BFBEBB Guitar Tuner

BFBEBB BFBEBB - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - BFBEBB

It's almost like the open b tuning but it sounds nice, Found it while searching for alternative B tunings and AI gave me this tuning. Kinda also sounds like a banjo. Not so sure what its called tho.

Tuning Overview: B Drone Banjo Sus (BFBEBB)

This intriguing guitar tuning, which we've named "B Drone Banjo Sus," is a distinctive open tuning that heavily features the note B across multiple octaves, creating a powerful, resonant drone. As the original description suggests, it has a quality "almost like open B but it sounds nice," and "kinda also sounds like a banjo." This unique combination of a strong drone, a specific dissonant interval, and a suspended chord quality indeed gives it a folk-like, open, and slightly exotic feel, reminiscent of traditional stringed instruments.

Technical Analysis

The tuning notes, from low to high, are B1-F2-B2-E3-B3-B4. When played open, these notes form a complex chord. Let's analyze the intervals relative to the root B:

B1 (6th string): Root
F2 (5th string): Diminished 5th (b5) or Augmented 4th (#4)
B2 (4th string): Octave
E3 (3rd string): Perfect 4th (sus4)
B3 (2nd string): Octave
B4 (1st string): Octave

This unique combination creates an Open Bsus4(b5) or Bsus4(#4) chord without a major or minor third. The prominent F2 creates a tritone (three whole steps) against the root B, which is a highly expressive and often dissonant interval that gives the tuning its characteristic tension and openness. The E3 adds a classic suspended fourth quality, resolving the harmony further from a standard major or minor sound. The multiple B notes across four octaves provide a rich, full-bodied drone, making this tuning excellent for ringing chords and sustained harmonies.

Musical Applications and Chords

The "B Drone Banjo Sus" tuning offers a versatile palette for various musical styles:

Drone Music: The inherent B drone makes this tuning perfect for creating sustained, hypnotic soundscapes, ambient textures, or accompanying melodic lines with a constant harmonic foundation.
Folk & Roots: The "banjo-like" quality lends itself well to folk, country, and traditional styles, particularly for fingerpicking patterns and arpeggios that emphasize the open strings.
Blues & Experimental: The B-F tritone provides a natural bluesy tension, making it suitable for blues-rock riffs or more experimental music where a slightly dissonant, open sound is desired.
Easy Barre Chords: A significant advantage of this open tuning is the ease of creating new chords by simply barring across all strings at a higher fret. For example:
- Barring at the 1st fret yields an Open Csus4(b5) (C-G-C-F-C-C).
- Barring at the 3rd fret yields an Open Dsus4(b5) (D-A-D-G-D-D).
- Barring at the 5th fret yields an Open Esus4(b5) (E-B-E-A-E-E).
This allows for quick key changes and creates a consistent harmonic texture throughout your playing.
Unique Voicings: By fretting individual strings, players can easily discover unique voicings and extended chords that leverage the open string drones. The high B's provide excellent opportunities for melodic playing over the sustaining lower notes.

How to Tune Your Guitar (Standard EADGBe to BFBEBB)

To achieve the "B Drone Banjo Sus" tuning from standard EADGBe, you will need to adjust your strings as follows. Please proceed with care, especially for significant changes in pitch:

6th String (Low E to B1): From standard E2, tune down 5 semitones to B1. This is a significant drop. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones (exceeding 4 semitones) is a considerable change in tension. For optimal playability and string life, consider using a heavier gauge string for your low E string if you plan to keep it in this tuning often.
5th String (A to F2): From standard A2, tune down 4 semitones to F2. This is a significant drop. Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones (reaching 4 semitones) is a significant change in tension. For optimal playability and string life, consider using a heavier gauge string for your A string if you plan to keep it in this tuning often.
4th String (D to B2): From standard D3, tune down 3 semitones to B2.
3rd String (G to E3): From standard G3, tune down 3 semitones to E3.
2nd String (B to B3): From standard B3, keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
1st String (High E to B4): From standard E4, tune up 7 semitones to B4. This is a significant rise. Danger: Tuning up 7 semitones (exceeding 4 semitones) will put immense tension on your string and significantly increase the risk of breakage, especially with standard gauge strings. It is strongly advised to use a much lighter gauge string for your high E string to prevent damage and and ensure proper intonation.