Verbal Analysis

The 'Ten Ton Skeleton' tuning, popularized by Machine Head and notably featured in their song of the same name, is a profoundly heavy and dissonant custom tuning designed for maximum impact. It takes standard EADGBe tuning and plunges almost every string significantly downwards, creating a sonic landscape that is dark, aggressive, and brimming with tension. The overall feel is incredibly thick and low, providing a massive foundation for crushing riffs and guttural vocals. The combination of detuned intervals across the open strings avoids traditional consonant harmony, instead favoring jarring, powerful chords and the potential for screaming harmonics, exactly as Machine Head intended for their signature sound. This tuning practically screams 'heavy metal'.

Technical Analysis

This tuning is primarily based around a very low B, establishing a deeply resonant foundation. The open strings are tuned to B1 - F#3 - B2 - F3 - G#4 - C#5 from low to high. Analysing the intervals from the lowest B (String 6) reveals its intentionally dissonant character:

• String 6 (B1) to String 5 (F#3): A perfect fifth (B to F#). This forms an immediate, powerful B5 power chord with the lowest two strings, a staple of heavy music.
• String 5 (F#3) to String 4 (B2): A perfect fourth (F# to B). This reinforces the B root on String 4, completing a strong B5 power chord across the lowest three strings (B-F#-B) and providing an octave.
• String 4 (B2) to String 3 (F3): A tritone (B to F). This is the key interval introducing the described 'dissonant harmonics'. This highly unstable interval against the low B root is crucial to the tuning's aggressive and unsettling nature.
• String 3 (F3) to String 2 (G#4): A minor third (F to G#).
• String 2 (G#4) to String 1 (C#5): A perfect fourth (G# to C#).

When strummed open, the tuning yields a powerful, yet intentionally dissonant chord. The prominent B5 power chord on the lower strings (B-F#-B) is immediately met with the jarring tritone of F on string 3. The higher strings (G# and C#) add further color and tension, preventing a simple major or minor resolution. This makes the tuning ideal for creating heavy, sustained power chords with an added layer of grit, or for single-note riffs that utilize the wide range and dissonant intervals. It allows for quick octave shapes on strings 6 and 4, and power chords can be easily moved by barring two or three strings on the lower register.

Chord Shapes & Accessibility

While not designed for traditional open chords, this tuning excels at:

• B Power Chords: The open B-F#-B on the lowest three strings forms a formidable B5. Barring any fret across these three strings will produce a perfect 5th power chord, easily movable up and down the neck.
• Dissonant Riffs: The built-in tritone (B-F) and other non-standard intervals are perfect for crafting heavy, almost atonal, and highly aggressive riffs.
• Octave Shapes: The B-B octave on strings 6 and 4 is a powerful tool for low-end riffing, allowing for big, resonant single-note lines.
• Heavy Bar Chords: Players can effectively create crushing bar chords by using the strong power chord foundation on the lower strings and incorporating the dissonant higher strings as desired for texture.

Open String Notes

Here are the notes for each string in the 'Ten Ton Skeleton' tuning, from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st):

• 6th String: B1 (Low B)
• 5th String: F#3
• 4th String: B2
• 3rd String: F3
• 2nd String: G#4
• 1st String: C#5 (High C#)

How to Tune Your Guitar

This tuning involves significant detuning across all strings from standard EADGBe. Please use a reliable tuner and proceed carefully, especially with large downward adjustments. For movements exceeding 4 semitones (either up or down), a different string gauge might be advised to maintain optimal tension and tone.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 5 semitones to B1. (Note: A drop of 5 semitones is substantial; consider a heavier gauge string for best results to avoid floppiness and maintain intonation.)
• 5th String (A): Tune down 3 semitones to F#3.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 3 semitones to G#4.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#5.