E♭ tuning

E♭ (E Flat) tuning or D♯ tuning is a kind of guitar tuning. It is based on standard guitar tuning, except that all of the strings are lowered by a half-step. The result looks like this: E♭-A♭-D♭-G♭-B♭-E♭. The guitar is usually played identicaly to standard tuning, resulting in a heavier tone without requiring the guitarist to learn different chords or fingering.

The tuning has a number of other features attractive to artists. It allows the use of heavier strings without decreasing playability. The tuning is also easier to play with a saxophone accompaniment (saxophones are usually tuned to B♭ or E♭). It can also be matched with the E♭ pentatonic minor scale formed by the black keys of a keyboard.

Blues legend Robert Johnson was one of the first to experiment with alternate guitar tunings such as E♭. Jimi Hendrix was also famous for tuning down a half-step, and Stevie Ray Vaughan used it almost exclusively in his electric guitar playing, as well as Slash of Guns N' Roses fame. The tuning remains very popular in rock and blues music, although some (like Pantera) tune up a quarter of a step. Former Stratovarius guitarist Timo Tolkki has used the tuning throughout his tenure, as evidenced by his guitarwork in the band. Aaron Lewis uses this tuning or drop D♭ while solo or with Staind, whose guitarist Mike Mushok uses baritone guitars, although they both use E♭ on The Illusion of Progress.

Other artists known to use E♭

References

  1. ^ "TNS Interview With Deryck! TNS: Why are all guitars tuned to Eb when you guys play live? Deryck: I play so hard live that I had to go to heavier gauge strings. If you're tuned at regular tuning the strings are so tight and don't play that well.". http://theresnosolution.com/en/index.php?action=fullnews&showcomments=1&id=485. 
General
Downtuned

E♭ tuning · D tuning · D♭ tuning · C tuning · B tuning · B♭ tuning
Dropped

Drop D · Double drop D · Drop D♭ · Drop C · Drop B · Drop B♭ · Drop A
Open

Open C · Open D · Open E · Open G
Others