B Standard Tuning
Tune every string down two and a half steps to B-E-A-D-F#-B with this free online tuner
What Is B Standard Tuning?
B standard tuning (B-E-A-D-F#-B) lowers every string two and a half steps from standard E tuning — a perfect fourth down. Since all six strings shift uniformly, every chord shape and scale pattern you know carries over unchanged; the whole guitar simply speaks five semitones deeper, matching the low-B range of a 7-string guitar.
This is the bedrock tuning of classic death metal — Carcass's "Heartwork" and At the Gates' "Slaughter of the Soul" both live in B standard — and it remains a favorite anywhere maximum depth matters more than drop-tuning convenience. Heavy gauges (.012–.060 or a baritone set) and a proper setup are essential this far down. If you want a one-finger power chord on the bottom, Drop A is just this tuning with the 6th string lowered one more step.
B Standard Tuning Notes — B E A D F# B
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6th | B1 | 61.74 Hz |
| 5th | E2 | 82.41 Hz |
| 4th | A2 | 110.00 Hz |
| 3rd | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 2nd | F#3 | 185.00 Hz |
| 1st | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
Famous Songs in B Standard Tuning
- HeartworkCarcassThe melodic death metal landmark, in B standard
- Slaughter of the SoulAt the GatesGothenburg melodeath's defining album
- Blinded by FearAt the GatesRazor-sharp B standard riffing
- No Love LostCarcassHeartwork-era precision in B
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is B standard tuning?+−
B standard tuning (B-E-A-D-F#-B) lowers every string two and a half steps (five semitones) from standard E tuning. All six strings move by the same amount, so the intervals — and therefore every chord shape and scale pattern — stay exactly the same, just sounding a fourth lower. It gives a six-string guitar the same range as the lowest six strings of a 7-string guitar.
How do I tune to B standard?+−
Lower each string by five semitones: 6th E2→B1, 5th A2→E2, 4th D3→A2, 3rd G3→D3, 2nd B3→F#3, and 1st E4→B3. Use the tuner above — it is preset to B standard, so each string shows its target as you play. This far down, heavy string gauges (.012–.060 or a baritone set) are essential to keep the low B tight and articulate.
Is B standard the same as a 7-string guitar's tuning?+−
Almost — a standard 7-string is tuned B-E-A-D-G-B-E, which is standard six-string tuning plus a low B. B standard on a six-string gives you that same low B range, but the intervals follow the regular six-string pattern (B-E-A-D-F#-B), so your normal chord shapes work without relearning anything. If you mainly want the low-B chug, B standard is the cheapest way to get there.
What bands use B standard tuning?+−
B standard is a cornerstone of classic death metal and melodic death metal. Carcass's 'Heartwork' and At the Gates' 'Slaughter of the Soul' — two of the most influential extreme metal albums ever — are both in B standard. It also appears across doom, sludge, and modern metal whenever bands want maximum depth while keeping familiar six-string shapes.
What is the difference between B standard and Drop A?+−
Drop A (A-E-A-D-F#-B) is simply B standard with the 6th string dropped one more whole step, from B down to A. That drop turns the bottom power chord into a one-finger shape — the same relationship Drop D has to E standard. Everything from the 5th string up is identical between the two tunings, so switching back and forth only takes retuning one string.