Lake Monsters B Tuning 1: A Deep Dive

Overview:

This is the 'Lake Monsters B Tuning 1' for a standard Guitar, a unique and powerful low tuning specifically utilized by the band Lake Monsters. It's designed to create a rich, full, and expansive sound, providing a significant harmonic depth that is ideal for genres demanding a heavy, resonant foundation such as rock, metal, doom, or atmospheric music. This tuning skillfully blends extreme low-end power with bright, open chord voicings, offering a versatile tonal palette.

Technical Analysis:

The open string notes for this tuning are: B1-F#3-B2-F#4-C#5-D#5. The lowest note, B1 on the 6th string, immediately establishes an incredibly deep and heavy foundation. This tuning features a compelling non-linear melodic progression across the strings, resulting in distinct and powerful interval relationships:

• The 6th and 4th strings are tuned to B (B1 and B2 respectively), creating a fundamental, deep octave for the root.
• The 5th and 3rd strings are tuned to F# (F#3 and F#4), providing a perfect fifth above B, giving the tuning immense power chord potential.
• The 2nd string is C#5, which acts as a major second (or add9) relative to B, and a perfect fifth above F#.
• The 1st string is D#5, providing the major third relative to B, which brightens the overall voicing.

When played open, this tuning primarily outlines a B Major Add9 chord (B-D#-F#-C#), delivering a surprisingly bright and expansive character despite the extremely low root note. The strategic arrangement of B-F#-B-F# across the lower four strings makes it exceptionally easy to achieve massive, resonant open B power chords (B5). The higher strings (F#4-C#5-D#5) then layer on a shimmering, full quality, adding harmonic complexity to the overall sound.

This structure is excellent for open string drones, producing rich and resonant strumming, and facilitating melodic leads that can cleverly leverage the internal harmonic relationships. The wide intervals, particularly the significant jumps between strings 6-5 and 5-4, offer distinct melodic and harmonic possibilities, allowing for creative chord voicings and riff construction that would be difficult in standard tuning.

String Gauge Recommendation:

The 6th string requires a substantial drop of 5 semitones from its standard E. To ensure optimal performance, maintain proper string tension, and achieve accurate intonation for this low B, it is highly recommended to use a heavier gauge string specifically for the 6th (low B) string. This will help prevent floppiness and improve tuning stability.

How to Tune:

• String 6 (Low E - E2): Tune down 5 semitones to B1.
• String 5 (A - A2): Tune down 3 semitones to F#3.
• String 4 (D - D3): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• String 3 (G - G3): Tune down 1 semitone to F#4.
• String 2 (B - B3): Tune up 2 semitones to C#5.
• String 1 (High E - E4): Tune down 1 semitone to D#5.