Periphery's Hell Below 7-String Tuning

Verbal Analysis

This is the "Baritone-Drop C#/B" tuning, famously utilized by the progressive metal band Periphery, specifically for their song "Hell Below," as noted by Nolly in a 2015 interview. Designed for a 7-string baritone guitar, this tuning plunges the instrument into an extremely low and dark register, making it ideal for modern progressive metal and djent genres. The resulting sound is incredibly heavy, thick, and crushing, providing an ample foundation for low-end chugging, complex riffing, and a massive wall of sound.

The tight, dissonant interval between the 7th (C#2) and 6th (B1) strings creates a powerful, almost unsettling sonic bedrock, characteristic of Periphery's aggressive sound. While not an open-chord friendly tuning in the traditional sense, the arrangement facilitates the construction of potent, low-end riffs and allows for familiar power chord shapes across the middle strings (B1-E2-A2-D3), albeit in a much lower octave. The unique C#-B relationship at the very bottom allows for innovative harmonic possibilities, moving beyond conventional 'drop' tunings. This is a tuning built for precise, brutal articulation, pushing the very boundaries of the guitar's sonic capabilities to achieve an unyielding, powerful tone.

Technical Analysis

This tuning is specifically configured for a 7-string Guitar with the following notes, listed from the lowest (7th) to the highest (1st) string:

• String 7: C#2
• String 6: B1
• String 5: E2
• String 4: A2
• String 3: D3
• String 2: G3
• String 1: B3

The intervallic structure between adjacent strings is as follows:

• String 7 (C#2) to String 6 (B1): Down a Major 7th (or up a minor 2nd). This incredibly tight and dissonant interval between the lowest strings contributes significantly to the tuning's heavy character.
• String 6 (B1) to String 5 (E2): Perfect 4th
• String 5 (E2) to String 4 (A2): Perfect 4th
• String 4 (A2) to String 3 (D3): Perfect 4th
• String 3 (D3) to String 2 (G3): Perfect 4th
• String 2 (G3) to String 1 (B3): Major 3rd

This tuning places B1 as the lowest note (a full step below the traditional low E on a 6-string guitar), further extended even lower by C#2 on the 7th string. The consistent perfect 4ths across strings 6 through 2 provide excellent consistency for power chords and scale shapes, facilitating movement across the fretboard despite the extreme detuning. The unique C#2 to B1 interval, however, stands out and provides a distinct, heavy foundation. Given the substantial downtuning across all strings, particularly the 7th string's massive -10 semitone drop, a baritone scale length and very heavy gauge strings are absolutely essential to maintain adequate tension, intonation, and playability, preventing the strings from becoming overly loose or muddy.

String Notes

The target notes for each string, from the lowest (7th) to the highest (1st):

• String 7 (Lowest): C#2
• String 6: B1
• String 5: E2
• String 4: A2
• String 3: D3
• String 2: G3
• String 1 (Highest): B3

How to Tune

To achieve Periphery's Hell Below tuning, carefully adjust each string according to the following instructions. Due to the significant changes in pitch across all strings, and particularly the extreme downtuning on the lowest strings, it is strongly recommended to use a set of heavy gauge strings, preferably designed for baritone scale lengths, to maintain proper tension and intonation. Tuning down by more than 4 semitones (or up by more than 4 semitones) typically necessitates a different string gauge to avoid breakage, excessive looseness, or poor tone.

• String 7 (Lowest): Tune to C#2. This string requires a substantial pitch reduction. Tune down 10 semitones. (Extreme downtuning; a much heavier gauge string is essential for playability and tone.)
• String 6: Tune to B1. Tune down 5 semitones. (Significant downtuning; a heavier gauge string is strongly recommended.)
• String 5: Tune to E2. Tune down 5 semitones. (Significant downtuning; a heavier gauge string is strongly recommended.)
• String 4: Tune to A2. Tune down 5 semitones. (Significant downtuning; a heavier gauge string is strongly recommended.)
• String 3: Tune to D3. Tune down 5 semitones. (Significant downtuning; a heavier gauge string is strongly recommended.)
• String 2: Tune to G3. Tune down 4 semitones. (Moderate downtuning; a heavier gauge string is advised to maintain tension.)
• String 1 (Highest): Tune to B3. Tune down 5 semitones. (Significant downtuning; a heavier gauge string is strongly recommended.)