Tuning Overview: BEBABE

As its playful name suggests, BEBABE is a highly resonant and unique tuning that invites exploration. It transforms the guitar into an instrument with a rich, open sound, particularly suited for drone-based music, atmospheric textures, and fingerstyle playing where open string resonance is desired.

Technical Analysis

• Open String Notes: The tuning settles on B1-E2-B2-A3-B3-E4 (from the lowest 6th string to the highest 1st string).
• Repeated Notes: This tuning prominently features the notes B and E across multiple octaves, creating a deep and harmonically rich foundation. Specifically, the 6th (B1), 4th (B2), and 2nd (B3) strings are all B notes, providing a powerful, multi-octave drone. The 5th (E2) and 1st (E4) strings are E notes, adding further resonance.
• Key Intervals: The open strings reveal an interesting harmonic structure. From the 6th string, the intervals are: Perfect 4th (B1-E2), Perfect 5th (E2-B2), Minor 7th (B2-A3, considering B as root), Major 2nd (A3-B3), and Perfect 4th (B3-E4).
• Open Chord Voicing: Strumming all open strings results in a vibrant Bsus4(add b7) chord (B-E-B-A-B-E). This sound is neither strictly major nor minor, offering a modal quality perfect for creating evocative soundscapes. The prominent B and E notes make it feel very grounded yet open.
• Chordal Possibilities:
  • Due to the repeated B and E notes, open string drone is highly effective, allowing for rich sustained sounds.
  • Barring across frets will produce transposed versions of the open Bsus4(add b7) chord, making it easy to shift harmonically while retaining the tuning's unique voicing.
  • The perfect 4th interval between the two lowest (B1-E2) and two highest (B3-E4) strings makes for accessible power chords or suspended voicings by simply fretting these pairs.
  • Exploring voicings around the A string (3rd string) will introduce more melodic options against the strong B-E foundation, allowing for complex modal harmonies with relative ease.

How to Tune Your Guitar to BEBABE

To achieve the BEBABE tuning, starting from standard E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4 tuning, follow these precise string adjustments. It's recommended to use a reliable chromatic tuner.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune from standard E2 to B1. Tune down 5 semitones.
• 5th String (A): Tune from standard A2 to E2. Tune down 5 semitones.
• 4th String (D): Tune from standard D3 to B2. Tune down 3 semitones.
• 3rd String (G): Tune from standard G3 to A3. Tune up 2 semitones.
• 2nd String (B): Tune from standard B3 to B3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 1st String (High E): Tune from standard E4 to E4. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Important Note on String Gauge: When tuning strings significantly up or down (exceeding 4 semitones in either direction), it's advisable to consider a different string gauge to maintain proper tension, intonation, and string life. The 6th and 5th strings in this tuning are tuned down by 5 semitones, suggesting that a heavier gauge might improve performance and prevent excessive floppiness or buzzing.

The final notes for the BEBABE tuning, from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st) string, are as follows:

• 6th String: B1
• 5th String: E2
• 4th String: B2
• 3rd String: A3
• 2nd String: B3
• 1st String: E4