Welcome to the captivating world of Open B Major (Fingerstyle Percussive), a 5-string guitar tuning meticulously crafted for expressive acoustic fingerstyle and percussive playing, as hinted by its original description. This tuning creates a deeply resonant and vibrant soundscape, characterized by its wide intervals and intriguing re-entrant structure. It's an excellent choice for musicians looking to explore intricate arpeggios, establish droning bass lines, and experiment with rhythmic tapping techniques. The unique arrangement of notes provides a distinct sonic palette, inviting creative exploration beyond conventional guitar methodologies and inspiring compositions that prioritize texture and atmospheric qualities.

Technical Analysis:

The open strings for this 5-string setup are tuned to B1, F#3, D#4, B3, D#5. When strummed openly, these notes harmoniously form a rich B Major chord (B - D# - F#), making this a true 'open' tuning. The specific voicing across the strings presents a B root, followed by F# (a perfect 5th), D# (a major 3rd), another B (an octave higher than the lowest B, but notably lower than the preceding D#), and finally D# (a major 3rd an octave higher). This re-entrant characteristic, where the 2nd string (B3) is pitched lower than the 3rd string (D#4), is a significant feature that unlocks unique harmonic possibilities and unconventional chord fingerings.

The intervals between the strings, from the thickest (String 5) to the thinnest (String 1), are:

• String 5 (B1) to String 4 (F#3): A remarkably wide interval of 19 semitones, equivalent to an octave and a perfect 5th.
• String 4 (F#3) to String 3 (D#4): A major 6th, spanning 9 semitones.
• String 3 (D#4) to String 2 (B3): A distinctive re-entrant interval, tuning down 4 semitones (a major 3rd below).
• String 2 (B3) to String 1 (D#5): A substantial jump of 16 semitones, which is an octave and a major 3rd.

Chords and Playability:

As an open B Major tuning, all inversions and voicings of the B Major chord are inherently accessible with minimal or no fretting. This foundation allows for:

• Major Chords: Easily transpose the open B Major shape up the neck by barring across a single fret, instantly creating other major chords (e.g., C Major at the 1st fret, C# Major at the 2nd fret, and so on).
• Minor Chords: Basic minor chords, especially those related to the key of B Major (such as E minor, G minor, or C# minor), can be formed with relatively straightforward shapes due to the B Major framework. An E minor chord (E-G-B), for instance, should be quite approachable.
• Suspended Chords: The presence of the open B (root) and F# (perfect 5th) on the lower strings facilitates easy experimentation with suspended 2nd (sus2) and suspended 4th (sus4) chords by merely altering the D# notes.

Open String Notes Description

Here are the target notes for each string in this unique 5-string tuning, listed from the thickest (lowest pitch) to the thinnest (highest pitch):

• String 5: B1 - The lowest string is tuned to B in the first octave, providing a deep, resonant bass foundation.
• String 4: F3# - The fourth string is tuned to F sharp in the third octave, creating a significant interval jump from the lowest string.
• String 3: D4# - The third string is tuned to D sharp in the fourth octave, further extending the harmonic range.
• String 2: B3 - The second string is tuned to B in the third octave. Notably, this string is pitched lower than the third string, creating a re-entrant tuning characteristic.
• String 1: D5# - The thinnest string is tuned to D sharp in the fifth octave, providing the highest note in this tuning.

How to Tune Your Guitar for Open B Major (Fingerstyle Percussive)

This tuning assumes you are starting from a common 5-string configuration (E2 A3 D4 B3 E5, where the G string has been omitted from a standard 6-string setup) and adjusts it to the specified notes. Please proceed with caution, especially with larger pitch changes, and use a reliable electronic tuner.

• String 5 (Thickest): Starting from E2, tune down 5 semitones to reach B1. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change. If you frequently use this tuning, consider using a heavier gauge string for optimal tension and to prevent the string from feeling too floppy.
• String 4: Starting from A3, tune down 3 semitones to reach F3#.
• String 3: Starting from D4, tune up 1 semitone to reach D4#.
• String 2: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Your string should already be at B3.
• String 1 (Thinnest): Starting from E5, tune down 1 semitone to reach D5#.