Staying in tune in C#standard

[biggator6]

Try DR DDT strings.. meant for drop tunings. Generally, heavier strings will work better - but I find the DDTs hold tune better.

[cliftoad91]

Thanks mate I'll check it out!

[Jeff Scott]

I'd go with heavier strings, maybe 13s, and you will most likely have to widen the nut slots and adjust the truss rod and the bridge intonation to get the set up right.

[cliftoad91]

I never thought about going to a gauge that heavy I've always thought they were for dudes who play in extremely low drop tunings (b and below). But yeah I'll give some 13s a try too,

thanks man

[dingo]

What Jeff said about the nut, truss rod and intonation. You may find this useful in selecting gauges:

D'Addario : String Tension Guide

And you might try this method of restringing.. tends to stay in tune even if you play with slackened strings:

Changing Guitar Strings Video | Winding Strings Around the Tuning Machine Heads

[Silent Sound]

I don't know how these will work, as I've just recently started using them, but the Ernie Ball Cobalt strings I bought seem to hold their tuning better than any other strings I've tried before. They also have a higher output. I would imagine even with them you'd still want a thicker gauge, but you may not need as thick a gauge with the cobalt strings. Worth checking out anyway.

[cliftoad91]

Thanks that string tension guide and video were pretty helpful! And yeah I've heard those cobalt Ernie balls are pretty good still yet to try them myself though, thanks

[fastlanestoner]

If the guitar was setup to play in standard (as most guitars come out of the factory) the neck could certainly attribute to the problem with tuning. You may have to tighten the truss a bit in light of the slackened string tension, though not necessarily, and you'll definitely have to intonate.

[cliftoad91]

thanks man, yeah I've found a heavier gauge has definitely cleared things up, but there is a bit of fret bus around 1st and second fret. cheers for your help

[Musiclab]

Heavier strings are the way if you tune down a minor third, you might also have to adjust the truss rod. Also in the summer guitars have a tendency to bow out, it's called summer sharp

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by fastlanestoner

You may have to tighten the truss a bit in light of the slackened string tension...

Actually, it would be the other way round, as with lower tension on the neck from looser strings, the rod(s) would also need to be loosened, otherwise, it would be creating a backward bow from being too tight relative to the new, lower string tension.

When one lowers the overall tuning of a stringed instruments heavier strings will help retain the feeling of higher tension strings; it may be that the tension of the heavier strings will not require a truss rod adjustment, but that is something to check for with different tension strings, anyway.

[cliftoad91]

Thanks guys! The summer sharp idea wouldn't really apply to me at the moment because I live in Australia, but I have been told that temperature and humidity can play a part in keeping a guitar in tune, I just wasn't aware of how much it actually does affect it

[psychedelictrip]

Watch your fingers though. They're probably not used to 13's. Even if it is a dropped down tuning if you start to bend strings you might start to feel it and could hurt your fingers. Just saying. I'm currently doing the opposite, tuning up. I'm getting there but it's gonna take some work. I've used heavy to drop down before and found the big strings to be overwhelming. I suppose style of music and finger strength comes into play here.