I presume it's the same as 1/2 step, 1 step down etc. As in if its 1/2 step down, you'll tune all your strings a semitone down ie E to Eb etc. 1/4th down would mean exactly halfway between E and Eb I guess. I really dont see the utility of it since it means you cant play with non-string instruments like piano or horn instruments anymore. I remember seeing Guitar MAg tabs for some Pantera songs which said 'tuned between C# and D' or some such.
HAHA I always used to think that such 1/4 th step tuning was due to chance. Like at college I didnt have a tuner. So it was based on ear/memory. Later when I used to play along some song, I realized that the tuning was somewhere between E and Eb. But as Abhijit said, I dont see any point doing it, other than show/brag value.
@abhi . i Do need this for Pantera : Dimebag keeps his guitar tuned to 1/4th step But a query ..What the note between E and Eb ??
no idea...did he actually look at frequencies to tune his guitar...that could prolly be the way to do it.
There is no name for it yaar. Jus use your ears..keep tuning your guitar until it sounds in tune with the actual song
Alfons i do remember years back i had one of those Guitar magazines in whch the tab. to "Cemetary Gates" had the "1/4" thing..thats done by Pitch Correction rackmounts and advanvced pitch shifting racks made by companies like Eventide,Lexicon,TC Electronics,Peterson and Antares(mainly in the mastering process) or/and if u're lucky yours ears will get u the desired pitch) but even a standard 440 works just sprinklie a little whammy abuse and voila you are officially 1/4 step down) Roughly put......a 1/4 step down is -(minus)25 cents below the regular E (440 standardized)so essentially its a microtonal pitch treading a little off the standard note(s).Most good manual tuners will have cent values given beween the pitch values(hertz).But ideally its assigned as a"Global"setting when being used to enhance a certain song's mix. So your tuner will help u come close to Dime's tuning on that song but when playing with a band ,use 440. BTW that transcription is very accurate....we used to do alot of Pantera then : have fun .....cheers :beer:
