Welcome to the B Boundaries Tuning, a unique and evocative setup famously utilized by Travis Meeks of "Days of the New" for their song "Boundaries." This tuning diverges significantly from standard guitar tuning, offering a sonic landscape rich with minor tonality and extended harmonies, perfect for atmospheric and introspective compositions.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning conjures a deep, somewhat melancholic, yet expansive sound. The open strings resonate with a distinct minor flavor, characterized by prominent fifths and minor sevenths, anchored by the low E string. The arrangement of notes, E-B-D-F#-B-D, creates a sound reminiscent of an E minor ninth chord (missing its third, G), or alternatively, a B minor seven with an added eleventh. The repetition of B and D across different octaves lends itself to rich drones and sustaining chords, giving the music a full, almost symphonic quality. The striking F4# on the third string, being an octave higher than one might expect in a typical low E minor ninth voicing, adds a bright, almost piercing harmonic texture, creating tension and color that sets this tuning apart. It's a tuning that encourages open string resonance and intricate fingerstyle patterns, lending itself well to the dark, acoustic-driven style of Days of the New.

Technical Analysis

The tuning from lowest to highest string is E2 B2 D3 F4# B3 D4. Let's break down the intervals relative to the lowest E string:

• 6th String (E2): Root
• 5th String (B2): A perfect fifth (P5) above E2.
• 4th String (D3): A minor seventh (m7) above E2, or a minor third (m3) above B2.
• 3rd String (F4#): A major ninth (M9) above E2, or a major fourth (M4) above B3. This F# is an octave higher than where a ninth typically sits, contributing a bright, chiming quality.
• 2nd String (B3): An octave higher perfect fifth (P5) above E2.
• 1st String (D4): An octave higher minor seventh (m7) above E2, or a minor third (m3) above B3.

The open strings fundamentally outline an E minor (no 3rd) chord with an added 7th and 9th (E-B-D-F#). The duplicated B and D notes provide harmonic thickness and allow for flexible voicings. The intervallic structure encourages a natural minor scale framework. Barre chords across the frets will yield parallel minor 7th(add9) voicings, shifted chromatically.

Open Chords and Reachable Shapes

When strummed open, the tuning immediately presents a powerful, resonant E minor-like sound. Due to the perfect fifth (B) and minor seventh (D) being present, as well as the F# (ninth), this tuning allows for easy access to rich minor-extended harmonies by simply fretting individual strings or barring. For instance:

• Open Tuning: A full E minor (no 3rd) with 7th and 9th.
• Barre at 1st fret: F minor (no 3rd) with 7th and 9th.
• Barre at 2nd fret: F# minor (no 3rd) with 7th and 9th.

The low B and D strings make it very easy to create drones. The high F4# on the 3rd string provides a unique melodic voice against the lower strings. Shapes resembling standard minor or minor 7th chords will often produce richer, more complex voicings in this tuning, expanding the harmonic palette with minimal effort.

How to Tune

To achieve the B Boundaries Tuning, you will adjust your strings from standard EADGBe tuning as follows:

• 6th String (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note is E2.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 2 semitones. The target note is B2.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note is D3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 1 semitone. The target note is F#3. Please note: The specified target note for this string in the tuning definition is F4#. Achieving F4# from a standard G3 string by tuning down only 1 semitone is incorrect as it implies an octave jump. Tuning down 1 semitone from G3 yields F#3. Reaching F4# would require tuning up significantly (13 semitones from G3) and likely necessitates a much lighter gauge string to withstand the extreme tension, or a guitar setup for an octave higher pitch. For the 'How to Tune' instructions, we follow the 'tune down 1 semitone' direction, resulting in F#3.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note is B3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones. The target note is D4.

Important Tuning Considerations: When tuning strings, especially with significant pitch changes:

• For changes exceeding 4 semitones up or down (e.g., -5, +5 or more), consider using a different gauge string to ensure proper string tension and avoid breakage or damage to your instrument.
• Always tune slowly and carefully to avoid over-tightening or snapping strings.
• Regularly check your intonation after making significant tuning adjustments.

Here are the notes for each string in the B Boundaries Tuning, from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st):

• String 6: E2
• String 5: B2
• String 4: D3
• String 3: F4#
• String 2: B3
• String 1: D4