How To Add More Tension On The Strings When Tuned Down To D?

[Methyus]

Does anyone know of a way set a guitar up so there is more tension/less slop in the strings when you're tuned down to D? All of the extra slop in the strings at this tuning is totally affecting my speed picking.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Aedryan

[shredding]

I think the only solution is to go for higher gauge strings.

[fretflyer]

yes higher gauge strings would be the answer, but truthfully, i just really got used to it and now my speed picking has no real problem even when tuned down

[Methyus]

Hmmm.... That would most likely help some. I never used to like 10 gauge strings, but maybe i'll give them a shot. Thanks, Shred!

Any other suggestions anyone?

- Aedryan

[Methyus]

Hmmm.... Dunno why this topic got moved here, but ok.... This isn't a technique related problem. It's a guitar setup problem.

[JonR]

Hmmm.... That would most likely help some. I never used to like 10 gauge strings, but maybe i'll give them a shot. Thanks, Shred!

Any other suggestions anyone?

- Aedryan10s?? I use 10s in standard tuning. Anything lighter is too floppy, IMO. (I used 9s for years, but eventually got fed up with the lack of response and poor tone.)
For tuning down to D, I'd say you need 11s or 12s. 10s would still be too light. IMO, that is!
Try heavier gauges, you'll be pleasantly surprised with the improved tone and increased power. Tuned down to D, you'll still be able to bend 11s (or even 12s) around pretty easily.

[Methyus]

Thanks Jon. Yeah, I have searched the internet high and low for solutions to this problem and everyone is saying the same exact thing you just told me. Screw it, i'll just try slapping some 12's on my guitars and see how they act. It seems like that's what the majority of people are using when they're tuned down this low. I know i'll have to do some major setting up and tweaking, leaping from 9's to 12's, but are my Floyds still going to work well with that heavy of strings?

Thanks again for all of your suggestions everyone. It seems like there is a fairly simple fix for this problem afterall!

- Aedryan

[socialmisfit]

its mostly personal preference as to what you like the feel of, but for tuning down to D its generally said that you should use at least 10s, if not a higher gauge. personally i use 10-52s and i play in E, dropped D, and even dropped C -all fine with the 10s, as long as the guitar is setup right.

[Robot_Boy]

im with social misfit. i used to use 10-52s on my wolfy, and they hardly lose any tension when you drop em down a step

[JonR]

Thanks Jon. Yeah, I have searched the internet high and low for solutions to this problem and everyone is saying the same exact thing you just told me. Screw it, i'll just try slapping some 12's on my guitars and see how they act. It seems like that's what the majority of people are using when they're tuned down this low. I know i'll have to do some major setting up and tweaking, leaping from 9's to 12's, but are my Floyds still going to work well with that heavy of strings?
Sure. Dropping the tuning will reduce much - if not all - of the increased tension you'll get from 12s. (But if you're used to 9s why not start off with 10s or 11s first?)
Even with 12s, I would fit the heavier strings and tune to DGCFAD first, before making any adjustments. I mean I guess the Floyds will need tweaking, but don't touch the truss rod unless the neck curvature seems to have changed.

BTW, I think SRV used 13s, tuned a half-step down (just as a kind of bench mark for ya! :smile: ).

[reeced]

The vibrational frequency of a guitar string is proportional to the mass of the string. For a given length of string of a certain gauge, in theory, the denser the material, the more tension is required to achieve a certain frequency. Pure nickel has a greater density than stainless steel, or nickel plated steel, so it should give greater tension. Whether it's significant or not I don't know.

[eexplorer505]

if you got a tremolo/floating bridge can you put a trem stop in and add another spring wouldnt that help with tenson with out sacraficeing string gauge you like(dont think you have to do any thing with the claw neither) i only say cause he didnt say what kin bridge he had

[Slipstream]

Sure. Dropping the tuning will reduce much - if not all - of the increased tension you'll get from 12s. (But if you're used to 9s why not start off with 10s or 11s first?)
Even with 12s, I would fit the heavier strings and tune to DGCFAD first, before making any adjustments. I mean I guess the Floyds will need tweaking, but don't touch the truss rod unless the neck curvature seems to have changed.

BTW, I think SRV used 13s, tuned a half-step down (just as a kind of bench mark for ya! :smile: ).I've been tuning to open D with D A D F# A D. Are both tunings 'equivalent'?

[JonR]

I've been tuning to open D with D A D F# A D. Are both tunings 'equivalent'?No. I was assuming (maybe wrongly?) that what methyus meant was tuning (all 6 strings) down a whole step, which would be D G C F A D.

In DGCFAD, you play chord shapes and scales as normal, they just sound a whole step lower.
D A D F# A D (like all open tunings) is designed for slide playing, or if you want to play chords with one-finger barres. It only really suits the key of D. (DGCFAD, like EADGBE, is OK for any key.)

Heavier strings aren't as necessary for open D, because not all the strings are tuned down.

[LightSeeker]

yeah, just make the upper string one size thicker than the other ones

[GuitarownzU]

Higher Gauge

[Slipstream]

No. I was assuming (maybe wrongly?) that what methyus meant was tuning (all 6 strings) down a whole step, which would be D G C F A D.

In DGCFAD, you play chord shapes and scales as normal, they just sound a whole step lower.
D A D F# A D (like all open tunings) is designed for slide playing, or if you want to play chords with one-finger barres. It only really suits the key of D. (DGCFAD, like EADGBE, is OK for any key.)

Heavier strings aren't as necessary for open D, because not all the strings are tuned down.Oh ok, I see. Thanks. I guess I should have seen that.

I've been using open D for trying to leard slide. I have a Tampa Red finger picking pattern down for that tuning. I don't like that it limits the key, but I discovered that one can put a capo on the second fret for playin' in E. Of course other keys are possible, but it gets weird if you go too high.