The Drop B Dissonant tuning, as its name suggests, is an intensely dark and unstable tuning designed for powerful, tension-filled compositions. It takes the familiar low-end rumble of a Drop B tuning and infuses it with a unique, unsettling harmonic landscape, ideal for genres demanding an aggressive and experimental sound.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning immediately stands out with a deep, authoritative B1 on the lowest string, providing a solid foundation for heavy riffs. However, conventional harmony is quickly abandoned with the high F3# on the 5th string, creating a striking compound augmented 4th (tritone) or diminished 5th interval with the low B. The subsequent B2 on the 4th string offers an octave reinforcement, but the upper strings (E3, A3, C4) are tightly clustered, generating a highly dissonant and 'panic chord' effect as described in the tuning's intent. The C4 on the highest string, in particular, forms a jarring minor second interval with the implicit B note of the 6th string's octave, creating an immediate sense of unease and tension. This tuning is built for creating sonic discomfort, intense harmonic clashes, and thick, low-frequency power.

Technical Analysis

• Open Notes: B1 (6th), F3# (5th), B2 (4th), E3 (3rd), A3 (2nd), C4 (1st).
• Intervals from Low B (6th string):
  • 6th String (B1): Root
  • 5th String (F3#): Compound Augmented 4th / Diminished 5th (Tritone) - note this is two octaves higher than a standard B-F# tritone.
  • 4th String (B2): Octave
  • 3rd String (E3): Perfect 4th
  • 2nd String (A3): Minor 7th
  • 1st String (C4): Minor 9th (or minor 2nd relative to an octave B)
• Open Chord Structure: When strummed open, the tuning forms a dense, dissonant cluster of B, C, E, F#, A. This highly unstable voicing is not a conventional chord but rather a harmonic aggregate designed for tension, making it ideal for experimental metal, noise, and ambient textures.
• Strategic Advantages:
  • The 6th and 4th strings being octaves (B1, B2) allows for easy, powerful low-end chugging and riffing, a staple of drop tunings.
  • The close proximity of the upper strings (B2, E3, A3, C4) makes it very easy to create dissonant "panic chords" by fretting adjacent strings with a single finger or barre, generating minor 2nd and minor 3rd intervals.
  • The unique F3# on the 5th string offers a distinct voice that can be leveraged for sustained, eerie drones or sharp, cutting melodic lines against the low B.

How to Tune (from standard E A D G B E)

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 5 semitones to B1. (Note: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant drop; consider a heavier gauge string for optimal tension and tone).
• String 5 (A): Tune down 3 semitones. (Note: This movement from a standard A2 results in F#2. However, the specified target note for this tuning is F3#. Please ensure you are tuning to the correct F# octave based on your desired sound, as the movement description leads to F#2 while the final note specified is F3#).
• String 4 (D): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 4 semitones to C4. (Note: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant drop; consider a heavier gauge string for optimal tension and tone).