Tuning Overview: Open B No Third

This intriguing tuning, known as "Open B No Third," presents a powerful and resonant soundscape, perfectly suited for the robust, open-string character heard in pieces like "Ain't No Grave" by Bethel. As its name suggests, it's essentially an Open B tuning but notably omits the major third, creating a suspended, driving, and often epic sonic texture.

Technical Analysis

The tuning resolves to B1-F#3-B2-F#4-B3-B4 from the 6th (low E) to the 1st (high E) string. This configuration is a pure B5 power chord across all open strings. The absence of the major third (D#) means the tuning avoids both major and minor tonalities in its open state, lending it a versatile and often raw quality. You'll find a deep, resonant B at the bottom, followed by its perfect fifth (F#), then an octave B, another F#, and finally two more B's at higher octaves. This stacking of roots and fifths creates immense sustain and a full, ringing sound perfect for drone parts, heavy riffs, or slide guitar.

Chords and Playability

With all strings open, you instantly get a colossal B5 Power Chord. This makes it incredibly easy to transpose power chords up and down the neck by simply barring across any fret. For instance, barring all strings at the 1st fret gives you a C5, at the 2nd fret a C#5, and so on. While open major and minor chords aren't readily available without extra fretting, the tuning encourages a more melodic approach to single notes or the exploration of two- and three-note voicings built from the root and fifth. The repeated B and F# notes across different octaves also make for very rich open string harmonies and can create interesting intervallic relationships when fretted.

How to Tune Your Guitar

Careful attention is required for this tuning, especially with some significant string tension changes. We recommend checking your guitar's intonation after tuning and considering a heavier gauge string set for the low E and a suitable gauge (possibly lighter or specific to high tension) for the high E string to ensure optimal tone and string life, as they undergo significant changes. Always tune slowly and carefully.

• String 6 (Low E to B1): Tune down 5 semitones. (Caution: Significant down-tuning. Consider a heavier gauge string.)
• String 5 (A to F#3): Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 4 (D to B2): Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 3 (G to F#4): Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 2 (B to B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (High E to B4): Tune up 7 semitones. (Caution: Significant up-tuning. Consider a specific gauge string to handle the increased tension.)