Guitar tuning
B Standard Tuning
B standard is a common baritone tuning that gives a six-string guitar a range similar to a standard seven-string without the high E.
- Notes low to high
- B, E, A, D, F#, B
- Strings
- 6
- Default frets
- 24
- Open pitch range
- B1 to B3
- 24-fret pitch range
- B1 to B5
- Also called
- Baritone Standard, BEADF#B
How this tuning changes the guitar
B standard transposes the complete six-string standard-tuning layout down a perfect fourth. Its string-to-string intervals match standard tuning, so the geometry of familiar shapes is preserved.
Fretboard and chord implications
Standard-tuning fingerings sound five semitones lower: an E shape produces B, and an A shape produces E. The missing high E string from a seven-string layout keeps the instrument focused on the lower register.
B Standard Tuning fretboard notes
B Standard Tuning string notes
| String | Note | Pitch |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | B | B1 |
| 5 | E | E2 |
| 4 | A | A2 |
| 3 | D | D3 |
| 2 | F# | F#3 |
| 1 | B | B3 |
Common uses
- baritone guitar
- heavy music
- doom
- extended low-range riffs
Practice this tuning
- Tune from low to high as B E A D F# B, then play each open string while saying its note name and string number aloud.
- Map B, E, and F sharp on the lowest three strings, then connect those notes to familiar standard-tuning shape roots.
- Write a low-register B riff and answer each phrase with the same chord tones one octave higher on the top three strings.
Open this tuning in the fretboard tool
Start with b standard tuning loaded, then adjust root, scale, fret count, labels, colors, and orientation.
Open in interactive fretboard