The "After the Burial 9 String Tuning" is an exceptionally heavy and unique setup tailored for 9-string guitars, explicitly designed for the aggressive and complex soundscapes of progressive metal and djent, as pioneered by bands like After the Burial.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning plunges into extreme low-end territory, providing a massive sonic foundation. The description from the tuning creator highlights it as an "8 string F Standard with a low C#". However, a closer technical look reveals a highly unconventional string arrangement that goes beyond a simple standard extension. The lowest string on the instrument, String 8, is tuned to F1, followed by String 9 at C#2, creating a re-entrant pitch order where a physically thicker string (String 9) is tuned higher than an adjacent thinner string (String 8). This unusual configuration, combined with the subsequent six strings tuned in consistent perfect fourths, allows for incredibly deep, resonant, and often dissonant textures. It's built for intricate, palm-muted riffs, extended range arpeggios, and dense, crushing chords that define the modern metal genre.

Technical Analysis

The full tuning from thickest (String 9) to thinnest (String 1) is:

Analyzing the intervals between physical strings:

• String 9 (C#2) to String 8 (F1): This is a Perfect 5th DOWN (7 semitones). This is a highly unusual re-entrant pairing, as String 8 is pitched lower than String 9.
• String 8 (F1) to String 7 (A#2): This represents a Major 10th UP (17 semitones), a very significant jump in pitch to reach the next string.
• Strings 7 (A#2) to 1 (D#5): These six strings are consistently tuned in Perfect 4ths (5 semitones each: A#2 to D#3, D#3 to G#3, G#3 to C#4, C#4 to F#4, F#4 to A#4, A#4 to D#5). This section behaves like a standard guitar but transposed to a much lower register.

The presence of F1 as the absolute lowest note provides an immense bass response, while the C#2 string offers another super-low pedal tone option. This unique string arrangement (F1 is the lowest pitch, followed by C#2) means that the instrument needs to be approached with specific techniques. The consistent perfect fourths across the upper six strings (7-1) facilitate predictable fingerings for power chords and scale fragments, making it easier to navigate complex riffs despite the extreme range. However, the unique C#2/F1/A#2 relationship will demand specific left-hand techniques and careful string muting to articulate chords and riffs cleanly. While traditional open major or minor chords are not readily available due to the tuning's design, the perfect fourths allow for easy construction of power chords and dissonant intervallic voicings with minimal finger movement across the upper strings. The F1 and C#2 strings are primarily suited for single-note runs, guttural riffs, and extended power chords with other low notes, providing a bedrock for heavy rhythmic figures and atmospheric sound design.

Tuning Notes

The notes for each string, from the thickest (String 9) to the thinnest (String 1), are:

• String 9: C#2
• String 8: F1
• String 7: A#2
• String 6: D#3
• String 5: G#3
• String 4: C#4
• String 3: F#4
• String 2: A#4
• String 1: D#5

How to Tune

To achieve the "After the Burial 9 String Tuning" from a reference tuning (likely a standard 9-string tuning, which is often E-A-D-G-B-E with additional lower strings), follow these precise adjustments for each string:

• String 9 (C#2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 8 (F1): Tune down 1 semitone to F1.
• String 7 (A#2): Tune down 1 semitone to A#2.
• String 6 (D#3): Tune down 1 semitone to D#3.
• String 5 (G#3): Tune down 1 semitone to G#3.
• String 4 (C#4): Tune down 1 semitone to C#4.
• String 3 (F#4): Tune down 1 semitone to F#4.
• String 2 (A#4): Tune down 1 semitone to A#4.
• String 1 (D#5): Tune down 1 semitone to D#5.

All string movements for this tuning are minor (1 semitone or less). Since no string requires tuning up or down by more than 4 semitones, a change in string gauge is not specifically advised based on these tuning movements alone. However, for a 9-string instrument tuned to such exceptionally low pitches (especially F1 and C#2), it is always recommended to use appropriately heavy gauge strings to maintain proper tension, intonation, and prevent fret buzz.