Tuning Overview: B13

Verbal Analysis

This B13 tuning for an 8-string guitar presents a highly experimental and deeply resonant soundscape, characterized by its wide intervallic leaps and unique octave placements. It's a tuning that defies traditional harmonic expectations, offering a rich canvas for exploration rather than immediate familiar chords. The arrangement of notes creates a dynamic tension, with very low bass notes complementing a higher, almost conventional top-end. This is a tuning for the adventurous player looking to break new ground in sonic textures and create truly distinctive voicings.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this 8-string tuning are: E1, A1, D#3, G#3, C#4, F#4, B3, E4 (from lowest to highest string).
The tuning exhibits perfect fourths (P4) between the 8th (E1) and 7th (A1) strings, and also between the 2nd (B3) and 1st (E4) strings. A continuous run of perfect fourths also exists from the 6th string (D#3) through to the 3rd string (F#4), forming a D# quartal harmony (D#3-G#3-C#4-F#4).
However, the interval between the 7th string (A1) and the 6th string (D#3) spans an augmented fourth (A4) across two octaves, totaling 15 semitones, which is exceptionally wide for adjacent strings. Furthermore, the 3rd string (F#4) to the 2nd string (B3) presents a peculiar descending perfect fifth (or ascending perfect fourth if B3 is considered the root of the interval) where the B note is an octave lower than might be expected, creating an inverted relationship between these two strings. This unique arrangement suggests a focus on specific melodic lines, arpeggios, and potentially dissonant or complex harmonies rather than conventional open chord shapes.

Open Chords and Possibilities

While strumming all open strings yields a complex and spread-out sonority, the collective notes (E, A, D#, G#, C#, F#, B) outline an E major scale. This implies that while not a typical open chord, it can be approached as an extended E major harmony with significant octave displacement and intervallic tension.

• Fourths-Based Voicings: The D#3-G#3-C#4-F#4 sequence of perfect fourths on the middle strings is ideal for creating stacked quartal chords by simply barring these strings. Moving this shape up and down the neck will unlock a rich palette of modern jazz or progressive metal voicings.
• Drone Capabilities: The deep E1 and A1 on the lowest strings provide a powerful, resonant foundation, which can be effectively used as drones against melodic movement on the higher strings. The top E4 further reinforces an E root.
• Extended Harmonies: With minimal fretting, one could easily create extended E major 7th (E-G#-B-D#) or A major (A-C#-E) shapes, utilizing the widely distributed notes across the fretboard. The overall wide range lends itself to expansive, atmospheric soundscapes.

How to Tune Your Guitar to B13

To achieve the B13 tuning, you will adjust your strings from a presumed standard 8-string tuning (e.g., F#1-B1-E3-A3-D4-G4-B3-E4) as follows:

• String 8 (Lowest String): Tune down from F#1 to E1. This is a movement of 2 semitones down.
• String 7: Tune down from B1 to A1. This is a movement of 2 semitones down.
• String 6: Tune down from E3 to D#3. This is a movement of 1 semitone down.
• String 5: Tune down from A3 to G#3. This is a movement of 1 semitone down.
• String 4: Tune down from D4 to C#4. This is a movement of 1 semitone down.
• String 3: Tune down from G4 to F#4. This is a movement of 1 semitone down.
• String 2: Keep as is at B3. No change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (Highest String): Keep as is at E4. No change (0 semitones).

Note on String Gauges: All string adjustments are within 2 semitones, so standard string gauges should generally be suitable for this tuning without excessive tension changes.

String 8: E1

String 7: A1

String 6: D3#

String 5: G3#

String 4: C4#

String 3: F4#

String 2: B3

String 1: E4