Verbal Analysis: The 007 B9 Tuning

This unique 8-string guitar tuning, aptly named "007 B9", presents a deeply resonant and harmonically rich soundscape. As described by its creator, the aim was to forge interesting chord shapes without being bland, and it certainly delivers. The most striking feature is that strumming all open strings immediately yields a full B9 chord (B, D#, F#, A, C#), providing an instant jazz or fusion vibe. This makes it incredibly expressive for rhythm guitar and arpeggiated melodic lines. The lowest note, B1 on string 6, gives the tuning immense depth, extending the guitar's range significantly and offering a powerful foundation for bass lines or heavy riffs.

What sets this tuning apart is its non-linear string arrangement. Unlike most tunings where strings ascend monotonically in pitch, here you'll find jumps both up and down across adjacent strings, creating highly unusual but potentially very inspiring intervals. This means traditional chord shapes and scale patterns will need to be re-learned and adapted, but it simultaneously unlocks a universe of fresh voicings and fingerings that would be impossible in conventional tunings. It's a tuning for the adventurous player seeking to break new ground in harmony and sound, suitable for genres like jazz, fusion, progressive rock, and experimental music.

Technical Analysis: Unpacking the B9 Voicing

The open string notes for this 8-string guitar are:

• String 8 (Lowest physical string): C#2
• String 7: F#2
• String 6: B1
• String 5: D#3
• String 4: A2
• String 3: D#4
• String 2: F#4
• String 1 (Highest physical string): B3

Arranged by pitch from the lowest to highest note present, the unique pitches are B, C#, D#, F#, A. This collection of notes perfectly outlines a B9 chord (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Minor 7th, Major 9th), with several octaves providing a thick, rich harmonic spread across the instrument's range.

The intervalic structure between *adjacent physical strings* is particularly noteworthy due to its non-linear nature:

• String 8 (C#2) to String 7 (F#2): Perfect 4th up
• String 7 (F#2) to String 6 (B1): Perfect 4th down (a significant drop in pitch)
• String 6 (B1) to String 5 (D#3): Major 10th up (equivalent to a Major 3rd plus an octave)
• String 5 (D#3) to String 4 (A2): Perfect 4th down (another significant drop)
• String 4 (A2) to String 3 (D#4): Augmented 11th up (equivalent to an Augmented 4th plus an octave)
• String 3 (D#4) to String 2 (F#4): Minor 3rd up
• String 2 (F#4) to String 1 (B3): Perfect 4th down (a final drop in pitch)

This complex interval arrangement suggests a tuning designed for specific voicings and open string work rather than universally transferable fretboard shapes. The inherent B9 chord allows for easy exploration of dominant 7th and major chords (Bmaj, B7, Badd9) by simply muting or omitting certain strings. Moving these shapes up the neck will yield unique inversions and harmonic clusters, requiring a fresh approach to fretboard navigation but offering unparalleled creative potential.

Tuning Notes:

String 8 (Lowest): C#2

String 7: F#2

String 6: B1

String 5: D#3

String 4: A2

String 3: D#4

String 2: F#4

String 1 (Highest): B3

How to Tune:

To achieve the "007 B9" tuning, you will need to adjust each string from its standard pitch as follows. Please take care when tuning, especially with larger pitch changes.

• String 8: Tune to C#2, by tuning down 5 semitones.
• String 7: Tune to F#2, by tuning down 5 semitones.
• String 6: Tune to B1, by tuning down 5 semitones.
• String 5: Tune to D#3, by tuning down 6 semitones.
• String 4: Tune to A2, by tuning down 5 semitones.
• String 3: Tune to D#4, by tuning down 4 semitones.
• String 2: Tune to F#4, by tuning down 5 semitones.
• String 1: Tune to B3, by tuning down 5 semitones.

Important Note on String Gauge: Most of these tuning adjustments involve significant drops in pitch (4 or more semitones down). For optimal playability, intonation, and to avoid string breakage or excessive floppiness, it is highly recommended to consider using heavier gauge strings specifically designed for lower tunings on an 8-string guitar, particularly for strings undergoing a change of 4 or more semitones. String 3 is on the borderline, while all other strings exceed this recommendation.