- B♭ tuning
B♭ tuning is a method of guitar tuning in which all the strings on a six-string
guitar are moved down by 3 steps. For example,1 step = E → D, 2 steps = D → C,3 steps = C → B♭,
Tuning all the strings would result in:
E → B♭,A → E♭,D → A♭,G → D♭, B → F,e' → b'♭,
However, on seven-string guitars, a low B string is added over the standard six string arrangement. Therefore, to achieve B standard on this type of guitar, the strings must only be moved by a half-step (or a semitone):
B → B♭,E → E♭,A → A♭,D → D♭,G → G♭,b' → b'♭,e' → e'♭,
One example of this tuning is
progressive metal bandNevermore who uses this tuning to achieve a slightly heavier sound then the standard tuned seven string. Another example is the song Panic Attack, fromDream Theater in their album Octavarium.*The lowercase letters followed by an apostrophe are two octaves above their upper case counterparts.
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