Half step down tuning

Standard tuning lowered by one semitone, so every shape keeps its fingering and sounds a semitone lower. String tension falls by roughly 6 per cent for the same gauge, which makes bending slightly easier.

1st Eb
2nd Bb
3rd Gb
4th Db
5th Ab
6th Eb

Notes, highest to lowest: Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb
Notes, lowest to highest: Eb Bb Gb Db Ab Eb
Strings: 6
Interval pattern: 6th to 5th: 5 semitones; 5th to 4th: 5 semitones; 4th to 3rd: 5 semitones; 3rd to 2nd: 4 semitones; 2nd to 1st: 5 semitones
Family: standard
Typical scale length: 24.75–25.5 in
Open strings contain: Ab7sus4, Eb7sus4, Ebm7, F#6, F#add9, Absus2, Absus4, C#sus2, C#sus4, Ebm
Written use: Used to lower the singing key without changing chord shapes, and to slacken the strings slightly for a heavier feel.
Key of this tuning: Eb

Strings

Each string of this tuning, with its scientific pitch, its MIDI note number (middle C is 60) and its distance above the lowest string.

String	Note	Octave	MIDI	Semitones above the lowest	Interval
1st (highest)	Eb	4	63	24	Perfect unison plus two octaves above the lowest string
2nd	Bb	3	58	19	Perfect twelfth above the lowest string
3rd	Gb	3	54	15	Augmented ninth above the lowest string
4th	Db	3	49	10	Minor seventh above the lowest string
5th	Ab	2	44	5	Perfect fourth above the lowest string
6th (lowest)	Eb	2	39	0	the reference string

Common chord shapes

The shapes below were found by searching this tuning's fretboard. The search prefers the lowest playable position, requires every chord tone, spans no more than four frets and allows no muted string between two sounding ones. Shapes in an altered tuning are not the standard ones: they are the shapes this tuning actually produces.

Chord	Shape (lowest string first)	Notes	Degrees	Span	Sounding	Quality
Eb	0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)	Eb Bb Eb G Bb Eb	1 5 1 3 5 1	2	6	Major
Ab	0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)	Eb Ab Eb Ab C Eb	5 1 5 1 3 5	2	6	Major
Db	2-0-0-2-x-x (6→1)	F Ab Db Ab x x	3 5 1 5 x x	2	4	Major
Ebm	0-2-2-0-0-0 (6→1)	Eb Bb Eb Gb Bb Eb	1 5 1 b3 5 1	2	6	Minor
Cm	x-x-2-1-2-0 (6→1)	x x D# G C D#	x x b3 5 1 b3	2	4	Minor
Eb7	x-x-0-1-0-0 (6→1)	x x Db G Bb Eb	x x b7 3 5 1	1	4	Dominant seventh
Bb7	2-0-1-2-0-2 (6→1)	F Ab D Ab Bb F	5 b7 3 b7 1 5	2	6	Dominant seventh
Ab	0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)	Eb Ab Eb Ab C Eb	5 1 5 1 3 5	2	6	Major

Chord

Shape (lowest string first)

Notes

Degrees

Span

Sounding

Quality

0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)

Eb Bb Eb G Bb Eb

1 5 1 3 5 1

Major

0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)

Eb Ab Eb Ab C Eb

5 1 5 1 3 5

Major

2-0-0-2-x-x (6→1)

F Ab Db Ab x x

3 5 1 5 x x

Major

Ebm

0-2-2-0-0-0 (6→1)

Eb Bb Eb Gb Bb Eb

1 5 1 b3 5 1

Minor

x-x-2-1-2-0 (6→1)

x x D# G C D#

x x b3 5 1 b3

Minor

Eb7

x-x-0-1-0-0 (6→1)

x x Db G Bb Eb

x x b7 3 5 1

Dominant seventh

Bb7

2-0-1-2-0-2 (6→1)

F Ab D Ab Bb F

5 b7 3 b7 1 5

Dominant seventh

0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)

Eb Ab Eb Ab C Eb

5 1 5 1 3 5

Major

Diatonic chords in Eb

The seven triads built on the major scale of this tuning's home key, each as a playable shape in this tuning.

Numeral	Chord	Notes	Shape (lowest string first)	Sounding	Quality
I	Eb	Eb G Bb	0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)	6	Major
ii	Fm	F Ab C	2-0-4-2-2-2 (6→1)	6	Minor
iii	Gm	G Bb D	x-2-1-1-0-x (6→1)	4	Minor
IV	Ab	Ab C Eb	0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)	6	Major
V	Bb	Bb D F	2-2-1-4-0-2 (6→1)	6	Major
vi	Cm	C Eb G	x-x-2-1-2-0 (6→1)	4	Minor
vii°	Ddim	D F Ab	2-0-1-2-x-x (6→1)	4	Diminished

Numeral

Chord

Notes

Shape (lowest string first)

Sounding

Quality

Eb G Bb

0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)

Major

F Ab C

2-0-4-2-2-2 (6→1)

Minor

iii

G Bb D

x-2-1-1-0-x (6→1)

Minor

Ab C Eb

0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)

Major

Bb D F

2-2-1-4-0-2 (6→1)

Major

C Eb G

x-x-2-1-2-0 (6→1)

Minor

vii°

Ddim

D F Ab

2-0-1-2-x-x (6→1)

Diminished

What this tuning is used for

Used to lower the singing key without changing chord shapes, and to slacken the strings slightly for a heavier feel.

GenreHard rockA common choice for singers who cannot reach the written melody a semitone higher.
GenreBluesUsed by players who prefer heavier string gauges but the same tension.
GenreSoul and R&BOften used to place a song in a comfortable vocal key.

Related tunings

TuningStandardthe same tuning a semitone higher
TuningFull step downtwo semitones below standard
TuningDrop Da common companion tuning

Everything in Eb · All tunings

TuningStandard tuning — E A D G B EE A D G B E · 6 strings
TuningFull step down tuning — D G C F A DD G C F A D · 6 strings
TuningDrop D tuning — D A D G B ED A D G B E · 6 strings
ChordEb11 — Dominant eleventh1 9 3 11 5 b7 · Eb F G Ab Bb Db
ChordEb13 — Dominant thirteenth1 9 3 5 13 b7 · Eb F G Bb C Db
ChordEb6 — Sixth1 3 5 6 · Eb G Bb C
DegreesEb — degree mapEb major and natural minor · frets 0–22
Neck mapEb — note mapEb major · frets 0–22 · Eb F G Ab Bb C D

Everything in this key: Eb · Tunings · Theory Atlas