Medium Strings down a half step.

[adaw2821]

So I bought a set of elixir mediums as an experiment (I've typically been using elixir lights) I tuned up to Eb after stringing, just figured I wouldn't put all the stress on at once. Then I got to wondering just how much added tension the mediums would have and looked it up. 188 pounds vs the 158 for lights. in the meantime I've just been playing down a half step and wow what a difference. More sustain, clarity, and tone for days. so I got curious what the actual tension was for the tuning I was in. So I looked up the formula for string tension here: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...es/string.html

doing some niffty substitution using 2^11/12 I was able to get a total set tension of 168 for the set tuned 1/2 step down.

May just leave e'm like that.

[gruuv]

Been going Eb with mediums on my OM's for about two years now. Never going back to standard tuning.

[rokdog49]

I've tried tuning down a half and then when necessary using a Capo when playing with others.
I liked it, especially on guitars that are inherently a little more difficult to play. It certainly allows you to go heavier on the gauges with no worries.

[Athens]

I tune down 1/2 step on a 000 12 fret I own and it sounds great. Lot's more presence.

[Silly Moustache]

For me, I need a certain amount of tension on the strings when performing, so even a short scale doesn't work for me.

Mediums at A=440 on a 12 fret dread seems about right.

[adaw2821]

I played at church yesterday with it and I had to make a note to capo accordingly but loving the sound. I'm a little bit of a math nerd so I had to do the calculations for the tension. I was really just curious how they compared tension wise to Lights and mediums in standard tuning. Turns out they have slightly more tension than lights but not much.

[johnhurt888]

I'm sure you get more bass, fullness and volume. But do you lose a good amount of brightness of the trebles? Do you both strum or fingerpick? Is it still just as responsive? I'm thinking of doing this buy afraid of losing too much treble brightness or responsiveness for fingerpicking.

[rmyAddison]

Been using mediums (Martin SPs) down 1/2 step for many years, and on Martin OM's/000's and even an 00, pressure is pretty close to lights at concert pitch, never had a problem and these are uber light build models.

I know a lot of players who tune down 1/2 step, easier on the voice easier on the hands............

I like the down 1/2 thing as well, but I stay with lights as long as I play plugged in. As B. B. King said, "Why you wanna work so hard?"

[1Charlie]

Whenever I tune down to Eb and capo up, I have to think really hard about where I am on the fretboard, given that the fret markers represent positions that are a half step off.

[Swamp Yankee]

If I go one full tone down, I find I can actually sing and play

[M.W.P.]

This is what I've been doing since earlier this year. Works really well with my guitar.

[Looburst]

I do this a lot myself. Down a half is great for everything IMO. Those worried over losing some of the brightness, nonsense. Most guitars have way too much high end brightness for me to begin with.

[Dustinfurlow]

This is exactly what I do for my gigs! Now capo it on the second fret and listen to the trebles sing!