This unique and powerful tuning is famously associated with the legendary band Soundgarden, known for their innovative and heavy soundscapes. Often employed for songs requiring a deep, resonant foundation and a ringing drone, this tuning provides a massive wall of sound. The low two E strings create an incredibly thick, guttural bass, while the higher four B strings form a consistent, ringing drone across multiple octaves. This combination results in a sound that is both immense and atmospheric, perfect for heavy riffs, sustained chords, and intricate melodic lines that cut through the density. It encourages a style of playing that leverages the open strings for a full, harmonically rich texture.

Technically, the tuning sets the guitar's open strings to E2-E2-B2-B3-B3-B3, from the 6th (low) string to the 1st (high) string. The structure is based around an E power chord (E and B are the root and fifth) with significant doubling and octaves. The two lowest strings are tuned to E2, providing a unison root. The 4th string is B2, a perfect fourth above E2. The remaining three strings are all tuned to B, specifically B3, creating a strong, resonant drone in the higher register. This arrangement makes it particularly easy to articulate deep, resonant E5 power chords and allows for striking open-string harmonies and dissonances by fretting notes against the constant B drone.

Potential chords and voicings that naturally emerge or are easily accessible in this tuning include:

• Open E5 Power Chord: By strumming all open strings, you get a powerful E5 chord (E-E-B-B-B-B), emphasizing the root and fifth.
• Open B Drone: The upper four strings (B2-B3-B3-B3) create a compelling B drone, which can be used as a harmonic anchor for melodies or riffs.
• Two-Finger Chords: Simple two-finger shapes can create rich harmonic clusters, especially on the high B strings, allowing for parallel intervals and dissonant textures against the low E strings.
• Single-Finger Barres: Sliding a single finger across the upper B strings (4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st) will produce powerful, droning chord shapes with parallel octaves and unisons, useful for creating thick, driving rhythms.

How to Tune:

To achieve the Soundgarden E-B Drone Tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), follow these steps:

• 6th String (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Target Note: E2.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 5 semitones to E2. This is a significant drop. Consider a lighter gauge string if this tuning is to be permanent.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 4 semitones to B3. Caution is advised when tuning up this many semitones, as it significantly increases string tension and could potentially lead to string breakage or neck stress. Consider using a lighter gauge string if this tuning is to be permanent.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Target Note: B3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 5 semitones to B3. This is a significant drop. Consider a lighter gauge string if this tuning is to be permanent.

Important Note on String Gauge: When tuning strings up or down more than 4 semitones (as is the case for the 5th, 3rd, and 1st strings in this tuning), it's highly recommended to consider adjusting your string gauge. Tuning significantly down can make strings feel too loose and floppy, while tuning significantly up can put excessive tension on the neck and strings, potentially causing breakage or damage.

Here are the target notes for each string in Soundgarden E-B Drone Tuning, from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st) string:

• 6th String: E2 (Low E)
• 5th String: E2 (Unison with 6th String)
• 4th String: B2 (Perfect Fourth above E2)
• 3rd String: B3 (Octave above B2)
• 2nd String: B3 (Unison with 3rd String)
• 1st String: B3 (Unison with 2nd String)