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B Standard / Baritone Guitar Tuner

B Standard / Baritone
±0
B
Target: 61.7 Hz
-50WAITING+50
Waiting for sound
B62
E82
A110
D147
F#185
B247

How to Tune to B Standard / Baritone

The standard tuning for a baritone guitar, or an extremely low tuning on a regular 6-string. B Standard is identical to the lowest six strings of a 7-string guitar in standard tuning, making it a popular bridge between 6-string and 7-string territory. Used extensively in death metal, metalcore, and progressive metal.

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 6 of 6 strings:

StringStandardTargetWhat to do
String 6E2B1Tune down 5 semitones
String 5A2E2Tune down 5 semitones
String 4D3A2Tune down 5 semitones
String 3G3D3Tune down 5 semitones
String 2B3F#3Tune down 5 semitones
String 1E4B3Tune down 5 semitones
Printable B Standard / Baritone chart (PNG / PDF)
Fun Fact

B Standard is mathematically identical to tuning a standard guitar down 5 semitones — nearly a perfect fourth lower. This means that if you play along with a recording in B Standard but your guitar is in standard tuning, you can capo at the 5th fret to match the pitch (though the voicings will differ).

String Tension & Setup Tips

Recommended Gauge:.013-.062 (Baritone string sets) are essential. Regular guitar strings cannot maintain adequate tension at these pitches. D'Addario EXL157 and Ernie Ball Baritone Slinky are purpose-built for this tuning.

Gear for B Standard / Baritone

Tools that make tuning to B - E - A - D - F# - B easier.

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.

View tuner

D'Addario Pro-Winder (winder + cutter)

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

View winder

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B Standard / BaritoneIntermediate
B - E - A - D - F# - BNo Capo
Song Details
B Standard / BaritoneIntermediate
B - E - A - D - F# - BNo Capo
Song Details
7-String Standard BIntermediate
B - E - A - D - G - B - ENo Capo
Song Details
B Standard / BaritoneIntermediate
B - E - A - D - F# - BNo Capo
Song Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this 7-string tuning?
Yes and no. B Standard (B-E-A-D-F#-B) uses the exact same pitches as the lowest six strings of a 7-string guitar in standard tuning (B-E-A-D-G-B-E). The difference is you're missing the high E string. If you're considering a 7-string, practicing in B Standard on a 6-string is great preparation.
How to tune a guitar to B Standard?
Lower every string by 5 semitones: E→B, A→E, D→A, G→D, B→F#, E→B. This is a dramatic drop that absolutely requires heavy strings (.013-.062 minimum) and a proper guitar setup. Many players use a dedicated guitar for B Standard rather than constantly retuning.
What tuning does Carcass use on Heartwork?
Carcass used B Standard tuning on "Heartwork" (1993), which became one of the most influential melodic death metal albums ever. The low tuning provided the crushing heaviness while still allowing the melodic guitar harmonies that defined the album's groundbreaking sound.
What are the exact frequencies for B Standard?
B1 = 61.74 Hz, E2 = 82.41 Hz, A2 = 110.00 Hz, D3 = 146.83 Hz, F#3 = 185.00 Hz, B3 = 246.94 Hz. Note that the low B at 61.74 Hz is approaching the lower limits of what standard guitar pickups can reproduce cleanly.