Hi all, I just wanted to see what the forums general consensus is on tuning strings higher than standard. I've just been playing David Crosby's Deja Vu (on acoustic), which involves tuning the 5th string up a whole step to B, and the first and second strings down a full step to D and A respectively. Does this kind of tension movements damage necks and bridges etc? Does the lowering of the 1st and 2nd strings offset the increase in the 5th string? the song uses the whole fret board so tuning down and capoing wont really work.
I've only got one acoustic so its set up for standard tuning. What's the verdict?
As always, thank you in advance.
Ray.

Hi Ray
Ive had a few songs ive had to do this on and ive never had any problems. Well.... I say that, i regularly snap the string im tuning up! the older the string is the greater the chances of this it seems, but asides from that it has always been fine.
Think the rain song by led zeppelin was the first i came across that had a tuning like this. Used to be one of my party pieces for the early morning chill out times. Think it was the B string you had to tune up there as well.
All the best
Olly

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`I prefer not to listen to music that I can't rip off or improve on` - Ian Dury

Hi Ray: two things. First, yes, tuning two strings down a step will balance (or more than balance) tuning another one up a step. The total string pull on the bridge will be the same or less.

Second, putting on a set of strings one gauge heavier than before will put a lot more tension on the neck than merely tuning a string or two up a step. If the guitar can take heavier strings it can most definitely take a bit of alternate tuning.

Of course, these are real considerations when we're talking about acoustic guitars, who's fronts can distort even under ordinary string tension. But don't worry. Just look at all the alternate tuning someone such as Joni Mitchell did, and her acoustic seemed to survive it (well, as far as I know...).

Cheers - C

PS: I expect someone is now going to post a Youtube vid of Joni's guitar collapsing while being alternate tuned - and then I shall have to eat my words.

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Thanks heaps guys.
Ray

I've tried tuning higher than standard before. While I don't think it did anything detrimental to the guitar (I didn't keep it tuned that way for more than a couple of hours at a time), it did scare me every time I tuned up because you could feel the strings getting tighter and more prone to breaking.

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