Monday, March 3, 2025
ElectricGuitar

Why Do Strats Sound Better Tuned To Eb?


Why do Fender Stratocaster sound so much better tuned down to Eb instead of standard tuning? I have a few ideas, so in today’s video we’re talking about why players like Jimi Hendrix favored the Eb tuning.
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#Strats #Sound #Tuned

Originally posted by UCCJ56k8nBeqWLoxNa6DToAQ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QsMIG3dGjk

23 thoughts on “Why Do Strats Sound Better Tuned To Eb?

  • Hey Rhett, here’s some ‘farmer physics’ that may explain why e flat tuning sounds great. The lower string tension allows the strings to vibrate more freely, lower frequencies travel longer distances since they bounce off objects rather than being absorbed.

    Reply
  • Strats do sound better in Eb! I keep my Les Paul also Eb but that is because Slash, GNR and Metallica (Load era and Live performances since late 90s).

    Reply
  • I cannot stand playing in standard tuning on any guitar. It’s gotten so bad that I won’t even jam with anyone unless we tune down to eflat????

    Reply
  • Meh. I agree that I prefer to play my Strat in Eb but you're making up a lot of BS. I mean, consider this thing about a lower tuned string having more energy. That's just absolutely backwards. Higher tuning = higher tension. Higher tension = more potential energy before being picked. More potential energy = more total vibrational energy when picked. And how in the world can you talk about Strat players who tune down and not mention SRV? That's practically a sin.

    Reply
  • A Strat with a single pickup tuned to Drop Db (or C#, whichever tickles your fancy) is amazing.

    Eddie Van Halen also used both Eb and Drop Db on his Strats.

    Reply
  • Misleading, tuning down a semitone does not make the guitar an Eb instrument. I don’t think this was the claim but it comes across that way. An Alto saxophone IS an Eb instrument meaning when the note C is played on it the concert pitch is actually Eb.

    Reply
  • One should figure if there are already enough tube screamers out there obviously you make 7 more

    Reply
  • When you detune, you are passing a standard gauge string through the magnetic field at tension normally associated with a lighter string. Greater mass=better tone.

    Reply
  • It makes it harder for young players out there who try to learn listening to songs in various pitch. Like copyright protection. Makes it harder for average Jo to learn.

    Reply
  • Wow, your observations about Gibson at Eb vs Strat at Eb was spot on. I thought only I felt this way!

    Reply
  • Never considered this until I was learning to play An't Talkin' Bout Love by VH which is in the key of AM, but Eddie's tuning is Eb. Wow, what a difference it made to the sound of my guitar. Now along with your video, it will be Eb for my Strats going further for my own music. Likewise, I tried tuning my tele type guitar (Schecter Nick Johnston PT) down to D Standard and loved the sound so much that I left it there. 😉 Thanks for the video's on this topic.

    Reply
  • There was a video demonstration on YouTube by Premier Guitar on this subject and that Strat just came alive.

    Reply
  • You forgot the greatest rock guitarist of all time who tuned down 1/2 step.. EDWARD VAN HALEN. Duh. The Frankenstein was a Strat with a humbucker. Still a Strat.

    Reply

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