Verbal Analysis: The Low B Machine

This "B Low" tuning plunges your guitar into a realm of deep, resonant tones, far below standard tuning. As described by its creator, it's a unique, experimental tuning designed for crafting distinctive musical landscapes. The overall impression is one of immense weight and darkness, perfect for genres that demand a heavy, atmospheric foundation, such as doom metal, progressive rock, or even avant-garde jazz. The significant detuning across all strings means a much slacker feel, which can facilitate wide vibrato and string bending, though it might require a heavier string gauge to maintain tension and clarity, especially on the lowest strings.

Technical Analysis: Tritone Root with All Fourths

The open notes for this tuning are: B1 F2 A#3 D#4 G#4 C#5.

This tuning presents a fascinating intervallic structure:

• The lowest two strings (6th to 5th) form a tritone (B1 to F2), an interval known for its dissonance and tension. This creates a very powerful and somewhat unsettling low end, offering a unique sonic palette for root notes and low drones.
• From the 5th string upwards (F2 to C#5), the tuning consistently follows perfect fourths: F2-A#3, A#3-D#4, D#4-G#4, G#4-C#5. This "all fourths" pattern, common in jazz guitar, provides a highly logical and symmetrical fretboard layout for these strings, making scale patterns and chord shapes very consistent across the neck.

Chordal Possibilities:

Due to the unique structure, traditional open chords will largely not be applicable or will sound significantly different. However, this tuning opens up other creative avenues:

• Power Chords: The consistent perfect fourths on the top five strings make two-finger power chords (root and fourth) easily accessible. For example, pressing down on the 5th string (F) and the 4th string (A# or Bb) at the same fret will give you a root and perfect fourth, which can serve as the foundation for heavy, open power chords.
• Drones & Riffs: The very low B string paired with the tritone F offers a strong base for powerful, dissonant riffs and open-string drones that wouldn't be possible in standard tuning. Experimenting with open string combinations will yield unique harmonies.
• Modern Voicings: Players familiar with all-fourths tunings will find the upper five strings intuitive for modern jazz voicings and melodic improvisation. The challenging B1-F2 interval at the bottom offers a distinctive low-end texture for these voicings.

Open String Notes:

String 6 (Low E): B1
String 5 (A): F2
String 4 (D): A#3
String 3 (G): D#4
String 2 (B): G#4
String 1 (High E): C#5

How to Tune: From Standard EADGBe

To achieve this deep and experimental tuning, you will need to detune your guitar significantly from standard EADGBe. Please note the substantial drops required for several strings; a heavier gauge string set is highly recommended to maintain adequate tension and tone, especially for the lower strings.

• String 6 (Low E to B1): Tune down 5 semitones. This brings your Low E string all the way down to B1.
• String 5 (A to F2): Tune down 4 semitones. Your A string becomes F2.
• String 4 (D to A#3): Tune down 4 semitones. Your D string becomes A#3.
• String 3 (G to D#4): Tune down 4 semitones. Your G string becomes D#4.
• String 2 (B to G#4): Tune down 3 semitones. Your B string becomes G#4.
• String 1 (High E to C#5): Tune down 3 semitones. Your High E string becomes C#5.

Important String Gauge Note: Tuning strings down by 4 or more semitones (as required for strings 3, 4, 5, and 6) can result in very loose strings and potential intonation issues if using standard gauge strings. For optimal playability and sound, consider using a significantly heavier gauge string set, particularly for your lower strings, to compensate for the reduced tension.