Drop B tuning is a fantastic method to plunge your guitar into a dramatically lower register, delivering a sound that’s significantly heavier and darker. Similar to the well-loved drop D tuning, drop B involves tuning down your strings, giving your guitar a powerful, resonant depth favored in many genres. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to achieve drop B tuning and explore why it’s a go-to choice for guitarists seeking a crushing tone. So, grab your guitar, and let’s dive into the world of drop B!
Understanding Drop B Tuning
Drop B tuning is prominently featured in heavy metal and various hard rock music styles. Victor Griffin, the guitarist of the influential doom metal band Pentagram, is often credited with popularizing drop B tuning among guitarists. While his mastery is exceptional, you don’t need to be a virtuoso to harness the raw power of this tuning. Drop B is relatively straightforward to learn, and it unlocks the ability to play power chords with a single finger while extending your guitar’s sonic landscape to a lower, more menacing range.
What Exactly is Drop B?
In essence, drop B tuning requires you to “drop” the pitch of your lowest E string down two and a half steps to B. However, it’s important to clarify that there are two forms of drop B. One, less common, only lowers the sixth string, leaving the rest in standard tuning.
For this lesson, and for the most impactful heavy sound, we’ll focus on the more prevalent version of drop B where all six strings are tuned down.
When you first experiment with this tuning, you might notice some string buzz. This is because the strings become looser at this lower pitch. If you plan to use drop B frequently, consider using heavier gauge strings or having your guitar professionally set up for drop B by a luthier.
However, you can still achieve a great sound in drop B without any extra expense. By using lighter strings and adjusting your playing technique to strum with a lighter touch, you can minimize buzzing and still achieve a full, heavy tone.
To refresh your memory, standard guitar tuning notes from lowest to highest string are:
- E
- A
- D
- G
- B
- E
In drop B tuning, each string is tuned down, resulting in the following notes from lowest to highest:
- B
- Gb
- B
- E
- Ab
- Db
Tuning Your Guitar to Drop B: A Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you understand the notes in drop B tuning, let’s get your guitar tuned! Here’s how to tune to drop B:
- Start with the Low E String: Pluck your lowest E string (the thickest string).
- Tune Down to B: Turn the tuning peg for the low E string (the top-most peg on most guitars) towards you to lower the pitch. Continue plucking the string and tuning down until you reach a B note. You’ll need to lower it quite a bit – two and a half steps down from E.
- Fine-Tuning Technique: It’s often helpful to tune slightly below the desired note and then tune upwards to it. This technique helps to stabilize the string tension and keep your guitar in tune for longer.
- Tune the Remaining Strings: Now you need to tune all the other strings down one-and-a-half steps from standard tuning. You can do this by ear, or by using a tuner. If tuning by ear, you can use the newly tuned low B string as a reference point to tune the rest of the strings relatively. For precise tuning, especially when starting out, a tuner is highly recommended.
Pro Tip: For accurate and convenient tuning, utilize the Fender Online Guitar Tuner. They offer both Electric Guitar and Acoustic Guitar tuners online. These tools, available on the Fender website or as a mobile app, allow you to select drop B tuning and guide you through tuning each string precisely.
The Power of Drop B: Why Use It?
Tuning your guitar to drop B offers several significant advantages, especially for heavier styles of music:
- Deeper, Heavier Sound: The most immediate impact of drop B tuning is the significant lowering of your guitar’s overall range. This results in a much heavier, darker, and more aggressive tone, ideal for metal, hard rock, and genres that demand a powerful low-end presence.
- Drone on the Low B: The open low B string provides a fantastic opportunity to create a sustained, droning bass note. This is particularly effective for creating sludgy, atmospheric textures and adding weight to riffs and rhythm parts.
- Accommodating Lower Vocal Ranges: If you’re playing with a singer who has a lower vocal range, drop B can be incredibly useful. It allows your guitar to comfortably occupy a lower sonic space without clashing with the vocals, providing a fuller and more cohesive band sound.
- Simplified Power Chords: Drop B tuning makes playing power chords incredibly easy. In standard tuning, you typically need two or three fingers to form a power chord. In drop B, you can play a power chord simply by barring a single finger across the three lowest strings. This simplified technique allows for faster chord changes and more fluid riffing.
Exploring Songs in Drop B Tuning
Want to put your newly tuned drop B guitar to the test? There’s a wealth of impactful songs that utilize drop B tuning. Here are a couple to get you started:
- “Duality” by Slipknot: This Slipknot anthem is a prime example of drop B’s aggressive sound. The song heavily relies on the open sixth string to create its signature driving and intense feel. Listening closely to both guitar parts in “Duality” will give you a great appreciation for how drop B tuning shapes the song’s overall impact.
- “Whispers in the Dark” by Skillet: Skillet’s “Whispers in the Dark” offers another excellent example of drop B in action. While the song features a challenging guitar solo, beginners experimenting with drop B can start by learning the main riff. It’s a great way to get comfortable with power chords and riffing in this lower tuning.
Continue Your Drop B Journey with Fender Play
Don’t stop experimenting with the heavy sounds you can create in drop B tuning! The more you practice and explore, the more you’ll unlock the potential of this powerful tuning. By mastering drop B, along with other alternate tunings, you’ll become a more versatile and well-rounded guitarist, capable of tackling a wider range of musical styles and tones. Expand your guitar skills and explore more tunings and techniques with a free trial of Fender Play and take your playing to the next level.
