While the tunings above probably will not require any adjustments to your guitar, C standard is the tipping point. You will probably have to re-intonate your guitar. We will also have to go up a string gauge. Choosing the right string gauge is about getting the right amount of tension. You don’t want too much tension or it’ll be hard to play, or too little so that the strings go out of tune easily and are prone to fret buzz. Drop D is the basis for a lot of the tunings that will be mentioned here. Almost all drop tunings are based on Drop D, just with different notes. There are tons of bands that have used Drop D: While tuning lower definitely makes things sound a little heavier, alternate tunings are more than just that. Different tunings can be a “secret weapon” for your band. Utilizing different tunings can change the way you write a song or riff. I know if I am in a rut, I usually try out a different tuning to see if it opens any new doors to my creativity. Nine times out of ten, it helps me come up with a new idea! I definitely play guitar a different way when in drop C, and the same with drop B. It’s all relevant. I like that you can force yourself to think in a more creative way. Guitar is a tool for making music, and anything that helps you think outside the box, is a good thing!

Not Even Slinky Cobalt Electric Guitar Strings Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Cobalt Electric Guitar Strings

Soundwise, the set may be alright to most, though I miss that touch of smooth elegance that I associate to the subtly rolled-off highs of the main competitor's strings: they're bright, which is what most want, though I'm used to not being among them most, and I'd like them a tad less bright then they are. Can't yet say how long they'll keep their fresh zing, as I've just installed them, but given how my experience with these failed to err on the positive side of things, I honestly don't care much about how long they'll last; given how ruined is the E-1st, the shortest the rest of the set will last, the best it is for me, all things considered. I noticed that my usually very corrosive sweat seemed to have no effect on the Paradigm strings. I usually change strings every two weeks, because they rust and corrode. These lasted me over a month, giving me twice the time I get from a regular set of strings. C standard is two whole steps down from E standard tuning. Like all of the other “standard” tunings, your chord voicings remain the same, as well as your scale patterns. It’s just LOW. Slightly on the heavier side, while retaining a bit of looseness and slinkiness on the Gibson Scale. Drop C# Fender Scale – Power Slinky (11-48) + 52Drop D is like the starting point for learning about drop tunings. It gives you a good reference of how other drop tunings work, without needing to change much about your guitar, strings, or setup. Just tune down that lowest string one step down! So to make a D chord… Easy peasy. All strings ring out. #4 Doom Metal Tunings: D Standard My main guitar for Drop C tuning also happens to have a Floyd Rose tremolo system. This causes strings to sometimes break when you do a heavy dive-bomb with the whammy bar. I saw the videos of people abusing the strings, and I tried it out myself. I could not get the strings to break. I didn’t have any tuning issues with the DR DDT set, and they sounded great. I used them on a short scale guitar, or “Gibson Scale”. These held nearly perfect tension across the board and were still great for playing solos. In fact, these didn’t FEEL as heavy as they are. Which is a very good thing! This gauge is perfect for people looking to be able to chug on the heavier strings in Drop C, but also retain some elasticity in the treble strings for solos. This is a slightly lighter gauge, and that makes bends easier. Some people may find the lower strings a little too “floppy” for their tastes. Especially with a shorter scale guitar, like a Les Paul. Drop D is interesting because it changes the dynamic of how you play. But if you like standard tuning yet you want to go a little lower, then D standard is the way to go. Just like standard tuning goes from E to E… D standard tuning does from D to D.

Ernie Ball 2626 Not Even Slinky 12-56 Electric Guitar Strings

A slightly adjusted custom set of single strings allows you to beef up the higher strings, while retaining the size of the lower strings. Can also use a 62 or 64 on the low-E string for added heaviness and tension. Bass Tunings E Standard and Drop D Regular Slinky Bass (50-105) Drop B is pretty darn low. In fact, on the frequency scale you are heading into bass guitar territory. Drop B works just like any of the other drop tunings. I would say that this is primarily for a rhythm guitarist, as doing bends gets a little harder since you have upped the string gauge. They also sound great to my ears. I have used coated strings before to combat corrosion, and they generally sound “dull” to me. Paradigm strings sound nice and bright, and they stayed that way for me, well over a month. I am not an easy person to impress, but Ernie Ball definitely managed to do that, and more! Retains the feel of standard tuning even when dropped to a much lower tuning. D Standard Fender Scale – Beefy Slinky (11-54) Ernie Ball makes a specific set for people wanting to tune this low. They call it the “Not Even Slinky” set. This set will be even feeling, and tight across all of the strings, even though you’re tuned two full steps down.Optimal for detuning. Similar to the Skinny Top / Heavy Bottom, but several gauges heavier. Provides a higher-tension feel. Gibson Scale – Power Slinky (11-48) If you are just getting into Doom/Stoner/Sludge the Drop D tuning is where it’s at! Especially if you have played in Standard Tuning for a while. The low string being tuned down takes a little while to get used to. But it is definitely worth exploring! I like to look at tunings like a piece of gear. If you are looking for a new sound, or a new way of writing songs, then sometimes a different guitar pedalmight be the key to finding your new voice. I look at different tunings as a tool, and Drop C can definitely change the way you write a riff… or even a whole album!

Doom Metal Tunings: The Ultimate Guide to Going The Top 5 Doom Metal Tunings: The Ultimate Guide to Going

But every now and then someone comes out with what seems like an alternative, and it's worth a try, which is the spirit by which I bought this set, tipped off in my uncertainty by the fact that its manufacturer has a widely renowned for its quality products. Guitars with longer scale lengths put the strings under more tension compared to guitars with shorter scale lengthsI like to use this set for heavy rhythm playing, mostly. For some people, these strings will seem a little too heavy for Drop C tuning, but that’s exactly why I like them! The 12-56 gauge is great for keeping the lower strings nice and tight. For me, it’s perfect for chugging and riffing! Preferable for a looser, Les Paul-like feel on a Fender Scale instrument. Gibson Scale – Skinny Top / Heavy Bottom (10-52)

Slinky RPS Coated Titanium Electric Guitar Strings | Ernie Ball Slinky RPS Coated Titanium Electric Guitar Strings | Ernie Ball

I enjoy playing in C standard. While it’s not the most popular of doom metal tunings, for some people the feel of standard tuning just works better for them. Sleep’s Matt Pike tends to favor this tuning. He used it on DOPESMOKER and Holy Mountain.Preferable for getting a heavier, more Strat-like tension on a Gibson Scale instrument. Drop D Both Scales – Skinny Top / Heavy Bottom (10-52) As far as the notes go, this one is just a little different. This is not just C standard with a dropped string. Drop B is a tuning all it’s own: Creating a custom set of single strings allows you to retain tension on the higher strings, while allowing enough twang on the lower strings. Gibson Scale – Single Strings (12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 60) Helpful for retaining proper tension with a shorter scale. Drop C Fender Scale – Beefy Slinky (11-54) + 56