Tuning Acoustic from Drop D to Standard Repeatedly

Question

There are a few songs I play where Drop D tuning is required to get some nice, bass-heavy, open 6th string notes. It also facilitates many of the chords in the song in addition to adding a full tone. The rest of my playing mainly stays in the Standard tuning realm.

My question:

Is tuning down to Drop D for a few songs, and then back up to Standard, bad for my guitar?

I do this at most ~2 times a week, usually when I play through my entire "setlist" of the songs that I can self-accompany to, to practice. It will stay in Drop D for ~10 minutes, maybe less.

I will occasionally check the tuning of other strings when going back (by checking the 6th string E against a tuner and using that as a reference), and a few other times a week if I find the tone sounds off or if I haven't done it in a while.

At the moment I play on a solid-top Fender (DG14S), beginner guitar. At some point I will be upgrading, and I don't want to ruin a new guitar by repeatedly changing the tuning.

As an aside (I know I shouldn't ask two questions in one), does the same hold true for an Electric guitar?

Answer 1

You will have a very small amount of extra wear and tear on that machine head and the groove in the nut that string passes through, but aside from that this should cause no damage to an acoustic or electric guitar.

The change in tension on the neck from that one shift is not significant, in fact you can get a greater change from atmospheric conditions.

So don't worry about it.

Answer 2

This will not hurt the guitar, especially since you're only adjusting one string.

Even with more general tuning changes, e.g. changes to open D, you won't hurt the guitar; the worst side-effect might be sub-optimal neck relief.

Re-tuning will tend to wear the strings more; causing them to break more easily, but I've noticed this more on the thinner strings.

Answer 3

Since you're only loosening one string, and for a short while, no harm in that. The other strings may change their tuning slightly in the process, but that's o.k. Those DGs are good guitars, but consider keeping it, and having two when you upgrade - one standard, one D-tuned. Yes, on electrics, it's the same, except those vibrato-equipped will probably have the other 5 strings affected slightly more.

Answer 4

I change my tuning all the time, including using DADGBE as you do and have had the same guitar for a decade, with no problems as a result. Especially since you are just slightly changing the tuning of the low E string, which is your strongest, I doubt it will even have an impact on the strength of the string. It is NEVER my first to pop!

Answer 5

Lowering and raising the 6th string tone regularly will wear the nut slut to different degrees depending on whether the nut is bone or some sort of plastic, especially if it is a steel string guitar. Too much wear and the string will develop fret buzz. A lead pencil rubbed into the nut slots makes for a great lube for the stings to slide across the nut easier.

I play classical guitar mostly and the simplest way I get to dropped D tuning (often) without touching the 6th string, is to put a capo on the lower 5 strings at the 2nd fret. Instant dropped D tuning!