Baritone (B to B) tuning

A fourth below standard tuning, with the same interval layout as standard. The instrument normally has a scale length of 27 inches or more, and strings of 13–16 gauge for the lower positions, so that the tension at pitch stays playable.

1st B
2nd F#
3rd D
4th A
5th E
6th B

Notes, highest to lowest: B E A D F# B
Notes, lowest to highest: B F# D A E B
Strings: 6
Interval pattern: 6th to 5th: 5 semitones; 5th to 4th: 5 semitones; 4th to 3rd: 5 semitones; 3rd to 2nd: 4 semitones; 2nd to 1st: 5 semitones
Family: extended
Typical scale length: 27–30 in
Open strings contain: B7sus4, Bm7, D6, Dadd9, E7sus4, Asus2, Asus4, Bm, Bsus4, D
Written use: Its own instrument rather than a retuned guitar: the shapes are standard, but everything sounds a fourth lower.
Key of this tuning: B

Strings

Each string of this tuning, with its scientific pitch, its MIDI note number (middle C is 60) and its distance above the lowest string.

String	Note	Octave	MIDI	Semitones above the lowest	Interval
1st (highest)	B	3	59	24	Perfect unison plus two octaves above the lowest string
2nd	F#	3	54	19	Perfect twelfth above the lowest string
3rd	D	3	50	15	Augmented ninth above the lowest string
4th	A	2	45	10	Minor seventh above the lowest string
5th	E	2	40	5	Perfect fourth above the lowest string
6th (lowest)	B	1	35	0	the reference string

Common chord shapes

The shapes below were found by searching this tuning's fretboard. The search prefers the lowest playable position, requires every chord tone, spans no more than four frets and allows no muted string between two sounding ones. Shapes in an altered tuning are not the standard ones: they are the shapes this tuning actually produces.

Chord	Shape (lowest string first)	Notes	Degrees	Span	Sounding	Quality
B	0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)	B F# B D# F# B	1 5 1 3 5 1	2	6	Major
E	0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)	B E B E G# B	5 1 5 1 3 5	2	6	Major
A	2-0-0-2-x-x (6→1)	C# E A E x x	3 5 1 5 x x	2	4	Major
F#	2-2-1-4-0-2 (6→1)	C# F# A# F# F# C#	5 1 3 1 1 5	4	6	Major
G#m	x-x-2-1-2-0 (6→1)	x x B D# G# B	x x b3 5 1 b3	2	4	Minor
B7	x-x-0-1-0-0 (6→1)	x x A D# F# B	x x b7 3 5 1	1	4	Dominant seventh

Chord

Shape (lowest string first)

Notes

Degrees

Span

Sounding

Quality

0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)

B F# B D# F# B

1 5 1 3 5 1

Major

0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)

B E B E G# B

5 1 5 1 3 5

Major

2-0-0-2-x-x (6→1)

C# E A E x x

3 5 1 5 x x

Major

2-2-1-4-0-2 (6→1)

C# F# A# F# F# C#

5 1 3 1 1 5

Major

G#m

x-x-2-1-2-0 (6→1)

x x B D# G# B

x x b3 5 1 b3

Minor

x-x-0-1-0-0 (6→1)

x x A D# F# B

x x b7 3 5 1

Dominant seventh

Diatonic chords in B

The seven triads built on the major scale of this tuning's home key, each as a playable shape in this tuning.

Numeral	Chord	Notes	Shape (lowest string first)	Sounding	Quality
I	B	B D# F#	0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)	6	Major
ii	C#m	C# E G#	2-0-4-2-2-2 (6→1)	6	Minor
iii	D#m	D# F# A#	x-2-1-1-0-x (6→1)	4	Minor
IV	E	E G# B	0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)	6	Major
V	F#	F# A# C#	2-2-1-4-0-2 (6→1)	6	Major
vi	G#m	G# B D#	x-x-2-1-2-0 (6→1)	4	Minor
vii°	A#dim	A# C# E	2-0-1-2-x-x (6→1)	4	Diminished

Numeral

Chord

Notes

Shape (lowest string first)

Sounding

Quality

B D# F#

0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)

Major

C#m

C# E G#

2-0-4-2-2-2 (6→1)

Minor

iii

D#m

D# F# A#

x-2-1-1-0-x (6→1)

Minor

E G# B

0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)

Major

F# A# C#

2-2-1-4-0-2 (6→1)

Major

G#m

G# B D#

x-x-2-1-2-0 (6→1)

Minor

vii°

A#dim

A# C# E

2-0-1-2-x-x (6→1)

Diminished

What this tuning is used for

Its own instrument rather than a retuned guitar: the shapes are standard, but everything sounds a fourth lower.

GenreCountry and westernUsed for the low doubled parts in the Nashville tradition.
GenreMetalUsed as a low-register rhythm instrument with standard shapes.
GenreAmbient and post-rockUsed where a fourth below standard is wanted without changing fingerings.

Related tunings

TuningStandardthe same shapes a fourth higher
TuningDrop Aa low tuning on a long-scale six-string
TuningSeven-string standardalso rooted on a low B

Everything in B · All tunings

TuningStandard tuning — E A D G B EE A D G B E · 6 strings
TuningDrop A tuning — A E A D F# BA E A D F# B · 6 strings
TuningSeven-string standard tuning — B E A D G B EB E A D G B E · 7 strings
ChordB11 — Dominant eleventh1 9 3 11 5 b7 · B C# D# E F# A
ChordB13 — Dominant thirteenth1 9 3 5 13 b7 · B C# D# F# G# A
ChordB9 — Dominant ninth1 9 3 5 b7 · B C# D# F# A
TuningDADGAD with a low B tuning — B G D G A DB G D G A D · 6 strings
TuningDrop B tuning — B F# B E G# C#B F# B E G# C# · 6 strings

Everything in this key: B · Tunings · Theory Atlas