Detuning Guitar 101: Why, How & When Should You Do It

A guitar is detuned by tuning all the guitar strings at a lower pitch than the standard one.

You can detune your guitar by plucking your strings one by one and turning each relevant peg/tuner till you find the right tone. A guitar can be detuned when you travel or for storage. 

You can achieve various guitar tunings according to the environment, playing style, or sound you want to achieve. 

As a beginner, you often get confused about detuning and if it is beneficial for your guitar or not. I’ve been at the same spot, and learning why and how guitars are properly detuned, has helped me become a better guitarist and understand musical concepts.

In this article, I will try to thoroughly explain the following topics in detail so that you can make a better-informed decision: 

1. What is the detuning of guitar and how to do it properly? 
2. Benefits and drawbacks of detuning a guitar. 
3. When you should detune your guitar. 
4. Should you or should you not detune your guitar?

Detuning of a guitar is when the instrument is purposefully tuned at a lower pitch than the standard tuning. It is usually done to loosen all the strings. It can act as a thickener that gives a chorus-type effect to the sound or accommodates lower pitches.  

In a traditional guitar, the standard notes used from the thickest E string are ‘E A D G B E.’ 

A detuned guitar is a traditional instrument, but all its strings are tuned at a lower pitch than the standard. 

All the strings are dropped to any lower pitch when a guitar is detuned or drop-tuned. So, for example, if we drop all the strings by two semitones, the standard notes will become ‘D G C F A D.’

Find out more about different kinds of guitar strings here.

1. Detuned guitars become easier to play. Detuning lowers the tension, so the strings bend easily – especially when learning new techniques.
2. Detuning helps you achieve lower pitches and without changing the highest pitch.
3. Detuning helps to produce a heavier sound – allowing you to play power chords easily.
4. Detuning guitar relaxes the guitar neck and joints – allowing the guitar to last longer (especially if you plan to keep it in storage).

The advantage of detuning a guitar depends mostly on how you use your guitar and your playing style. After that, you can tune your guitar according to what you want to accomplish. 

The correct way to detune your guitar is to start with the thickest string (low E), tune down by half a step or one whole step, and then proceed further in descending order (heaviest to lightest) and adjust each string down by half or one step. 

If you are going to detune your guitar, then there is a correct way of doing it. 

You have to start by plucking your low E string and tune it down a whole step by turning and adjusting the peg towards yourself. Keep plucking the string till you hear the right note or sound. 

Now repeat the same process for all your strings to bring them down by a step. 

Online apps and sites are available that can help you tune your guitar to the right note. 

There are various types of detuning that you can do to your guitar to achieve your outcome. Here is a list common detuning settings: 

1. Drop D. You keep all your strings at the standard pitch and detune the low E string to D. This gives you a crunchy sound and makes it easier to play some chords.
2. E-Flat. You drop all six of your strings down by half a step in this detuning. This tuning gives the guitar a darker and heavier tone and makes it bending easier.
3. Straight D. You drop all six of your strings down by one whole step. This tuning gives an excellent chunky sound.  

Detune guitar using by turning the peg towards yourself. Starting from the thickest string (Low E).

Most regular tunings do not pose any threats. Detuned strings have a comparatively lower string tension than standard tuned strings, and switching between the two does not damage a good quality guitar. 

However, under standard tuning, everything is balanced. Your guitar and strings prefer to stay under constant tension, so tuning and detuning them, again and again, can lead them to wear out or be damaged faster in the longer run. 

Other than that, going overboard with the detuning can cause damage to the strings or the guitar. 

Detuning makes some of the chords challenging to play. Also, after detuning, a guitar cannot produce a brighter sound. 

All these factors keep guitarists away from detuning their guitars more often. However, you should detune your guitar if you think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for your playing style and requirements.

But personally, you should try it because you can always change the tuning when you need it.

If you want to store the guitar – detune it. If need to achieve much lower pitches than standard tuning, then detune it. Once you are done, change the tuning back to standard.

1. Detune your guitar when you are travelling. There will be less pressure on the neck of the guitar if it accidentally falls. The strings will absorb the shock more effectively without strain on other components. 
2. Detune your guitar for storage. Detuned strings protect your guitar against atmospheric changes. With less tension, small atmospheric changes in the room that can cause wood expansion will not damage your guitar.
3. Detune your guitar when you require the lower pitch (depending on the song you play). Once you are done, you can always tune it back to standard tuning. There are many smartphone apps that can help with standard tuning.

It would be best not to detune your guitar often – not only it is inconvenient and time-consuming, it can also wear out the strings much faster. 

It’s best to detune your guitar only when necessary. Constant detuning after playing and then returning before playing the next time can cause damage to the guitar if done repeatedly.

I suggest you detune only when traveling or keeping your guitars in storage for a long time.

It would be very wise to detune your guitar by half a step or a whole step before putting it aside for storage. The detuning allows your guitar to adjust to any atmospheric change in the environment your guitar is placed in. 

A guitar can be affected due to the atmospheric changes in the environment it is placed in for an extended period. As the weather changes, the wood expands or contracts, so if you have your strings tightened, it can cause damage to different components of the guitar. 

However, if you loosen the strings, it gives room for the guitar to adjust to the changes without putting extra tension on the neck of the guitar. 

Guitars are designed while keeping in mind the potential string tension and strain so you can keep your guitar in tune even if you have to store it for a shorter period without any worry! 

Ensuring that the guitar is stored in the correct humidity conditions is essential because that can cause severe damage.

If you are detuning your guitar for storing for an extended period ( greater than six months) or traveling, it is an excellent idea to detune it by half a step or one whole step. 

Detuning too much or too often is never a good idea and can cause damage to your guitar. So it is advised not to detune too often, and even if you have to detune, it should only be down by half a step or one whole step if necessary. 

If you keep detuning and re-tuning your guitar regularly, it can cause damage to the strings as well as other components of the guitar. For example, it can cause the guitar neck to be pulled back over time or the strings to become worn. 

The guitar neck does hold a lot of pressure, and it makes a lot of sense that people consider detuning often to release that tension and think it will make their guitar more durable. 

However, guitar necks are well-built to withhold tension and pressure, and if you keep releasing that pressure too often, it can cause the neck to fall back. 

Your guitar strings will not last long if you detune and re-tune them over and over again. It can reduce the lifespan of the strings and can cause them to wear out. 

Guitar strings are manufactured keeping in mind a certain amount of tension they have to be held. Therefore, if you keep loosening and tightening them by detuning them regularly, you will shorten their life span as they were not manufactured for this. 

Strings are designed to be in tension, and tension should be maintained for as long as possible.

You can read more on keeping your strings clean and extending its life here.

Under normal conditions, with no extreme conditions like widely fluctuating weather or high humidity levels, it is better to leave your guitar in tune and under normal tension. 

The only instances in which you should consider detuning your guitar are before traveling or flying long distances or secondly if you are going to store your guitar for an extended period. 

If you keep the tension released by detuning the guitar, the countermeasures will cause damage to the neck itself because they keep pulling it back.