TUNING REFERENCE
Drop B tuning
B · F# · B · E · G# · C#
Drop B is a 6-string guitar tuning with open strings B–F#–B–E–G#–C#.
- Instrument
- 6-String Guitar
- Strings
- 6
- Open notes
- B F# B E G# C#
- With octaves
- B1 F#2 B2 E3 G#3 C#4
FREE FRETBOARD REFERENCE
B Minor on the fretboard
Find each scale tone in a catalog tuning. Filled notes marked R are roots; outlined notes are other tones. Open strings are fret 0.
Choose a scale to see it in Drop B. A scale does not need to contain every open-string note to be played in this tuning.
6-String Guitar · Drop B · Frets 0–12 · All scale tones
Notes-per-string views select the first matching scale tones on each string at or above the starting fret, within a 12-fret window. These are position studies: crossing strings can repeat or skip pitches. They are not guaranteed continuous ascending runs or finger assignments. Four-note layouts can require stretches or position shifts.
| Open string | Frets | Notes with octaves |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · B1 | 0 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12 | B1 · C#2 · D2 · E2 · F#2 · G2 · A2 · B2 |
| 2 · F#2 | 0 · 1 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12 | F#2 · G2 · A2 · B2 · C#3 · D3 · E3 · F#3 |
| 3 · B2 | 0 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12 | B2 · C#3 · D3 · E3 · F#3 · G3 · A3 · B3 |
| 4 · E3 | 0 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 12 | E3 · F#3 · G3 · A3 · B3 · C#4 · D4 · E4 |
| 5 · G#3 | 1 · 3 · 5 · 6 · 8 · 10 · 11 | A3 · B3 · C#4 · D4 · E4 · F#4 · G4 |
| 6 · C#4 | 0 · 1 · 3 · 5 · 6 · 8 · 10 · 12 | C#4 · D4 · E4 · F#4 · G4 · A4 · B4 · C#5 |
Intervals from the first string
Each interval is measured by pitch class from the first physical open string. String order is preserved for re-entrant and doubled-course tunings.
| String | Note | Semitones | Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B1 | 0 | Root |
| 2 | F#2 | 7 | Perfect 5th |
| 3 | B2 | 0 | Root |
| 4 | E3 | 5 | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G#3 | 9 | Major 6th |
| 6 | C#4 | 2 | Major 2nd |
Compare with Standard
Pitch changes in semitones for each physical string, compared with Standard. Negative values lower the pitch; positive values raise it. Check your instrument and string gauges before changing register.
| String | Default pitch | This tuning | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E2 | B1 | -5 semitones |
| 2 | A2 | F#2 | -3 semitones |
| 3 | D3 | B2 | -3 semitones |
| 4 | G3 | E3 | -3 semitones |
| 5 | B3 | G#3 | -3 semitones |
| 6 | E4 | C#4 | -3 semitones |
Explore this string layout
Browse 6-string guitar tunings. Related tunings below prioritize the default tuning, matching interval structures, and nearby open-string pitches.
Chords available in the open strings
Scales containing every open-string pitch class
Related tunings
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