've changed to piano, having all the deep theory in my head, I couldn't believe my ears... Playing those chords, inversions, it is absolutely different. I wouldn't say that D standard is bad, in fact it isn't, but I think E just sounds better (Don't misunderstand me, I love the low bass notes on chords), it just sounds brighter. BUT on an acoustic nylon D standard sounds GOOD, and I've tried. My advise would be that if you want to sound different you should work on those inversions of triads, 4notes chords, maybe a Maj79 without the 3, etc and your sound won't be as much as repetitive as it was! Cheers to all, nice vid.
Love this tuning! The Gaslight Anthem wrote most of their songs in D Standard, which is how I stumbled across it
Started playing in D standard learning Motley Crue and loved the sounds I could get. Now that I started singing I find that D fits my vocal range really well and just fills out the sound more especially when I’m just playing solo.
Exactly the Same Here.. need to buy New strings.. .009s in standard D, haha. High Pitch nirvana Vocals now work for me.
Been waiting for you to play that Tidalcaster ever since watching Driftwood build it.
N, thanks! I was wondering what that was. Really pretty! I like the Tele bridge pickup and the P90 in the bridge on a Tele. Been meaning to build one. Sounds great! Now I have to watch them build it!
Tuning down a whole step, how many people had that "a-ha" moment when they realized that's the key to getting the chords sounding right for "Yesterday." Another Paul McCartney tune I love that does that is "Heart Of The Country." I think John Fogerty likes this tuning a lot too.
When covering Come Together, we also realized it was a full step down. I guess the Beatles were wayyyy ahead of their time on yet another thing.
I’m not sure, but Born on The Bayou might’ve been recorded in D standard
every time I click one of your videos I learn something new and begin to challenge the way I typically approach the guitar. Thank you for creating content like this, much needed for any guitarist.
I'd tuned my acoustic 12 string to D standard many, many years ago just to relieve some tension off the neck and just used a capo when I wanted to jam in E or Eb and of course loved just hanging out in the low register for the sound.
About ten years later, I started to transcribe the piano driven version of Joe Cocker's Feelin' Alright. When I played F7 and saw where I could without the capo there was no turning back for my 2 acoustics. It's nice to be able to walk the bass lines in key especially being one that is too busy and has to jam alone for the most part.
About the same time as that, I had heard that piano players like to jam in F and Bb (like we do in Em/G and Am/C). Next thing you know a friend of mine wanted to learn Elton John's Tiny Dancer and it took me all of 10 minutes to figure out.
On top of that, like Rhett said, the chord voicings and counter melodies that you can get while jamming with someone tuned E standard create quite a unique sound.
All of that being said, with my 2 acoustics being tuned to D standard, I'm thinking I might need to add a third and maybe a fourth to the two electrics I have (and probably a another acoustic for slide😁).
Yep, got my 12 string tuned there.
I was learning to play the Beatles “Come Together” for an event, and since there was no bass player I discovered that by going to drop DvI could simulate the essential bass guitar riff easily. The rest just fell into place. Try it, it’s really fun to do Pauls riff on the bottom 3 strings with a basic slide up to barre.
The opening track is one of my favourites of yours by far! Great stuff man
As a baritone, this tuning allows me to play songs with their original shapes the way I learned them and still hit the high notes.
yeah it's the same for me, been playing in D standard since i was 10 or something. it just always has suited my voice the best
As a guitar, I agree
My main Godin guitar has been in D standard for years. It’s one of my favorite tunings! And another awesome thing is i have instant access to drop C which is also an amazing tuning.
I'd like to see D Standard used more, just because I'm a Baritone Singer. A lot of times I really need for a song to be down a half step or a step for me to be able to hit the higher notes in the song. It can also remain flexible since if you need to be in E Standard for a song, you can put a Capo on, which will also change the tone and feel as well from a regular E Standard.
Same. And, it just sounds better all the way around.
A musician friend of mine has one of the highest sopranos you've ever heard come out of any woman. She's tuned to D standard for almost the whole time I've known her. She loves the huge harmonic cushion it makes under her voice, even with the O-size models she usually plays.
It does sound cool and i like the band ghost because they also use that tuning. I also like QOTSA a lot as well because of their c-tuning which brings interesting sounds and riffs.
Opening track has a very The Killers or recent Modest Mouse vibe.
And Incubus' Anna Molly
@@cexardo This is the correct answer. I thought it was an Incubus cover for the first 20 seconds.
@@cexardo I was just about to comment this.
Definitely Incubus (Anna Molly) inspired!
@@cexardo Came here to say this. Very Anna Molly.
I’ve been using this tuning on my 7 strings. Not for the “metal” thing but for exactly how you put it “that smokey blues thing”
You doing DGCFADG?
@@Psyfonify I assume its
A
D
G
C
F
A
D
@@WoodyWoodyWoody yes that’s it
@@Psyfonify a, d, g, c, f, a, d . Wanna try something cool if you have a seven string with a stop tail tune to open G
Most Velvet Underground songs are in D Standard as well. Standard tunings in lower keys sound amazing.
Great explanation… actually one of the best I’ve seen.
I’ve been tuning to D standard for over 20 years… both guitar and bass. I love that low D. It definitely changes your guitar’s personality.
I especially enjoy playing those other chord voicings alongside another guitar in standard tuning. It’s also fun to watch that other guitar player try to watch your hands to find his chords when he gets lost… 😂
Great advice, although it's worth mentioning that Billy Gibbons tunes down and uses lighter gauges than normal. It depends on your personal preferences but if you do a lot of bending it's great. Takes a while to get use to though.
As a bass player, i've had my 5 string in D standard for decades. Being able to pull out that low A is so thick in a lot of contexts
I hear you on that. My 5-string is kept with the heaviest string tuned to A, so it does help a lot with being able to hit a low A or B-flat when needed.
I keep one of my other guitars in D standard as well. Nice to have options.
I started tuning my guitars in D after getting used to it on five-string bass as well. It's definitely nice on the five-string when accompanying piano to be able to cover the full range, or with horns to have the low Bb.
I'm mainly an electronic musician and I've been wanting to do this because most of my music is in D. Also the lowest note I will go to is D on the Sub-Bass. Your vid has just given me motivation to buy a new set of strings and try this.
I’ve used D standard for awhile now and it’s an awesome way to think about note names and how it corresponds to standard tuning. Great for metal or any other genre. Awesome that you’re bringing more awareness to this musical secret.
I'm currently having loads of fun with an Eb all-fourths tuning. You should explore that one sometime. I'm thinking that it will become my new standard tuning. The patterns are the same all across the neck, it's great for logical chord voicing and has very near the same overall string tension as E standard.
The tuning I use is all-fourths in D (D-G-C-F-A#-D#). It gives me everything I need from a tuning, but the string tension is kinda hard to get right. I currently use the 1st and 2nd strings from a .010 gauge pack, and the rest are from an 0.011 pack.
I've tried the "skinny top, heavy bottom" string sets, but they always make the 3rd string quite light, when it's only the first 2 strings I need to be lighter. In short, I have to buy two packs of strings every time I re-string the guitar, which can get kinda expensive.
I usually associate D standard with my beloved oldschool Death Metal so it's funny seeing Rhett play it.
Just kidding, trying out different tunings helps your creativity by taking you out of staleness playing same shapes and voicings, forcing you to accomodate to different rules. By trying to play same stuff in different tuning it often leads to discovering new shapes and voicing.
I guess shapes stay the same with D standard though but just hearing guitar in a different range is something to experience.
👍 Had to give this comment another thumbs up.
Up
When you get used to a new tuning, staleness comes back.
To get out of staleness, the only thing is to be fully aware while playing, and to search for new musical ideas, not new tunings.
Chuck Schuldiner!
Chuck Schuldiner is why I play in D standard
C'mon Rhett, FRhettboard Fundamentals was right there! ;) Great video, I love me some D Standard!
Similarly, I was seriously surprised in the change of character when I moved my baritone and bass from B to A. Everything came out with different emotions.
The great R&B and gospel bassist Andrew Gouche tunes down a whole step. He plays a 6, mostly. I think you really need to plan for this kind of move, though, to get amplification that can handle lower notes.
Great vid, we've been using this tuning for nearly 20 years... Mainly because when we used to do covers and had locking nuts it would be a good middle ground for songs by Nickelback, Limp Bizkit etc on 1 guitar then a second guitar in E... We like the extra grunt, while still maintaining the clarity you seem to lose going much below a C, pretty much everything we record now is in D standard and we've never looked back...
I now have one of my guitars permanently tuned to D Standard / Drop C and I'm really starting to appreciate the warmth and darkness that this tuning has. Great video as always.
Another suggestion for some folks starting out or not being great at barring chords would be to use this tuning with a capo to use standard chords to get where they need to go also. Example, if you had hand issues (arthritis etc) capo on 1st fret and play E chord to play in Eb. That’s something I saw my father do because he can’t chord an guitar like he used to. Hope all of that makes sense.
I always keep a guitar in E standard, but C standard has long been my personal favorite. I'm also considering to get a 7 string tuned to drop A too, and use a decent capo to switch to drop C when needed.
I still regularly have fun with alternate tunings, but Standard still seems to be the most versatile.
I love C standard and my QOTSA :,)
Just get a guitar for each 🤷🏽♂️
@@hauntingthegrave or a pitch shifter
@@hauntingthegrave Except for the 7 string, I already do.
@@jv2781 same here ;)
I find all 4ths tuning to be really intuitive, especially for figuring songs out by ear and improvising. love to hear your thoughts about that
Chords get a bit tricky.
@@yaboi-km2qn I've been using 4ths tuning for about two years and chords aren't that hard as people say. It takes a while, but I can play most songs without problem
@@yaboi-km2qn Some chords are actually easier., such G and C. It's not a tuning for buskers, let's put it like that. Check out players such as Tom Quayle and Alex Hutchings, who have done videos on it.
@@stereoroid shell voicings work just fine and the symmetry lends itself to much different style of playing
@@gabegamer3663 True, but anything more than shell voicings can get needlessly stretchy real quick. Still a great tuning though, can't deny that.
Oh my goodness the intro track just felt like nostalgia for a song I’ve never heard. I love that. I wish you had a full song like that. That sounds like an amazing pop song I would actually listen to unlike most pop today.
You've vindicated me!!! LOL I tuned all my acoustics that I perform my fingerstyle solo work on to D standard years ago and felt guilty. I thought I was cheating...but what you experienced and showed so well is the creative magic that happens with that tuning. That was fun!
My favorite tuning, at least for a Strat, is E♭ Standard with 11-52 gauge. That gave me optimal tone and just the right amount of string slack for great vibrato and playability. I land my tremolo on the Strat and this set-up held it's tuning well. There is something about the low-end bloom of lower register chords and just an overall darker, more evil sound, when tuning down a half step.
I really like some half-step too, Angry Again - Megadeth and Lay It Down - Ratt got me into it and they've forever remained two of my absolute favorite tracks to jam, but I place it lower on my favorite tuning list; I really only break out the half-step for a handful of specific (hair metal) jams and retune soon as I'm done, but I _never_ tune out of D-Std unless another song needs a specific tuning
D standard, easier to sing, easier to play, keep a capo handy for playing songs in Eb or E easily. I keep a capo on the 2nd fret a lot when playing with others.
Yeah I've been doing this for years on acoustic. I feel it opens up some more ways to play different chords in songs, but like you say, you can use a capo for e which I quite like because then the action is really low
I thought I was the only one lol
I just did this recently. I play a lot of Eb songs, but my acoustic feels SOOO much better in D with a capo. Then, learning new stuff (I'm a beginner) is easier with a capo on the 2nd so I can easily follow others
One of my guitars is tuned in B standard with occasional drop A. I had to put 8 strings guitar strings on it because Earnie Ball don't make 13s for electric, and 12s are just wayyyy too unstable. Sometime I might consider either a 7 stringer or a baritone, but before that I have to get my perfect main guitar... Still, playing System of a Down with a capo on the 2nd fret must have some people scratching their head. ;)
To anybody wondering: The reason underneath that tuning is because one song we play calls for C-standard, but since we're playing everything half a step down it's lowered to B. BTW, 12s work OK on 25 3/4 scale length for C standard, but when in B the intonation starts getting all wrong and very ugly passed the 7th fret or so.
@@EddieOtool I can just imagine...WAKE UP...why the guitar paying with a capo? (To the tune of chop suey)
Originally I went to D Standard on an acoustic (an Ibanez Artcore) that just always felt like the strings were too tight - even though the action was low, it would tire my fingers quickly, and seemed to lack some resonance. Dropping the tuning to D Standard eased the tension and made the guitar much easier to play, and the sound improved tremendously! While the highs stayed very present, the mid and lower ranges seemed to blossom, and sustain (seldom a strong point on acoustics) improved dramatically! I've since used it on one of my electrics (a Squire Tele) also - and it does certainly make a difference in tone - and creates some interesting voicing opportunities :-)
If you have an acoustic that just doesn't sound quite right - I highly recommend giving D Standard a try - it may be just what the doctor ordered!
I had a friend in California who played with some big bands in the 60s and I asked him about my 12 string acoustic and having the same problem you describe. He said always put a 12 string in E flat, it will be a lot easier to play. Use a capo for standard tuning songs. Going to D would probably be an even better application of the same principle.
@@christopherenge4934 It's a common move with a 12, absolutely. Some can't take the tension of a full set of strings on the top well.
Why not just Eb standard? It seems to have the same benefits.
@@bikeman123 - a couple of reasons off the top of my head: first, convenience. If one tunes to Eb, but the composition is in C, then one must play almost every chord as a barre - there would be very few open chords in common. Either one would use a capo, or have a much more limited set of voicings.
Second, it might be surprising, but that half-step difference can have a notable effect on tone (particularly for acoustic instruments). In my case, Eb was still hard to play, and did not gain the resonance that the extra half-step to D gave it!
Of course, that can be different for every guitar - if you play, try it on your guitar & see what the effect is for E, then Eb, then D - which one is better to your ear on your guitar?
In the long run, I think the real point is to not be bound by the convention of tuning to E Standard - but also don't feel *forced* to reject it, either: have fun with it, & play around until you are positively challenged to grow as a guitarist!
Rhett. Mate. Thanks. I know I'm late on this but it's a revelation. You just wrote my guitar part for a song that didn't sound quite right. Now it does. thanks.
I've played bass in D standard for the past 5 years. It's a unique sound and once you learn the fingering and open notes many possibilities open up in a band context.
This is the reason I bought a Gibson RD. It’s one of the few Gibsons that has a 25.5” scale. Longer scale lengths are more forgiving for downtuning *no need to change string gauge. Your typical SG/Les Paul’s scale length (24-3/4”) isn’t AS ideal for D standard.
I stupidly bought an Epi LP for downtuning. All my guitars other than my beloved bullet tele have Floating terms.
@@weedian710 24.75 scales are made for downtuning dude...thick and spongy and beefy..you guys never heard of stoner rock or doom or sludge metal
@@Psyfonify I missed the Uncle Acid and Graveyard tour because I was locked up for selling weed. I like stoner rock.
Rhett 2021: discovering the most common tuning in metal music.
inorite? I'm usually a metal guy so it's interesting to see the tuning in other styles
@@CyclesAreSingularities depends on genere.
I've been playing a Jazzmaster in D standard and Drop C for 5 years now and couldn't be happier!
Perfect middle ground for heavy riffs, solos and clean stuff!
Exactly same setup. The jazzmaster screams for this kind of tuning. The jazzmaster pickups are a perfect match to low tunings.
@@limaargenton What gauge do you play on your Jazzmaster?
@@Mustaine1ify I use the elixir's light/heavy setup. Using it for 4 years, loving it.
About a year into playing guitar, I had wandered into a D standard tuning on the acoustic, and wrote about a dozen tunes. It’s been 15 years since, and now I might just go for it again!
I´m using D Standard in a Gretsch Baritone guitar for almost a year and I feel exactly like you said, there is a kind of freedom with that, something like move to a bigger department... Actually, for this guitar is a "high tunning" but, with 011 string the tension is just perfect for chords!!!!
That opening track is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Sounds like incubus song anomaly or wtv it’s called
This is just my personal experience, but back when I played 9s, I found that using 11s in D standard felt more like 9s in E standard. That being said, it’s all about personal preference.
Yeah and what scale length were you using? 10's in D on a 26" feel less slinky and bendy than 9's in E do on a Strat. so. Maybe you simply prefer more tension.
@@lynchlychfeld At the time, I was playing 24.75” scale guitars. (I forgot to mention that in the original comment) Now I play mostly 25.5” scale guitars because it seemed the most practical for partscasters.
Doesn't Charlie Starr tune to D on a few Blackberry Smoke songs? I know he plays in G a lot.
Rhett, thanks so much for exploring a different sonic realm from E-standard. In the same way that a different guitar can bring out of you a style of playing, D-standard as you so clearly demonstrated has the same effect. Those lower bass ranges are immediately captivating. thanks for bringing to our attention.
I've been using D standard with pretty much every of my bands since 2007 and I love it. :)
The worship band at my church plays sets in D pretty often, going to have to give this a try sometime. Sometimes the normal cage shape D chord isn't quite satisfying, love the Standard D shape utilizing all the strings. Straight up beefy sounding 💪
Love this tuning, especially a lot of Elliott Smith's stuff.
I’m a bass player and I know Pino plays in D. Man should I do it? Maybe I should do it.
Def do it dude. Def.
All of the songs by the band Ghost are in D Standard apart from one song in Drop C. So it's cool to see someone talk about this amazing tuning.
Since I am into Between The Buried And Me, I mostly play in C # Standard and I'm lovin‘it. They have been playing that way for about 20 years and have a great discography.
Currently playing a lot of Nirvana so of course I’m going to that D standard tuning
Plus it also sounds great with heavier riffs
No great frustration exists than when you learn a song in standard tuning to find out it’s actually played in an alternate tuning
I've been using D Standard and Drop C since the late 90's, those have always felt more natural to me than any other tunings. I'm mostly a metal player, but I find that everything I play ends up sounding better to my ears when using those particular tunings.
I’ve actually been playing my acoustic guitar in DADGAD. I’m going to try this. Thanks Rhett. I can always count on you for good content.
Love D standard! I have one acoustic and one electric dedicated to that tuning... started out as an accident a couple years ago because I has strings that were too heavy of a gage to be tuned up to E. After writing a few songs, I was HOOKED. have a hardtail Strait in D standard that I run 12s instead of 10s and it absolutely sings
Now you can learn some songs by Death!
"Every guitar sounds better when you tune it down. Doesn't matter if it's a Strat or not. Of course it sounds better but what song are we playing?" - Tom Bukovac
I also feel like there’s less “tension” in my (acoustic) guitar in this tuning. Been a fan of this tuning for a while
because there is less tension, 2 semitones less, up ur string gauge when drop tuning
Rhett, thanks for this. I am definitely hooking up my trem blocked strat copy with this tuning. The D chord with this tuning is amazing.
After watching this video I tried it out, and have been playing along to everybody hurts, its adds a really warm yet dark tone to it with the different chord shapes, I love it!