Half step down Tuning on 6-string guitar
Half step down tuning is D#2 G#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 D#4, written EbAbDbGbBbEb. Every string down one semitone. The intervals between strings are untouched, so every shape you know still works, one fret lower in pitch.
| String | Note | Frequency (Hz) | MIDI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th (lowest) | D#2 | 77.78 | 39 |
| 5th | G#2 | 103.83 | 44 |
| 4th | C#3 | 138.59 | 49 |
| 3rd | F#3 | 185.00 | 54 |
| 2nd | A#3 | 233.08 | 58 |
| 1st (highest) | D#4 | 311.13 | 63 |
Every frequency is computed from the MIDI number, not typed in. Each one links to its own reference page.
Microphone tuner
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Space start or stop 1 to 6 pick a string and hear it Esc stop the tone
Why guitarists use Half step down tuning
Nothing about the fingering changes, which is the whole point: it moves the key of a whole set down a semitone for a singer, and slightly slackens the strings, which some players prefer for bending.
Where you will hear it: blues, hard rock, classic rock. That list is deliberately limited to genres and playing traditions. Attributing a tuning to specific songs or players is the kind of claim that needs a source, and this page does not make claims it cannot back up.
Half step down compared with standard EADGBE tuning
This is the table that tells you how far to turn each peg, in semitones and in hertz. A negative semitone value means the string goes down.
| String | Standard | Standard (Hz) | Half step down | Half step down (Hz) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th (lowest) | E2 | 82.41 | D#2 | 77.78 | -1 semitone (-4.63 Hz) |
| 5th | A2 | 110.00 | G#2 | 103.83 | -1 semitone (-6.17 Hz) |
| 4th | D3 | 146.83 | C#3 | 138.59 | -1 semitone (-8.24 Hz) |
| 3rd | G3 | 196.00 | F#3 | 185.00 | -1 semitone (-11.00 Hz) |
| 2nd | B3 | 246.94 | A#3 | 233.08 | -1 semitone (-13.86 Hz) |
| 1st (highest) | E4 | 329.63 | D#4 | 311.13 | -1 semitone (-18.50 Hz) |
Notice that equal semitone steps are not equal hertz steps: the same whole step is worth about 9 Hz down at the bottom string and far more at the top. That is why tuners report cents, which are proportional, rather than hertz.
How to tune to Half step down, string by string
- Play the 6th (lowest) open and adjust until the tuner reads D#2 at 77.78 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 5th open and adjust until the tuner reads G#2 at 103.83 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 4th open and adjust until the tuner reads C#3 at 138.59 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 3rd open and adjust until the tuner reads F#3 at 185.00 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 2nd open and adjust until the tuner reads A#3 at 233.08 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 1st (highest) open and adjust until the tuner reads D#4 at 311.13 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
Retune in two passes. Changing the tension on one string changes the pull on the neck, so the strings you set first will have drifted slightly by the time you finish the last one. That effect is larger the further the tuning sits from standard, so a tuning that moves four or more strings almost always needs a third pass.
Frequently asked questions
What notes is Half step down tuning on a 6-string guitar?
Half step down is D#2, G#2, C#3, F#3, A#3, D#4, written EbAbDbGbBbEb. Every string down one semitone. The intervals between strings are untouched, so every shape you know still works, one fret lower in pitch.
What are the frequencies of Half step down tuning?
D#2 is 77.78 Hz, G#2 is 103.83 Hz, C#3 is 138.59 Hz, F#3 is 185.00 Hz, A#3 is 233.08 Hz, D#4 is 311.13 Hz, all in twelve tone equal temperament with A4 at 440 Hz.
How many strings change compared to standard tuning?
6 of 6. the 6th (lowest) goes from E2 to D#2 (down 1 semitone), the 5th goes from A2 to G#2 (down 1 semitone), the 4th goes from D3 to C#3 (down 1 semitone), the 3rd goes from G3 to F#3 (down 1 semitone), the 2nd goes from B3 to A#3 (down 1 semitone), the 1st (highest) goes from E4 to D#4 (down 1 semitone).
What is the lowest note in Half step down tuning?
D#2 at 77.78 Hz, MIDI note 39. Low notes take longer for a pitch detector to lock onto, so play the string firmly and let it ring before trusting the cents reading.
Other 6-string guitar tunings
More tuning references
Frequencies on this page are computed at build time from twelve tone equal temperament with A4 = 440 Hz, using the twelfth root of two (about 1.059463) per semitone. Nothing is typed in by hand. See the full method and sources. Maintained by FusionStudios. Last reviewed: .