Guitar Tuner

GET A TUNER!! (ha ha!) Seriously, by learning to use a good electronic tuner, over time your ears will learn how your guitar sounds when it's in tune. Therefore when you want to tune it "by ear" you will be able to do so, quickly and efficiently. You will also begin to recognize when your guitar is slightly out of tune.

Tuning By Ear

There are quite a few ways to tune your guitar by ear. Here's the most common way

Playing the 5th fret on the low E string should match the pitch of the open A string.
Playing the 5th fret on the A string should match the pitch of the open D string.
Playing the 5th fret on the D string should match the pitch of the open G string.
Playing the 4th fret on the G string should match the pitch of the open B string.
Playing the 5th fret on the B string should match the pitch of the open high E string.

Tunings & The Bands That Use Them

Here is a listing of some of the bands that use these alternate tunings. They may either use the tunings exclusively or possibly just for a song or two. Some of the songs and CD-s that they use these tunings on have been noted. I-m sure I left out a ton of bands and artists but hey, I think you get the idea. Happy alternate tuning to ya!

Drop D -
Soundgarden, Ratt, Dokken, STP, Stabbing Westward, Led Zeppelin (Moby Dick), Pearl Jam (Evenflow), Creed, Filter, Foo Fighters, Fuel, Jimmy Eat World, Tool

Eb (or down 1/2 step) -
Alice in Chains, Van Halen, Motley Crue, Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Presidents of the United States of America, Good Charlotte, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix (Voodoo Chile, Little Wing), Aerosmith, Dokken, Ratt, Kiss, Metallica (Load), White Zombie, Ozzy Osbourne (No More Tears album), AFI, Dust for Life, Extreme, Green Day, Jewel, Sugar Cult, Yngwie Malmsteen, Anthrax, Sugar Ray, Rage Against the Machine, U2 (Joshua Tree)

Drop Db (or down 1/2 step with drop D)-
Alice in Chains, Van Halen, Nirvana (Heart Shaped Box), Presidents of the United States of America, Rage Against The Machine, Chevelle, Extreme, Ratt, Dokken, Saliva

D (or down one whole step)-
Korn (on 7 string guitars), King's X, Metallica (Sad But True), White Zombie, Deftones, The Beatles (Yesterday), Pantera, Nirvana (Come As You Are), Sevendust, Motley Crue (self titled CD)

Drop C (or down one whole step with drop D) -
System of a Down, Godsmack, P.O.D., Static X, Deftones Open G - Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Sheryl Crow Open D - Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin