Standard vs. Full Step Down Tuning - Which Do You Prefer?

[stevetautog]

so I would love to know your thoughts on what I am about to say
I am an amateur guitar player, playing a strat
I am now 66 yrs old
and after 25 yrs of elbow tendonitis from bending the strings playing Blues
I started tuning down a full step
that helped then five yrs later I tried 1 1/2 steps
now I am playing 2 full steps, I LOVE it, I can play more expressively than ever before as I can bend a note, and then get a squelie in time without any pain
I am playing as I have always done, jamming with the stereo, and now the tremelo effect is amazing sound is rich and quivering beyond belief
can I ask you if you have ever known anyone who has done this
I have now been playing this way for 5 years
and intend to remain like this for the rest of my life
the ability to bend is as you can imagine very easy
and allows for more musicical exxpression than when bending even a 1/2 step requires effort
now bending a full step requires NO effort and becomes part of the expressive process
I look forward to your thights

[brandnewyou]

Very nice sound all the way down to cellphone!.good work.

[jaysonarenal]

I always used Eb tuning, due to its fuller sound and warmer, and also it has less string tension.

[rong]

Wicked sounding chord progression and solo over top…and yes much richer a step down. Im going to give it a try….

[siddhartascarlett]

Sounds great, to be honest... I hate E standard tuning, Hey, What do you think, C# Standard tuning? (one step down your current D tone)

[joeyoleary]

For full step down tuning what strings would work best? light gauge or heavy?

[brandnewyou]

Very nice sound all the way down to cellphone!.good work.