Half step down tuner
Tune every string a semitone lower, to E♭ standard, with your microphone or by ear.
Half Step Down
Start tuner
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Tap a string to hear it and tune that string.
Half step down, also called E♭ standard, lowers all six strings by one semitone: E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭. Chord shapes and scale patterns stay exactly as in standard tuning; everything just sounds a semitone lower.
Players use it to play along with records made in this tuning, for a slightly darker tone, and because the looser strings make bends easier. Singers like it too, since every song drops a little in pitch.
Half Step Down: notes and frequencies
| String | Note | Pitch | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | E♭ | E♭2 | 77.78 Hz |
| 5 | A♭ | A♭2 | 103.83 Hz |
| 4 | D♭ | D♭3 | 138.59 Hz |
| 3 | G♭ | G♭3 | 185.00 Hz |
| 2 | B♭ | B♭3 | 233.08 Hz |
| 1 | E♭ | E♭4 | 311.13 Hz |
From standard tuning to Half Step Down
- String 6: lower it from E2 to E♭2, 1 semitone down.
- String 5: lower it from A2 to A♭2, 1 semitone down.
- String 4: lower it from D3 to D♭3, 1 semitone down.
- String 3: lower it from G3 to G♭3, 1 semitone down.
- String 2: lower it from B3 to B♭3, 1 semitone down.
- String 1: lower it from E4 to E♭4, 1 semitone down.
Every string moves by the same small amount, so in auto mode the tuner finds each string by itself. Go round twice: lowering all six strings relaxes the neck.
Tune to Half Step Down by ear
Tune string 6 (E♭2) to a reference first: tap it in the tuner above, or use a piano or another instrument. Then tune each string to one that is already in tune:
- Play string 6 at fret 5, then tune open string 5 until the two sound the same (A♭2).
- Play string 5 at fret 5, then tune open string 4 until the two sound the same (D♭3).
- Play string 4 at fret 5, then tune open string 3 until the two sound the same (G♭3).
- Play string 3 at fret 4, then tune open string 2 until the two sound the same (B♭3).
- Play string 2 at fret 5, then tune open string 1 until the two sound the same (E♭4).
Songs in Half Step Down
A few well-known recordings played in Half Step Down:
- Sweet Child o' Mine, Guns N' Roses
- Pride and Joy, Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Purple Haze, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Learning a song in Half Step Down?
Record it or upload it, and Tabtify turns it into tab you can play along with. Choose Half Step Down under Tuning in the converter's options so the frets match your guitar.
Turn a recording into tabHalf step down tuner FAQ
What are the notes of Half Step Down?
From string 6 to string 1: E♭2, A♭2, D♭3, G♭3, B♭3, E♭4. With A4 at 440 Hz, that is 77.78 Hz, 103.83 Hz, 138.59 Hz, 185.00 Hz, 233.08 Hz, 311.13 Hz.
Is half step down the same as E♭ tuning?
Yes. Half step down, E♭ standard, and E♭ tuning all mean the same thing: E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭.
Do chord shapes change in half step down?
No. Every shape works as in standard tuning. An E shape sounds as E♭, a G shape as G♭, and so on.
Can I play a half step down song in standard tuning?
Sometimes. Playing everything one fret lower sounds the same, but parts that use open strings have nowhere lower to go, so tuning down is the reliable way.