What would count as a guitar tuning 1/4 step down (would it be High to Low Eb?)?

Question

I'm trying to play Cowboys from Hell, and I hear it's supposed to be tuned down 1/4 step. What would that count as?

Answer 1

Hi Buddy, I have played guitar since '65. Tuned a 1/4 step down would mean that both E strings would be 1/2 way between E and Eb. All the other strings would have to be tuned 1/4 flat also. I hope that your original source regarding the tuning of the song means a 1/4 tone when they say a "1/4 step". There is the possibility that they are refering a to "step" as though they meant a fret. In that case the Estring would be tuned an 1/8 tone flat. To just simply answer the Q, it would be high to Eb in both cases. Turn the CD on and tune by ear is one solution. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

1/4 step? Are you sure? 1/4 steps are not recognized in western music... only full steps (tones... like c-d or e-f#) or 1/2 steps (semitones like c#-d or e-f). If you're tuning down 1/4 steps, you're just tuning "out of tune" (or you're using nonstandard tuning. In the US and most of Europe, "middle A" on the Treble staff is tuned to 440 Hz; You can tune it lower, say to A=436 Hz, it just sounds lower and you'll be out of tune from everyone else).

Your asking what would it "count as" -- does that mean nomenclature? Like what would you call it? I would call it nonstandard tuning, A = _____ Hz, The music shouldn't read any differently.

I have heard some jazz musicians talk about being sharp or flat as being on the "high side" or the "low side" of the note-- so you could say you'd tune to the "low side of E..." to sound cool.

Answer 3

That's a half step down, but why are you mixing sharps and flats?! That doesn't make any sense. Do you have some aversion to saying Db or Gb? From standard tuning, tune the 6th string down so the 6th fret matches the open A, then tune normally from there. You know how to tune the guitar when you've got one string in tune right? Every string matches the 5th fret of the string below it, except the 2nd string, which matches the 4th fret of the 3rd.

Answer 4

going to Eb would be a1/2 step, you dont have to down tune that much, you are looking for the quatertone in between E an Eb

Answer 5

435 is a 1/4 step

Answer 6

It is low eb and you are right alot of pantera's earlier stuff is tuned down a quarter step but this is mostly because of phils low voice. alot of pantera's stuff sounds alright in standard if your vocalist does not have that low of a voice. they also play alot in drop d

Answer 7

A lower note