

It doesn’t matter if all of the guitar’s tuning heads are on the same side or split over two sides of the headstock ( learn the names of guitar parts in this guide). Standard Tuning tunes the six strings on a guitar (from thickest to thinnest) to the pitches: E A D G B E.Īs you can see in the above diagrams, both acoustic or electric guitars can be tuned to standard tuning. The most common tuning you will use on an acoustic or electric guitar is called Standard Tuning. The idea behind tuning your guitar is to tune each string to a specific pitch so when you play chords or riffs, they will sound correct.īefore you read through the different tuning methods, it’s a good idea to understand the basics of guitar tunings. While there are different ways you can tune an electric or acoustic guitar, they all lead to the same goal.
#Free electric guitar tuner online how to
Learn more with a free trial of Fender Play.9.7 Related Guides and Lessons: How to Tune a Guitar Basics The more you practice, the better your playing will be! By practicing drop B tuning, as well as other alternate tunings, you’ll become a well-rounded guitarist capable of a wide range of play styles, tones and genres. Keep experimenting with the sounds you can make with this heavy-sounding tuning. While the song features a blistering, and rather difficult guitar solo, beginner guitarists just experimenting with drop B tuning can start by focusing on the main riff of the song. Next, try “Whispers in the Dark” by Skillet. Listen for drop B tuning on both the first and second guitar parts to gain an even better understanding of how drop B alternate tuning pulls this song together. “Duality” by Slipknot relies on the open sixth string for its driving, hard sound. Here are a couple of songs you can learn to start playing in drop B. There’s no shortage of great, heavy songs that use drop B tuning. In drop B, you can play a power chord by barring one finger across the three lowest strings on your guitar, like this: Songs That Use Drop B Tuning To play a power chord in standard tuning, you’ll typically use two or three fingers on your fretboard. Drop B also makes playing power chords super easy. This low range can also come in handy if you’re accompanying a singer with a low range. You can also drone on the low B string for a heavy, sludgy effect.

Tuning your guitar down to drop B lowers your guitar’s range by two-and-a-half steps, giving your instrument a heavier, darker sound. All other strings get tuned down one-and-a-half steps.īe the first to know about new products, featured content, exclusive offers and giveaways. In drop B tuning, your lowest string will be tuned down two-and-a-half steps to B. You can still use light strings and can avoid buzzing in your tone by strumming your guitar lightly.Īs a refresher, here are the notes in standard tuning, starting with the lowest string: However, you don’t have to spend a dime to get a good sound from this tuning. If you’re serious about this tuning, you might want to invest in heavier strings or getting your guitar set up in drop B by a luthier. The first time you try this tuning, you might hear some buzzing because your strings will be looser than usual.

In this version, you will tune down all six strings. In one version, you only lower your sixth string, leaving the rest of your strings in standard tuning.įor this lesson, we’ll be focused on the other, more common version of drop B. What is Drop B Tuning?ĭrop B tuning requires you to tune down or “drop” your low E string two-and-a-half steps to B. Drop B tuning is fairly easy to master, and it gives you the ability to play power chords with one finger while opening up a new lower range on the guitar. You don’t have to have his level of expertise on guitar to get a powerful sound out of this tuning, however. In fact, the guitarist who first brought drop B tuning to the attention of listeners is Victor Griffin of doom metal group, Pentagram. You’ll find drop B tuning in heavy metal and other hard rock genres of music. Grab your guitar and let’s get to it! Lesson: How to Drop B Tune a Guitar In this lesson, we’ll show you how to tune to drop B and give you some songs to practice in this new tuning.

Like the popular drop D tuning, drop B requires you to tune down, giving your guitar a darker and heavier sound. Playing in drop B tuning on your guitar is a great way to dramatically lower the range of your instrument.
