BFA#D#G#C#F#A#D# Guitar Tuner

BFA#D#G#C#F#A#D# | BFB♭E♭A♭D♭G♭B♭E♭ Drop B Hybrid 9 String - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Drop B Hybrid 9 String

Low C# is obviously tuned down a whole step to B but with the rest of the strings tuned down a half-step. I use it sometimes in my solo projects

The "Drop B Hybrid 9 String" tuning, as the name suggests, is a powerful and specialized setup for a 9-string guitar, designed to deliver an exceptionally low and heavy sound. This unique tuning combines elements of "drop" tunings with a consistent overall flattening for most strings, offering a distinctive sonic palette often favored in modern metal, djent, and progressive rock genres.

Verbal Analysis

At its core, this tuning centers around a very deep B0 on the lowest string. This is achieved by dropping the lowest string a full step down from its likely standard C#1 position. The remaining eight strings are then uniformly tuned down a half-step from their conventional positions. This creates a "hybrid" effect: the lowest string establishes an incredibly deep, almost guttural foundation, while the upper strings maintain their relative intervals, just shifted lower in pitch.

The resultant sound is dark, resonant, and inherently heavy. The extreme low B0 provides a commanding presence, perfect for impactful single-note riffs and chugging. The consistent half-step drop across the higher strings means that familiar chord shapes and scale patterns can still be used, but they will sound a half-step lower, imparting a darker, more brooding character to any composition. This tuning encourages aggressive riffing, extended range arpeggios, and dense, low-end harmonies, making it ideal for musicians pushing the boundaries of heavy music.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this 9-string tuning are:

String 9: B0
String 8: F1
String 7: A#2
String 6: D#3
String 5: G#3
String 4: C#4
String 3: F#4
String 2: A#4
String 1: D#5

Analyzing the intervals between adjacent open strings:

String 9 (B0) to String 8 (F1): Augmented 4th (6 semitones) - A very dissonant tritone.
String 8 (F1) to String 7 (A#2): Augmented 4th (6 semitones) - Another tritone.
String 7 (A#2) to String 6 (D#3): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
String 6 (D#3) to String 5 (G#3): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
String 5 (G#3) to String 4 (C#4): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
String 4 (C#4) to String 3 (F#4): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
String 3 (F#4) to String 2 (A#4): Major 3rd (4 semitones)
String 2 (A#4) to String 1 (D#5): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)

The most striking feature is the presence of two tritones (B-F, F-A#) at the bottom end, creating a highly dissonant and unstable foundation if all low strings are strummed open. This is intentionally used for creating tension and heavy, grinding textures. The remaining strings largely follow a perfect fourth interval pattern, with a single major third break between strings 3 and 2, echoing the structure of standard guitar tuning but transposed.

While open chords are not readily formed in a traditional sense from the full open string set due to the low-end dissonance, the tuning excels at facilitating specific voicings:

Power Chords: The lowest string in B0 allows for powerful, single-finger power chords by simply muting adjacent strings, or by fretting the 7th fret of string 9 to get a B, then applying the same fret to string 8 and 7 to get F# and B (B5 power chord). The "drop" nature means that one-finger power chords (root-fifth) are easily achievable on the lowest string.
Upper String Voicings: The sequence F#4-A#4-D#5 on strings 3-2-1 forms an inverted D# minor triad (D#-F#-A#) or can be perceived as an F# major chord (F#-A#-C#) with an added D#, which can be used for higher, brighter melodic parts or arpeggios, albeit a half-step down from what might be expected in E standard.
Dissonant Harmony: The open B0-F1-A#2 (tritone-tritone) allows for unique, dark, and grinding harmonies that are highly sought after in extreme metal genres.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Drop B Hybrid 9 String" tuning, carefully adjust each string as follows:

String 9 (Lowest B0): Tune down 2 semitones to B0.
String 8 (F1): Tune down 1 semitone to F1.
String 7 (A#2): Tune down 1 semitone to A#2.
String 6 (D#3): Tune down 1 semitone to D#3.
String 5 (G#3): Tune down 1 semitone to G#3.
String 4 (C#4): Tune down 1 semitone to C#4.
String 3 (F#4): Tune down 1 semitone to F#4.
String 2 (A#4): Tune down 1 semitone to A#4.
String 1 (Highest D#5): Tune down 1 semitone to D#5.

Important Note on String Gauge: While no individual string movement in this tuning strictly exceeds the 4 semitones threshold (where a different gauge string is often explicitly advised), the 2-semitone drop for String 9 is significant. For optimal tension, intonation, and playability, especially with such a low tuning, considering a heavier gauge for String 9, or even a slightly heavier set for the entire guitar, is generally recommended for performance and to prevent string floppiness.

Here are the notes for each string in this "Drop B Hybrid 9 String" tuning: