Drought

Required String Notes:B - E - A - D - F# - B

How to Tune from Standard to B Standard / Baritone

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 6 of 6 strings to play “Drought”:

String	Standard	Target	What to do
String 6	E2	B1	Tune down 5 semitones
String 5	A2	E2	Tune down 5 semitones
String 4	D3	A2	Tune down 5 semitones
String 3	G3	D3	Tune down 5 semitones
String 2	B3	F#3	Tune down 5 semitones
String 1	E4	B3	Tune down 5 semitones

Recommended string gauge: .013–.072. The bass strings drop very far below standard; a baritone-weight set stops them from flopping and buzzing.Ernie Ball Baritone Slinky (.013–.072) · affiliate link

Song Overview & Tuning Breakdown

"Drought" by Pelican is played in B Standard / Baritone (B - E - A - D - F# - B). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 6 of 6 strings: string 6 down to B, string 5 down to E, string 4 down to A, string 3 down to D, string 2 down to F#, string 1 down to B. Overall string tension drops, with the biggest change being 5 semitones down. Pelican uses this same tuning on 5 other songs in our catalog, so you can stay tuned and keep playing.

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Tunings Close to B Standard / Baritone

Already tuned to B - E - A - D - F# - B? These tunings are just one small change away.

C# Standard Tuning52 songs

C# - F# - B - E - G# - C#Same chord shapes, every string a whole step higher.

C Standard Tuning49 songs

C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CSame chord shapes, every string a half step higher.

Bb Standard Tuning24 songs

Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - F - BbSame chord shapes, every string a half step lower.

Drop A Tuning8 songs

A - E - A - D - F# - BOnly string 6 differs: A instead of B.

Pelican’s Guitar Tunings

Pelican plays 6 of 6 songs in our catalog in B Standard / Baritone. Most-used tunings:

B Standard / BaritoneB - E - A - D - F# - B6 songs

Gear for B Standard / Baritone

Strings and tools that make playing "Drought" in B Standard / Baritone easier.

Ernie Ball Baritone Slinky (.013–.072)

Recommended gauge .013–.072. The bass strings drop very far below standard; a baritone-weight set stops them from flopping and buzzing.

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D'Addario Universal Micro Headstock Tuner

A headstock tuner makes switching in and out of this tuning quick, even on stage or without a mic.

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D'Addario Pro-Winder (winder + cutter)

Retuning 6 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

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“Drought” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Drought" by Pelican in?

"Drought" is played in B Standard / Baritone: B - E - A - D - F# - B, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Drought"?

Start from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). String 6: tune down 5 semitones (E2 → B1). String 5: tune down 5 semitones (A2 → E2). String 4: tune down 5 semitones (D3 → A2). String 3: tune down 5 semitones (G3 → D3). String 2: tune down 5 semitones (B3 → F#3). String 1: tune down 5 semitones (E4 → B3).

What string gauge should I use for B Standard / Baritone?

Use a .013–.072 set. The bass strings drop very far below standard; a baritone-weight set stops them from flopping and buzzing.

Which other Pelican songs use this tuning?

"Aurora Borealis", "Lost in the Headlights", "Mammoth", "Spaceship Broken-Parts Needed", "Specks of Light" — all in B - E - A - D - F# - B, so you can play them without retuning.