Why are most 90's grunge songs tuned down a half step

The 90's found many rock bands trying new approaches to the genre that was mostly formulaic in the previous decade. Soundgarden in particular used many alternative tunings (EBEEBE, open C plus a fifth, generally really abstract tunings) and time signatures, but most artists used turnings like drop d or other down tunings.
 
Bigfanofthemdrugs said:
The 90's found many rock bands trying new approaches to the genre that was mostly formulaic in the previous decade. Soundgarden in particular used many alternative tunings (EBEEBE, open C plus a fifth, generally really abstract tunings) and time signatures, but most artists used turnings like drop d or other down tunings.
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Yeah burden in my hand, pretty noose, and another tune are in that weird open C. Tough burden in my hand is very difficult to sing imo.

I forgot about this thread. There are some great responses here. I like Eb step down cus its easy to sing in.
 
I thought I was the only one who spent hours wondering about this. But half-step down certainly sounds so cool in grunge songs.

Some grunge sounds also have some really complicated tunings, like this amazing song by Chris Cornell


MyFinalRest said:
I apologize, I just can't seem to penetrate the mind of the Grunge artist to know why he would play tuned down 1/2 step.
But, I can provide you with a link to a Grunge Parody.
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lol this parody is right on the spot
 
No man it's a metaphor. It's their way of saying "yeah we know we're below you. We know we're the underbelly of society. We know the man's tryin to keep our message of the cruel nature of reality and government control down. That why we wear flannel, bra. That why we shoot heroin... And ourselves in the faces with shotguns n shit. That's why we tune down a half step. But you straight edges just wouldn't understand our inner turmoil and depressed suicidal fantasies"

That's what tuning down is all about... I think.

Or maybe it's just for a heavier sound
 
Disraeli_Beers said:
No man it's a metaphor. It's their way of saying "yeah we know we're below you. We know we're the underbelly of society. We know the man's tryin to keep our message of the cruel nature of reality and government control down. That why we wear flannel, bra. That why we shoot heroin... And ourselves in the faces with shotguns n shit. That's why we tune down a half step. But you straight edges just wouldn't understand our inner turmoil and depressed suicidal fantasies"

That's what tuning down is all about... I think.

Or maybe it's just for a heavier sound
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Lol I doubt that. I have actually been tuned down since I started this thread and I will say this about it on acoustic. It give you a deeper sound with more base, the strings being less tight are easier to navigate, also bending is done with much more ease, and if you sing it flat keys better like myself it grants you access without using a capo and sounding like a christian pop star.
 
1) to accommodate the singer's voice

2) because it's sludgy man!

3) my band actually tunes down a half step (mosly), I think it's aesthetically pleasing for rock n roll
 
It's bizarre, when I was first beginning to play, I started on Nirvana and Sabbath. With Sabbath, Tony's guitar was clearly tuned down a bit. But alot of Nirvana songs would say "tune down 1/2 step" on their tablature, but I always found that the songs on the albums harmonized perfectly with standard tuning of the song. Heart Shaped Box, for example. A-F-D. This is what was tabbed out and playing in standard tuning sounds perfect, not a half step off.

Personally, I like to keep it standard for the most part and just transcribe to a lower tone if necessary.
 
Bardeaux said:
It's bizarre, when I was first beginning to play, I started on Nirvana and Sabbath. With Sabbath, Tony's guitar was clearly tuned down a bit. But alot of Nirvana songs would say "tune down 1/2 step" on their tablature, but I always found that the songs on the albums harmonized perfectly with standard tuning of the song. Heart Shaped Box, for example. A-F-D. This is what was tabbed out and playing in standard tuning sounds perfect, not a half step off.

Personally, I like to keep it standard for the most part and just transcribe to a lower tone if necessary.
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The producer speeds it up sometimes when mixing the final takes. Im only sleeping was recorded in standard tuning but they slowed it down to do that backwards guitar solo for example and it ended up being almost a half step down.
 
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