Tuning Analysis: Royal F Standard Bass

This unique tuning for the Bass Electric, dubbed Royal F Standard Bass, offers a powerful and deep sonic foundation, perfectly suited for the heavier and more resonant styles often explored by bands like Royal Blood. As the original description suggests, it's a fantastic choice for those aiming to capture that distinctive low-end rumble in their sound.

Verbal Analysis

The Royal F Standard Bass tuning creates an incredibly deep and rich soundscape, centered around a very low F (F1) on the thickest string. This provides an almost sub-harmonic growl, giving your bass lines immense weight and presence. The subsequent strings maintain a familiar perfect fourths relationship, much like standard bass tuning, but transposed significantly higher in pitch relative to the lowest string. This combination means you get the best of both worlds: a massive low-end anchor and easily navigable fretboard patterns on the higher strings. It's an inspiring tuning for heavy riffs, sustained drones, and rhythmic grooves that demand a commanding low frequency.

Technical Analysis

The Royal F Standard Bass is structured as follows, from thickest to thinnest string:

• String 4: F1
• String 3: A#2 (enharmonically Bb2)
• String 2: D#3 (enharmonically Eb3)
• String 1: G#3 (enharmonically Ab3)

This is essentially an F Standard tuning (F-Bb-Eb-Ab) where the string intervals are all perfect fourths. Specifically, from String 4 to String 3, the interval is a compound perfect fourth (an octave plus a perfect fourth). The intervals from String 3 to String 2 and from String 2 to String 1 are both perfect fourths. This consistent perfect fourths stacking above the lowest string makes for a highly ergonomic tuning, allowing players to utilize familiar chord shapes and scale patterns, simply transposed to a new, lower key.

Open Chords and Playability

With open strings F1, A#2, D#3, G#3 (or F, Bb, Eb, Ab), this tuning naturally provides a strong harmonic foundation. While not forming a conventional major or minor chord, the open strings offer:

• Power Chords: Easily accessible power chords across any two adjacent strings (e.g., F1-A#2 for an F5 power chord, or A#2-D#3 for a Bb5 power chord).
• F Minor/F7 Harmony: The notes F, A#, D#, G# are F, Bb, Eb, Ab. These notes are present in an F minor 7 chord (F Ab C Eb) or Bb minor 7 chord (Bb Db F Ab).
• Riff-centric Playing: The perfect fourth intervals on the higher strings are excellent for quick, aggressive riffing, common in hard rock and metal. The deep F1 string can be used as a persistent drone or for powerful single-note lines.

String Gauge Recommendation

All strings in this tuning are required to be tuned up 4 semitones from their implied original pitch to reach the target notes. Tuning up 4 semitones represents a substantial increase in string tension. For optimal performance, comfort, and to prevent potential string breakage or neck issues, a different gauge string set is advised. Specifically, using a slightly lighter gauge string set than what would typically be used for standard EADG tuning, particularly for the higher strings, can help mitigate excessive tension while maintaining clarity and intonation.

How to Tune

To achieve the Royal F Standard Bass tuning, follow these specific instructions for each string:

• String 4 (Thickest): Start from C#1 and tune up 4 semitones to reach F1.
• String 3: Start from G#2 and tune up 4 semitones to reach A#2 (Bb2).
• String 2: Start from B2 and tune up 4 semitones to reach D#3 (Eb3).
• String 1 (Thinnest): Start from E3 and tune up 4 semitones to reach G#3 (Ab3).

The lowest string (String 4) is tuned to F1.

The second lowest string (String 3) is tuned to A#2 (Bb2).

The second highest string (String 2) is tuned to D#3 (Eb3).

The highest string (String 1) is tuned to G#3 (Ab3).