D Standard is my favorite 6 string tuning. I have many reasons why, but there's something about it as the ultimate sweet spot, and the note names don't throw me into the no-man's-land on the circle of fifths.
Now you can play from Motley Crue to Death! Not to mention, it's the most popular tuning for playing live shows for almost all old metal bands. Plus: Playing in acoustic nylon guitar, this tune sounds fantastic.
I have used D standard tuning pretty much exclusively for over 20 years. I originally switched to accommodate a vocalist who couldn't handle a higher range. But quickly learned that I definitely preferred the feel on a 25.5" scale guitar strung with 10's. And I most definitely prefer the tone. D standard is thicker sounding without being so in your face low for the sake of just being low. I also drop my 25.5" 7-string down to A standard and use 10's for the same reasons.
Man, it does seem to be in that perfect middle ground. I've thought of tuning my 7 string down a half step just to release some tension with the 10s. Or I guess a whole step as you mentioned makes sense, too.
@@jasonstallworth, definitely try your 7-string in A standard. For like scale length and string gauges it gives the same feel and tonal benefits. In fact the tonal benefits really shine on the mighty 7.
I'm not in the same ballpark as your legendary skills, but even i can confirm that d standard goes hard as fuck for metal. I still drop the mids, crank the bass and treble. Love that 80s thrash sound but in a lower tuning at the moment!
I have my RG in standard for learning theory and ear training. My GIO is in Eb because I like the moodier tones and my little 3/4 acoustic is in Eb with nylon strings to give it a warmer sound. Great vid, Mr. Jason, loved that sound!
Yeah my RG and most of my guitars will always remain in E standard. But I like your idea for your nylon string guitar! Those things have such a beautiful sound.
I love D standard for non-metal, as well. My first experience with it was playing along with a live version of "Tuesday Afternoon", by the Moody Blues. I'm sure they only did it to accommodate the vocals, but I loved the fuller sound of the guitar.
Right on D standard! My favorite tuning for 20+ years! 😅😎Although I have been using drop C and considering C standard lately. But yea D standard is awesome, because the strings aren't super floppy but are a little easier to play than standard tuning. You still get a good balance of heavy chunkiness while still avoiding muddiness of lower tunings. Some great bands (Death, Children Of Bodom) primarily use D standard. Sorry to hear you've moved on from the 7, but hey it had a good run and you have to try things to know if you like them or not!
Brother Vafa! Always great to see you on here man and hope your channel is doing well. Yeah, I noticed with D that I didn't get the muddiness and the strings weren't near as floppy (I prefer the lightest strings possible, and now I recall that these are lights, 10-46). About the 7...this is nuts man...as soon as I published this video, I broke the 7 out of the case and it's been over a month. I actually posted recorded something with it and posted it on FB and IG! Loved every second of it...that's been such a big back and forth relationship for me! lol
@@jasonstallworth i have the same thing! I have a beautiful ibanez RGif7 that my girlfriend very kindly bought me as a gift a few years ago. I'm only just getting to grips with a 6 string though 🤣 every so often I'll smash out some amon amarth or slipknot on it though as it saves me drop tuning the 6 string too low and fittings fatter strings
You know what Jazz Guys also use this Tuning so they could compete w/ the Horns which are pitched in the Keys of Bb & Eb (on a Guitar tuned down a step it becomes C & F) so it's useful. I do have a 7 String Acoustic Guitar w/ a Low B & it has a rather Skinny neck due to it's super high radius.
@@jasonstallworth I'm using the Magma GCT-D String set which is made for this Tuning. Vocalists who got a Guitar in their hands also prefer this Tuning so that the high notes are less of a strain on their voice. The other day I took an Agile 10 String Electric Guitar with me to a Church Gig & the 4 additional Lower Strings made it easier for me to transpose on the fly & it allowed me to compete w/ that 7 (and more) String Bass Guitar. Interestingly 12 String Guitars used to be tuned this way due to them having a slightly longer scale length & rather heavy gauge strings (and the neck not being strong enough), way before they shortened the scale length to our modern 25.5 in, & dropped the gauge down to Ultra Lights.
Jason I remember your video from 2 years ago..." why I don't drop tune or used down tunings." Glad to see your open minded. There also "open d" which is DADF#AD. This makes a D major when all string are played open. Definitely check it out!
Dude, I'll be honest, I still prefer E standard over everything else. But I do sort of dig the D standard as well. At least better than any others I've tried. But I wanted to branch out a little and see what would happen!
*Not just vicious, Children Of Bodom wrote 2 of the most melodic and heartfelt metal albums you will ever hear in D standard, Hatebreeder & Follow The Reaper ❤*
Hey Jason, found you recently and loving the channel. Just bought all 5 of your albums on Apple Music, including Christmas Presence, and will be jamming at the gym tonight and pumping iron. Keep it metal brother \m/
Cool to see another 50s(ish) metalhead taking the plunge into all these lower tunings. I, also, was SURE I would never stray from the good ol E standard. There seemed to really be no reason... Then I think I realized ( for me ) it isn't about NEEDING to do it, it is about what it opens up by doing it. If I just sat there and played all my exact same old riffs, but now in d standard, it was like all new songs LOL, pretty cool. Then I got a 7 string and HOLY CRAP haha...again, even if you just play the same old stuff, it all sounds new...anyway, after all the ramble, I agree. Nothing at all wrong with trying all the possible tunings and sounds. There is nothing more rock or metal than saying hell no to limits... :D
You make a great point. It’s not about needing to do it. You do it just to do it and open up more ideas. I’ve got a new 7 string video coming out soon…just picked it up for the first time in over a month yesterday!
Jason! I recently watched this video and I must say that you're absolutely right about d standard! It's not too low that it becomes muddy and I like the fact that it's better for me for lead! I think you should keep at least one of your guitars in a down tuning because like you said the 7 string can be difficult to adapt to . Like I said the last time I see the 7 string and the downtuning as separate applications of the guitar. Check out Be'lakor they are awesome and they tune to d standard. Have a nice one Jason and "KEEP IT METAL".
Accurate. I tune to C standard because of most of the points you make in this video. Also you should try giving double drop D or double drop C a try. Where you tune down the high Estring and low Estring a whole step. Not very common for the metal genre, but I found it to be pretty useful when writing new riffs.
I like this tuning, but honestly I'll more than likely tune this one back to standard. I've been playing my 7 string a lot this past couple of weeks and that covers any lower notes I'd wanna play (check out the video after this one)
@@jasonstallworth so u been playing standard then lately I tune standard but a bit flat and sometimes drop A lol but normal standard tuning is best for solo stuff
11s are the thickest I'll go for strings. Btw...you inspired me to switch to LTD, so I just bought a M-1000 Deluxe purple burst with EMG 57/66 (put a 24 volt mod in the battery cavity) it screams!!!!
Since I learned some Gojira songs, that's my tuning of choice. On top of that, Yesterday from The Beatles is also in D standard, when my friend told me, this tuning became my number 1
I'm playing death metal in standard tuning (6 string) just because there's a stigma to play lower tunings when it's time to play some death metal. I like to challenge myself to make the most brutal riff I can make without being depended on lower tunings
I’m 100% with you on that! As I mention at the end, E standard will always be my preferred tuning. And you’re right…you don’t have to downtime for death metal. My song ‘Passing Through’ is played on a 7 string but the chorus, which has death metal vocals, is played in the key of A minor.
Most the old death metal is half step down actually. Like old cannibal corpse is only half step down. Skeleton witch plays instead and old opeth is in standard as well. Tons of heavy stuff in standard tunings. It's not the tuning that makes something more or less heavy it's the riff itself
Your videos are just awesome. Almost every videos is a complete package as an add-on to our skill. Your "7 techniques to play like 80s...." was totally unique and outstanding addition to our knowledge and skill. Not one but seven back to back to back ideas ... haha. Just too good! Could you please give us a step by step guide to learning a scale and the thought process that goes into creating a melody to play along with a backtrack? As an example, I am learning the E minor scale absolutely mechanically (the notes) and then completely lost to make my mind wander on how to go about putting together some "pattern" that would eventually help me jam along to e minor ambient (or any) backtracks. I love your way of teaching and helps us develop a mentality and it would be just awesome if you can guide us thru something like learning a scale and then coming up with a plan on playing along to a backtrack Cheers my man - you the best!
Thank you brother. I actually have a video on writing metal riffs here (I've got several but this one's the latest): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AnY_kdeoGLY.html
I've had a weird back and forth relationship with my 7 string for the past few years. Funny thing is I took it out of the case yesterday after publishing this video (haven't played it in over a month) and it really felt good. But I know after a few days I'll be right where I was before, struggling with it! lol
I'm just getting back into guitar after being away for a decade (27 right now), I wasn't a great player before, I could play a few songs, and then rhythm parts for quite a few metal songs that I liked and riffs as well although I never got the solos down quite that great for some of the harder songs. But I got a Demon 7, and audio interface, and man, the tech has improved so much I'm loving playing that I'm playing for 1-2 hours a day most everyday now. The line 6 spider (II I think) I had back then just did not sound good, I could never get the sounds I wanted, just horrible facsimiles of what I wanted at best, so I never practiced all that much. Anyways, I've tuned to D standard and I was loving it. I went back to E standard to learn some non metal songs, but I love D standard and think I'm gonna go back. I guess that's A standard technically for me since I'm on a 7 string, but still got the point 👍
I'm glad to hear you got back into playing and it sounds like you're taking it all to the next level! I do love E standard and will always prefer that. like you, I also play a lot of non-metal (I perform live acoustic solo gigs in my area). But the D standard is brutal!
Conflicting information -got vids why I don’t down tune ? but you do D standard and if memory serves me right C# I believe lol . Honestly any tuning is for metal from open B to standard is what’s being played 🤘🏻
Lol, conflicting, indeed! Conflicting, indeed. But look at the date of that video - that was a while back. And you've gotta give yourself room to make changes. E standard will always be my go-to though. But I've opened myself up a little to using something different for specific projects. Then again, and I'm all over the place at times, I did mention that I may tune this guitar back to standard! lol Funny thing is as soon as I published this video, I broke out my 7 string (after not playing it for over a month) and loved every second!
@@jasonstallworth haven’t played a 7 yet I imagine it’s like playing a 6 string bass in that there’s so many option for economy motion type fretting playing that I enjoy . After decades of playing I find real enjoyment in my never ending collection of backing tracks set to shuffle and let my session begin currently at 136 different jams all have they own feel and solos . Keeps me on my toes I avoid learning other peoples songs bc I don’t play gigs anymore for one and two it’s to easy to dissect art but creating it is the real magic 🤘🏻. Hopefully ill be able to record again soon . Musics on hold till kids are a little older and I have more than hour a day to just jam for know . Easily two album worth on deck tho once I figured out the digital age of recording. Before that shoot it was the late 90s we all remember recording then
Yeah I love D tuning. Sometimes I go down to C but for the most stuff I play I use standard D. I'm weird however, I always crank the mids and cut the bass / treble to get a supermuddy sound and it stands out in a mix quite well imo
@@jasonstallworth Oh I'm old too, I don't think it's that. I'm inclined to think that it's just my rig that is generally treble-heavy and adding presence to the mids does more good than just upping the highs to mids :) Anyways I'm glad someone is advertising proper guitar tuning instead of drop Z# :D
@@ScytherOnSpree Yeah dude, I never cared to play low notes for the sake of low notes. Many get caught up in chugging away on just those notes when they downtune. No drop Z! lol
Played in e standard for many years than got bored with it.. Now i have my two superstrats tuned to d standard. I put on 10-50 strings. I still have an SG tuned to e flat. I even tuned my acoustic to e flat.
My main seven string is in drop g so I have a d standard below that 7th string and I love it. My other is in Bb standard for playing old school stuff that’s in Eb
You should check out the drop tune pedal by digitech . I’m able to leave my guitars in standard tuning and just use the drop tune instead of all the hassle especially with a Floyd rose guitar. Rock on bro 🎸🤘🏻
D standard - my Epiphone SG pro sounds great in it as does my older Gibson Les Paul Studio which seems to struggle with down tuning. But goes to D Standard and sounds dope
Sup Bro. I got mine in D standard as well. Love that tuning so much. If you want to learn a song that will jack with your brain but isnt too hard on the hands check out 'Downfall' by Children of Bodom. or A riff heavy song, 'Spirit Crusher' by Death. Super fun. Also on my 24.75in guitar 10-46 is dreamy for D. 25.5 9s for slinky D or 10s for a pretty normal feel.
Dude, I'm pretty sure that's what I have on here...lights, 10-46. For a moment, I thought I might have put mediums on but I just don't care for thick strings.
The weird thing is I picked up my 7 string after publishing this video. I had not played it in over a month (it was in the case, ready to be sold) and I loved it! I've had a strange relationship with my 7
25.5" 6-string guitar: E standard. I don't have any of these anymore. 27.0" 7-string guitar: "Drop A baritone" - AEADF#BE - It's like, a baritone tuning in Drop A, with an extra high E string vs the usual standard guitar with a lower B string of a 7. Fun! Really, all three plain strings are a fourth apart and I like how that balances out. My main guitar. 8-string guitar: trolololol... XD
@@jasonstallworth same to be honest i reaaallly love the Death vibes type Chuck tone stuff i can get out of my guitar but , i dont know man its just that when you grow up on E standard and know how to use it then nothing else feels like home hah 😅
I’ve used drop D tuning then I came across double DD tuning ( DADGBD ) and it really reeks metal tones with MXR fulbore metal pedal .. 🤘🎸🤘 Btw I like B - C - D tuning with 10s. - .46s strings ..... or .11 - .58s strings works for me and light strings don’t do it for me because lighter strings can’t handle Metal without breaking a lot.
I’m not sponsored by them (at least not today), but I use Elixir strings and can count on one hand how many times I’ve broken a string in the past decade or more of using them.
I’m always stuck in e flat. It just feels like home to me. I do have a guitar set for D standard though whenever I want to do something in the Killswitch/Shadows Fall vein.
Dude, honestly I think you can play any subgenre (or genre) in any tuning and make it sound good. I have a part of one of my songs that's death metal and that part is played in A minor in standard tuning (not a likely death metal key!) - it's called Never Enough ...listen to the chorus: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-__to4AeJM68.html
@@jasonstallworth oh for sure. Someone got me really into Kreator’s Phantom Antichrist a while back and it’s in D and sounds ferocious. If the song’s good, it’s good.
Dude, I don't have a video on that but I'd recommend looking that up as there are several RU-vid videos that will explain that. But to keep it simple, you tune every string down one whole step
I'm really just experimenting with tunings. It's not something I ever truly got into. I like it initially, but dude, I'll honestly more than likely go back to standard on this guitar. I'll mess around with D a little longer though.
I believe Mastadon and Pantera tune to D (Google ‘metal bands that tune to D standard). I don’t use this tuning much…I was just experimenting. I prefer E standard
Just changed to those 11 56s Jason I am digging the D standard! Also got my riffs and licks. I'm 57 and a metal head for life! Got back to playing a few months ago. You vids and lessons are awsome bro! Metal Rules
Yeah dude, I had this one tuned to C#. After playing it more, the strings were just a little too floppy. And I don't really like thicker strings. So I figured I'd just tune it up a half step to D!
My dude, I did the same except for my 7 string LTD EC-407. It's in A standard, so ADGCFAD. I grew up listening to a lot of bands that either played in D standard or drop C and this tuning setup allows me to play a lot of that stuff easily. I just drop tune the D to C. And if I wanna play something in standard/drop D? Just put a capo! Easy.
Lol, funny thing is I recorded the intro music to this video after I filmed the individual parts and you’ll notice it was clean in that intro. I almost went back and re-recorded the other parts with my clean guitar!
