Easy Guitar Songs Tuned Down Half Step

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Some rock bands like to play in E flat tuning. Tuning a guitar half step down release the tension of the strings little bit. It may get little easier to play some riffs, or sing in that tuning.

There are some songs you can't play along with the track unless you don't tune down your guitar half step. That's primarily the case for songs that use open chords.

If you like to have your guitar tuned half step down, then this article may get your attention. Here's the list of some famous song played in E flat tuning you can play on your guitar.

Let's go!

1. More Than Words by Extreme

What happens when wild boys start to play unplugged? This beautifully written ballad.

Played in G major, with the guitar tuned down half step, this is perhaps one of the greatest rock ballad ever written.

Not only because of the beautiful, peaceful music, but because of its beautiful lyrics, also.

This is a perfect song to play when you want to impress some girl you like. You definitely won't regret it!

Hear this beautiful ballad on Youtube, here.

2. Patience by Guns 'n' Roses

This Guns 'n' Roses classic is great for guitar beginners. Especially for those situations when you want to impress girls around you!

This song remains one of the greatest hits of this band, and one of the greatest song written by Izzy Stradlin. It's released on their album G'n'R Lies.

It starts with an open G chord, and it relies primarily on G major scale. However, since it's played on a guitar that's tuned down half step, you can't really play it on regular tuning. F# barre chord doesn't feel that right to be the first chord.

Anyway, it's a beautiful rock ballad. Listen it on Youtube, here.

3. Everyday by Buddy Holly

When Buddy Holly died in an airplane crash, they called that day the day when music died.

Anyway, Buddy Holly was a great artist back in that time. Unfortunately, he left us too soon, but he didn't leave us without nothing! There are great songs he made, and this is perhaps one of the greatest he ever sang.

Nice, simple and relaxed catchy tune, that's what this song is! It's also so much fun to play.

Hear this great pop rock classic on Youtube, here.

4. Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival is an example of what one rock 'n' roll band should be. Rebelious, and yet highly creative John Fogerty made dozens of rock 'n' roll classics back in the 60s and 70s.

This one is perhaps one of the strongest anti-war ironical rant in rock 'n' roll music. We need that kind of songs today more than ever, that's for sure.

Hear this legendary classic, here.

5. The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel sang songs that acted like an antidote to the surrounding chaos. When you really feel down, nervous or stressed out, their songs are just perfect to calm you down.

This one is played in C major, tuned half step down. You can hear that E flat minor chord being played in chorus. (Lay – la- la).

Anyway, if you want to hear something soothing and peaceful, you definitely want to hear this. And play it on your guitar, of course.

Hear the whole song on Youtube, here.

6. Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix

What to say about Jimi Hendrix, the best guitarist in rock music of all time? Voodoo Child is one of his greatest songs.

It has that recognizable opening riff. It's probably the best guitar riff played on wah effect.

Hear this song, here.

7. Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan is a blues rock legend! Texas Flood is just one of his genius works he played.

If you like to do blues solos on your guitar, this is a song for you, definitely!

Hear this blues rock classic, here.

8. The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy

If you like that old school hard rock overdrive sound, then you just have to listen to this great band.

It's perhaps one of the best Irish rock bands. They even made a statue of Phil Lynnot, their front figure, main vocalist and bass guitar player.

The Boys Are Back In Town remains their greatest hit up to this day. It's released on their legendary album from 1976, Jailbreak.

Hear this song on Youtube, here.

9. Song 2 by Blur

Do you like soccer (or football, for all of Europeans out there)? If you do, then you certainly heard this song million times.

It was an opener on legendary video game FIFA 98. It's upbeat and energetic. Woo – hoo!

Hear it, here.

10. Mama Said by Metallica

Metallica got much quieter in 90s era. I know there are a lot of die hard metalheads out there who just want to forget their songs from 90s, but they really had some great ones back in that time!

Mama Said is certainly one of them. Acoustic song, played in D minor shape (C# actually) with guitars tuned down half step is a great country ballad.

Therefore, it's great for your E flat tuned guitar.

Hear this song on Youtube, here.

11. Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd is one of the greatest southern rock bands, still to this day. What does it sound like when those wild southern rockers sing sad ballads?

Just like this. This song remains one of their biggest hits, still to this day.

Hear this classic on Youtube, here.

12. Say It Ain't So by Weezer

Weezer is one of the catchiest pop punk rock in the world. They literally have a dozens of extremely catchy songs in their career.

What does it sound like when those nerdy rock guys start to sing something melancholic? You just have to hear this song to find out,

This is one of their biggest hits. It really has that particular 90s teenage rock sound.

Hear the whole song, here.

13. Basket Case by Green Day

Basket case is one of Green Day's earliest hits. It's one of their biggest, as well. It has that upbeat, punk rock vibe.

If you like Green Day, than you certainly heard this song thousands of times. If you didn't, quickly, hear it on Youtube, here.

14. Heart Shaped Box by Nirvana

For all of you that like that good old grunge sound, this is the song for you. Especially if you have your guitar tuned down half step.

Kurt Cobain is undeniably charismatic figure in a history of rock music. This deep and dark song is one of my favorite song played by Nirvana.

Hear the whole song, here.

15. The Ballad of Jayne by L.A. Guns

L.A. Guns, along with Hollywood Rose, shaped the Guns 'n' Roses we all know to this day. Lot of bands from that era had their guitars tuned down half a step.

I guess that was the way they liked to play back then. This is a beautiful rock ballad, that can stand together with other greatest rock ballads from that time.

Anyway, hear the whole song on Youtube, here.

16. Into The Now by Tesla

If you like that darker hard rock grungy sound, you have to hear this song. Tesla is a band that has a bunch of great songs, and this is certainly of those.

This song has a powerful sound that's not so hard to play. It's a perfect example of what should you play on your guitar, if you want to have a lot of fun.

Hear the song, here.

17. Man In The Box by Alice In Chains

What to say about this legendary band? Alice In Chains are one of the greatest rock bands from 90s and 00s.

Chris Cornell's powerful voice makes those songs so good. This is just a one great song, out of the bunch of great songs they've made.

Hear it on Youtube, here.

Conclusion

Eb tuning has some advantages. Guitar strings are less tense, and those open chords, like E minor and G major really get that darker touch when they are tuned down half step.

There are so many great songs played on this tuning, and in this article I've picked up my favorite ones.

Anyway, if you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it, I'm more than happy about it!

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