Verbal Analysis: The 'Tight B' Tuning

This unique and deeply resonant tuning, known as 'Tight B' and commonly played by Charlie Edwards, offers a distinct sonic landscape. It ventures far from standard guitar tuning, creating a rich, almost orchestral depth with its unusually low bass string and the striking pitch inversions between the middle strings. It's a tuning that invites experimentation, capable of producing powerful, droning textures and complex harmonic voicings, perfect for styles ranging from progressive rock and metal to ambient soundscapes and experimental compositions. The 'tight' moniker likely refers to the focused, powerful resonance achieved through its specific intervals, rather than string tension.

Technical Analysis: Unconventional Voicings

The 'Tight B' tuning is an extremely low and unconventional setup for a standard 6-string guitar. The open strings are pitched as follows, from thickest (String 6) to thinnest (String 1):

• String 6: B1 (A very low B, typically found on a 7 or 8-string guitar, or requiring a heavy gauge for a 6-string)
• String 5: F3#
• String 4: B2
• String 3: F4#
• String 2: G4#
• String 1: C5#

A critical technical observation is the unusual string order by pitch: String 5 (F3#) is tuned significantly higher than String 4 (B2). This creates a 'crossing over' of pitches in the middle of the guitar's range, where the string order from thickest to thinnest does not correspond to a continuous ascent in pitch. This highly unconventional characteristic will profoundly affect playing technique, making standard chord shapes unplayable in their usual forms and opening up very different fingerings and voicings.

When strummed open, the tuning presents a rich and complex harmony. The collection of notes B, F#, B, F#, G#, C# forms a resonant Badd9(add6) chord (B - Root, F# - 5th, G# - 6th, C# - 9th). The emphasis on B and F# anchors the tonality firmly in B major, while the G# and C# add colorful extensions, giving the open chord a full, modern, and open-sounding quality. This provides a powerful drone or a harmonic foundation for intricate melodic lines. The unique string order means that players will need to approach the fretboard with a fresh perspective, encouraging the discovery of entirely new voicings and melodic patterns that are specific to this tuning.

How to Tune: Adjusting to 'Tight B'

To achieve the 'Tight B' tuning, you will need to adjust your guitar strings significantly. The target notes for each string are provided below, along with the specified tuning movements. Please pay close attention to the following instructions. Note: For string movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, it is generally advised to use a different gauge string to prevent damage and ensure optimal tension and tone. The movements below are as specified in the tuning data.

• String 6: Tune down 5 semitones to achieve the note B1. (Consider a heavier gauge string due to this significant drop).
• String 5: Tune down 3 semitones to achieve the note F3#.
• String 4: Tune down 3 semitones to achieve the note B2.
• String 3: Tune down 1 semitone to achieve the note F4#.
• String 2: Tune down 3 semitones to achieve the note G4#.
• String 1: Tune down 3 semitones to achieve the note C5#.