This is a unique and powerful 7-string guitar tuning, thoughtfully crafted by its creator to provide a distinctive sonic landscape. Departing from standard 7-string tunings, it features an incredibly low and resonant foundation with two unison B strings, offering immense depth and a unique harmonic palette.

Verbal Analysis

"B B A D G B E" immediately suggests a tuning designed for serious low-end impact. The double B at the bottom (B1 on both the 7th and 6th strings) creates an incredibly thick, guttural, and resonant drone. This unison pairing in the lowest register is highly unconventional and lends itself to massive power chords, deep, droning riffs, and an almost piano-like resonance when strummed open. It evokes a feeling of immense weight and darkness, perfect for genres like doom metal, progressive metal, djent, or experimental rock where extreme low frequencies are desired. The rest of the tuning (A D G B E) maintains the familiar intervals of standard guitar tuning (or close to it, if you consider A standard 6-string with a low B), making it somewhat intuitive for lead work and chord shapes on the higher strings while leveraging the unique low end.

Technical Analysis

This is a 7-string tuning with the following notes: B1 - B1 - A2 - D3 - G3 - B3 - E4.

• String 7 (B1): The lowest string is tuned to B1, a common low note for 7-string guitars.
• String 6 (B1): This is the most striking feature. The 6th string is also tuned to B1, creating a perfect unison with the 7th string. This provides an extraordinary amount of low-end thickness and sustain.
• String 5 (A2): A perfect fifth above the low B.
• String 4 (D3): A perfect fourth above A2.
• String 3 (G3): A perfect fourth above D3.
• String 2 (B3): A major third above G3.
• String 1 (E4): A perfect fourth above B3.

Comparing this to a standard 7-string tuning (B E A D G B E), the only significant change is on the 6th string, which is dropped from E2 to B1. This creates the unique "Double B" characteristic.

Open Chords & Accessibility:

• Power Chords: The unison B1-B1 on the two lowest strings makes it incredibly easy to play two-string B power chords with immense depth. Simply muting the 5th string (A) and strumming the two lowest B strings creates a powerful, resonant B5.
• Drone Chords: The open B-B-A provides a rich, low drone, potentially useful for atmospheric or ambient passages, or as a base for modal explorations.
• Partial Chords: The higher strings (A-D-G-B-E) resemble a standard 6-string tuning (if you imagine the 5th string as the low E). This means many familiar chord shapes from standard tuning will translate well to the top five strings (A D G B E).
• Specific Open Voicings:
  • The notes G-B-E on strings 3, 2, and 1 form an open G Major triad, easily accessible.
  • Combining with D3 on string 4, you get a G Major 7th chord (G-B-D-E).
  • The full open strings (B-B-A-D-G-B-E) create a complex, almost modal sound. It contains a B minor triad (B-D-B), a G Major triad (G-B-D), and an E minor triad (E-G-B). This offers a wide range of harmonic possibilities for open string voicings, leaning towards darker, more expansive sounds.
• Scales & Riffs: The consistent perfect fourths between A-D-G and G-B-E (excluding the G-B major third) make for familiar scale and riff patterns on the upper strings, while the low unison B's allow for very heavy, chugging, and harmonically dense rhythmic patterns.

How to Tune (from Standard 7-string B-E-A-D-G-B-E)

Follow these steps to achieve the "B B A D G B E" tuning. Note that the 7th string is typically the thickest, lowest pitch, and the 1st string is the thinnest, highest pitch.

• String 7 (B1): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 6 (E2 to B1): Tune down 5 semitones. Caution: Tuning this string down 5 semitones is a significant drop. For optimal tension and tone, especially if playing aggressively, consider using a heavier gauge string for the 6th string.
• String 5 (A2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 4 (D3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 3 (G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2 (B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (E4): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Always use a reliable tuner and check your intonation after significant tuning changes.