For Guitarists.

Why do Christian metal bands almost never play in standard tuning? Theocracy, Deliverance(most thrash really), Stryper etc.

Modern bands rarely do because they think it sounds "heavier" not to.  It's an artificial way to be "heavy" for many bands IMHO.

Stryper play in standard so they don't have to sing as high anymore.  Michael has said this.

Our band does play in standard.  I tend to prefer that.  Maybe when I get older I'll have to tune lower to sing in key but so far it's not an issue.

Temple of Blood wrote:  Maybe when I get older I'll have to tune lower to sing in key but so far it's not an issue.

Metallica play standard for the albums and tune everything (except St. Anger, Load/ReLoad, and Sad But True/The God That Failed from TBA) half step down live.

Because it’s a lot harder to replicate the vocals live on a multi-date tour.

Pethead wrote:Because it’s a lot harder to replicate the vocals live on a multi-date tour.

Yeah. I think they started doing it in the 90's.

Yeah, it gets harder the older you get, as well, generally speaking.

Heck, I’m in my mid-30s and my voice is lower than it was in my 20s.

It goes back to Black Sabbath. Iommi tuned down because the tension of the strings was easier for his sensitive fingers (after the tips got chopped off). They also noticed that it sounded more sinister to them. As mentioned before, a lot of the older bands now do it to help the lead singer in hitting the "higher" notes.

Pethead wrote:Yeah, it gets harder the older you get, as well, generally speaking.

Heck, I’m in my mid-30s and my voice is lower than it was in my 20s.

I think James is sounding his best now imo. 72 Seasons has some of his best vocals performances, especially in Inamorata(my fav song from the album) and Too Far Gone?

deathisgain wrote:It goes back to Black Sabbath. Iommi tuned down because the tension of the strings was easier for his sensitive fingers (after the tips got chopped off). They also noticed that it sounded more sinister to them. As mentioned before, a lot of the older bands now do it to help the lead singer in hitting the "higher" notes.

Yes, I've heard the Tony story and understand the reasoning, but Christian bands do it so much more than secular bands. Metallica's first 5 albums only have 3 songs that tune down(as far as I know), TTTSNB, SBT, and TGTF. Megadeth doesn't tune down either as far as I know

Christian Thrash Rules wrote:

deathisgain wrote:It goes back to Black Sabbath. Iommi tuned down because the tension of the strings was easier for his sensitive fingers (after the tips got chopped off). They also noticed that it sounded more sinister to them. As mentioned before, a lot of the older bands now do it to help the lead singer in hitting the "higher" notes.

Yes, I've heard the Tony story and understand the reasoning, but Christian bands do it so much more than secular bands. Metallica's first 5 albums only have 3 songs that tune down(as far as I know), TTTSNB, SBT, and TGTF. Megadeth doesn't tune down either as far as I know

Megadeth tuned to D on their new album and they tuned down on Youthanasia.

Metallica predate a most of the Christian metal bands around.

Temple of Blood wrote:

Christian Thrash Rules wrote:

deathisgain wrote:It goes back to Black Sabbath. Iommi tuned down because the tension of the strings was easier for his sensitive fingers (after the tips got chopped off). They also noticed that it sounded more sinister to them. As mentioned before, a lot of the older bands now do it to help the lead singer in hitting the "higher" notes.

Yes, I've heard the Tony story and understand the reasoning, but Christian bands do it so much more than secular bands. Metallica's first 5 albums only have 3 songs that tune down(as far as I know), TTTSNB, SBT, and TGTF. Megadeth doesn't tune down either as far as I know

Megadeth tuned to D on their new album and they tuned down on Youthanasia.

Metallica predate a most of the Christian metal bands around.

But also. Deliverance is very Metallica inspired, yet still tuned down a half-step.

A lot bands from way back tuned down a half step for their vocalists.

I'm pretty sure Slayer tuned a half-step down for most of their earlier stuff.

Kerrick, can you shed some light on this?


I think AC/DC did this as well.


I always stay in E standard. It's an easier tuning for me to play in - especially the thrashier stuff.

I'm not worried about my singing as my range continues to improve with age for some weird reason.

MagnusPrime wrote:I'm pretty sure Slayer tuned a half-step down for most of their earlier stuff.

Kerrick, can you shed some light on this?


I think AC/DC did this as well.


I always stay in E standard. It's an easier tuning for me to play in - especially the thrashier stuff.

I'm not worried about my singing as my range continues to improve with age for some weird reason.

AC/DC sounds tuned up if anything, but I guess they just play higher-pitched chords

MagnusPrime wrote:I'm pretty sure Slayer tuned a half-step down for most of their earlier stuff.

Kerrick, can you shed some light on this?

We always tuned in drop-FFF because F is the 6th letter in the alphabet (drop-666), making our tuning extra evil.  Stryper does this too but in drop-GGG, of course.

MagnusPrime wrote:I'm pretty sure Slayer tuned a half-step down for most of their earlier stuff.

Kerrick, can you shed some light on this?


I think AC/DC did this as well.


I always stay in E standard. It's an easier tuning for me to play in - especially the thrashier stuff.

I'm not worried about my singing as my range continues to improve with age for some weird reason.

AC/DC mostly played in standard but some of their songs were in between half-step and standard. I know Highway To Hell was. And yes, Slayer tuned down half-step most of the time.

I tune down a half step because I like the sound of it better.
Plus it's easier to bend the strings when they're not as tight.
I know that some bands do it because it's easier to sing over.

Pssshh. The tr00 and kvlt don’t even tune their guitars at all.