Verbal Analysis

The "Sub-Octave Five Tuning" transforms your guitar into a sonic beast, plunging the five lowest strings a full octave below their standard pitch while leaving the high E string at its familiar register. This creates an incredibly wide and dramatic soundscape, capable of delivering earth-shattering lows contrasted with bright, cutting highs. Verbally, this tuning evokes a sense of immense depth, power, and even a touch of menace. Imagine the deep resonance of a bass guitar's lowest notes, but with the full range and versatility of a guitar. It's ideal for genres requiring a heavy, resonant foundation like doom metal, djent, or experimental music, where drone-like qualities and impactful single-note riffs can truly shine. The vast intervallic jumps between the lowest five strings and the highest string offer a unique textural palette.

Technical Analysis

Technically, this tuning is a radical variation on standard E Standard, where the 6th (low E), 5th (A), 4th (D), 3rd (G), and 2nd (B) strings are all tuned down by 12 semitones (one full octave). The 1st string (high E) remains at its standard E4 pitch.

• Standard E Tuning: E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4
• This Tuning: E1-A1-D2-G2-B2-E4

The fundamental intervals between the lowest five strings remain the same as standard tuning (perfect 4th, perfect 4th, perfect 4th, major 3rd). This means that common chord shapes and power chord voicings on these strings are still technically playable, but they will sound an octave lower and require significant string gauge adjustments. The most striking technical feature is the enormous interval between the 2nd string (B2) and the 1st string (E4), which spans a compound perfect 4th (a perfect 11th). This extreme separation can be utilized for unique arpeggios, lead lines that jump across registers, or dramatic melodic contrasts.

Chords and Playability

With the open strings E1-A1-D2-G2-B2-E4, a full strum will not yield a conventional major or minor chord, but rather a vast, resonant soundscape with notes E, A, D, G, B.

• Power Chords: Power chords on the lower strings (e.g., E5 on strings 6 and 5, or A5 on strings 5 and 4) will sound incredibly deep and heavy, forming the core of its utility for heavy music genres.
• Open E Minor: By selectively muting the A and D strings, and strumming E1-G2-B2-E4, you can achieve a massive-sounding E minor chord with a huge low end.
• Extended Voicings: The wide intervals encourage exploration of sparse, open voicings. For example, playing the 6th string E1, 2nd string B2, and 1st string E4 creates a powerful, open-voiced E chord spanning three octaves (Root-5th-Root), which resonates profoundly.
• Melodic Potential: The extreme low end provides a robust foundation, allowing single-note lines on the high E string to really cut through, creating a stark and effective melodic contrast.

Important Note on String Gauge: Due to the significant drop of 12 semitones on five of the strings, using a much heavier string gauge is highly recommended, if not essential, to maintain adequate string tension, intonation, and playability. Standard gauge strings will be extremely slack and difficult to play in this tuning. Consider baritone or custom-gauge string sets.

Tuning Notes Overview

• String 6 (Lowest E): Tuned to E1
• String 5 (A String): Tuned to A1
• String 4 (D String): Tuned to D2
• String 3 (G String): Tuned to G2
• String 2 (B String): Tuned to B2
• String 1 (Highest E): Tuned to E4

How to Tune to Sub-Octave Five

To achieve the Sub-Octave Five Tuning, follow these precise adjustments from standard E tuning. Please note the significant changes, especially for the lower strings. For any string movement exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different gauge string is strongly advised.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 12 semitones to reach E1. Warning: This is a significant drop; a heavier gauge string is essential for proper tension and tone.
• String 5 (A String): Tune down 12 semitones to reach A1. Warning: This is a significant drop; a heavier gauge string is essential for proper tension and tone.
• String 4 (D String): Tune down 12 semitones to reach D2. Warning: This is a significant drop; a heavier gauge string is essential for proper tension and tone.
• String 3 (G String): Tune down 12 semitones to reach G2. Warning: This is a significant drop; a heavier gauge string is essential for proper tension and tone.
• String 2 (B String): Tune down 12 semitones to reach B2. Warning: This is a significant drop; a heavier gauge string is essential for proper tension and tone.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at E4.

It is highly recommended to use a dedicated tuner for accuracy when making such significant pitch adjustments. For the strings being dropped an entire octave, investing in significantly heavier gauge strings (e.g., baritone guitar strings or custom sets) will drastically improve playability, tone, and intonation, preventing the strings from becoming too slack and floppy.