This is the unique and deeply resonant tuning famously associated with Nick Drake's iconic song, "Which Will." It's a tuning that immediately evokes a specific mood, characterized by its wide intervallic spread and rich harmonic possibilities. The combination of a very low B string and a high D# creates a broad sonic canvas, perfect for intricate fingerstyle playing and open, droning soundscapes.

Technically, this tuning is B-F#-B-E-B-D#, an open tuning centered around B. It features a strong root presence with B notes repeated across three octaves (B1, B2, B3). The F# provides a perfect fifth, reinforcing the B tonic, while the D# gives it a major third quality. The E note, however, introduces a fascinating tension, creating a sound that leans towards a Bsus2 or Bmaj7add11 rather than a simple major chord when all open strings are strummed. This interplay of consonance and subtle dissonance is key to its distinctive character. The overall feel is rich, dark, and wonderfully melancholic.

Chords and Voicings: While the open strings themselves don't form a pure major or minor chord, they immediately suggest a complex B-centric harmony. The lowest two strings (B1 and F#3) provide a powerful B5 interval, making it easy to establish a strong B root. Simple barring across all strings at various frets will yield interesting open chords. For instance, barring at the 2nd fret would transform it into a C# tuning (C# G# C# F# C# E#). The abundance of B notes allows for easy exploration of B major, Bsus, or even B dominant 7th voicings with minimal fingering, giving you great freedom to create lush textures and moving bass lines, especially useful in DADGAD-like contexts but with a deeper, more profound bass.

How to Tune:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 5 semitones to B1. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change. If your guitar doesn't handle the lower tension well, a heavier gauge string is advised for optimal tone and playability.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 3 semitones to F3#.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 1 semitone to D5#.