In this article on the site we will talk about alternative guitar tunings.

Unusual setting guitars are a type of tuning that differs from the classical and generally accepted fourth tuning.

It is important to understand that we are talking here about open strings, that is, notes will be extracted from open strings without pressing.

Classic six tuning string guitar in notes it looks like this (from the first string to the sixth): E (mi), H (si), G (sol), D (re), A (la), E (mi).

This tuning is used by guitarists 95% of the time and is considered the default tuning.

For example, if you see a chord grid with the indicated finger placement, it means that this classical tuning is implied, and you only need to use it.

On the other hand, there are a lot musical groups, who take advantage of their individual customization of tools. Often, such an alternative tuning differs little from the generally accepted one, and the changes affect only individual strings.

For example, the sixth bass string in heavy musical styles often drops a tone lower - from MI - to RE, adding an additional seventh string SI (the thickest).

Similar techniques of alternative tuning are used on the bass guitar, especially the five-string, where instead of the classical MI there is a SI or even a SI-flat in the bass.

If you look at the tabs of the same Korn, Sepultura or Cannibal Corpse, you will definitely notice the use of alternative guitar tuning.

However, custom guitar tuning is not limited to just one string. The same metal bands, in order to give the music more heaviness and darkness, rebuild the entire guitar.

For example, the classical guitar tuning often shifts entirely down a semitone or tone, moving from the general tuning of fourths MI to the general tuning of RE.

All this is implemented simply: all the strings of the guitar are lowered at the same interval lower, which achieves a special lowered sound.

On the other hand, alternative guitar tunings are often used in other styles.

In jazz, in blues, in grunge and even in rock.

For example, when playing with a slider (a special tip placed on the guitarist’s finger), it is very convenient to line up the guitar in fifths, so that when the fret is pressed, a whole chord can be heard without dissonant notes. Similar practices are found in other styles of music.

Unusual guitar tuning, alternative tuning

In order not to bore the reader with long stories, we present several options for an alternative structure for six string guitar. You can use these settings variations at your own discretion.

For example, to diversify your playing, to find new musical ideas, to change the monotonous classical sound of an instrument...

Alternative tuning of a guitar is usually implemented so that all of the instrument's open strings produce a specific minor or major chord.

When playing in this tuning, you can simply press entire frets of the guitar and get new chords.

For example, by tuning a guitar in D major and plucking all the strings at the fifth fret, you will get a pure G major, and at the seventh fret you will get an A major.

Note: The examples below indicate an alternative order of notes from the SIXTH string to the FIRST string (the sixth is the far left and the first is the far right).

To execute correct setting you will have to either tighten or loosen individual strings, go beyond the generally accepted tuning.

1. Alternative guitar tuning in D major (D):

2. Unusual guitar tuning in G major (G):

3. Tuning a six-string guitar in the key of C major (C):

4. Alternative tuning E major (E):

5. Non-standard system G minor (Gm):

6. Alternative guitar tuning in D minor (Dm):

7. Unusual tuning of a six-string guitar in the key of A minor (Am):

And a few more completely unusual configuration options:

8. SOL fret tuning (G):

9. Alternative tuning in PE fret (D):

10. Guitar stand in A major (A major):

11. Tuning a guitar with sol bass:

12. Unusual tuning of an instrument with bass BEFORE:

13. Bass retuned to PE (D):

14. Guitar tuning with a lowered first string:

Note: "B" is the symbol for B-flat, and simply B is written as "H". Moreover, in the pictures for this article, “B” indicates the note SI.

This confusion is associated with the notation of the SI note in various options musical notation, but don't let that scare you. In the article, the pure note SI is designated exclusively as “H”.

As you can see, there are different approaches to rebuilding a six-string instrument. In some cases, all notes are changed, and in some situations, only some strings are twisted (not all).

For example, changes are often made to the bass strings, and you may see this option especially often. The most problematic type of guitar tuning is adding strings.

To implement such a tuning, you will either need to use a seven-string instrument, or shift all the strings, adding a thick B string in the bass.

In general, such alternative settings you could come up with your own by experimenting with different guitar tunings.

Do not think that all possible options are limited to only the 14 examples described above. In fact, there are many, many more alternative configuration methods!

There are a lot of bands in the world that play in a variety of tunings. It seems that one can get confused in such diversity. But if you look closely, it turns out that almost all tunings belong to one of several common types, which I will now describe.

In the pictures below I have depicted the “formulas” of these types. It’s not very visual, but it’s beautiful and New Year’s-like. The numbers indicate the interval between adjacent strings. For example, in standard system the second string is 5 semitones lower than the first, the third is 4 semitones lower than the second, and so on.

This sequence is familiar to anyone who has tuned a guitar “by itself”:

Any tuning with the same sequence of intervals (5-5-5-4-5, if you count from bottom to top) is also a standard tuning, only lowered (or higher). The same chord and scale fingerings will work in it. Any part written in E standard can be played in D standard tuning, it will simply sound a tone lower. The very essence of the tuning - the intervals between adjacent strings - remains the same.

From a "just play" point of view EADGBE- this is the same as DGCFAD. I want to play something from Death, and a guitar in standard tuning is not a problem, we look for taboos and play. It will just sound a tone higher. Because the TYPE of structure is the same. Other options:
- raise the original by a tone in the audio editor and play along with it.
- lower the guitar with a pitch shifter in real time and play to the unaltered original.
- record the minus in standard tuning and play along with it.

And if the intervals are different, then we are talking about a different TYPE of structure. If you want to play something from Killswitch Engage, you need to understand what type of system it is. And it turns out that they CGCFAD- this is the same as DADGBE, but a tone lower. So all you have to do is switch to good old DropD.

The easiest way to determine the type of tuning is to read this post, and then enter the tuning in guitarpro and raise and lower the whole thing until something familiar or as close as possible to the standard appears:

I have provided examples for each type of structure. If I write only the name of the group, it means that this structure is the main one for it. It's the same with albums. If a song is listed, the band made one or more songs in that tuning, but used others more often.

Then I indicate the pros and cons of the tuning and which version is closest to the standard tuning (“for testing”). If “for trial” is not indicated, it means that the tuning requires a custom set of strings in any of its variants.

Standard tuning

Standard tuning is a tuning in which all intervals between the strings are 5 semitones, and only between the 2nd and 3rd strings there are 4 semitones. The most standard version (which is simply called the standard tuning) is the one that begins and ends with E - EADGBE. All other options are named by open note, which is obtained on the first or sixth string: for example, D standard.

E standard	EADGBE	The vast majority of all groups in the world. True, it is not so easy to find a large/famous group that would play ONLY in Mi standard. All the heroes of rock are the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and so on, at least sometimes they turned to other systems. Even AC/DC has several songs in Eb standard. Perhaps the only classic of rock that can be cited is Queen, and even then I’m not entirely sure ( update: Queen also disappears: they have Headlong in DropD). It’s even more difficult with metalheads. All major bands either originally played in lowered tunings, or switched to them over time. Well, again, Burzum and Darkthrone probably have everything in standard order.
Eb standard	EbAbDbGbBbEb	Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Guns"n"Roses
D standard	DGCFAD	Death, Children Of Bodom, Nightwish, Gojira, Ghost, Nirvana in "Lithium", Metallica in "Sad But True"
C# standard	C#BEG#	Black Sabbath on the album "Master Of Reality", My Dying Bride, Limp Bizkit Dying Fetus
C standard	CFBbEbGC	Dethklok, High on Fire, In Flames, Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss
B standard	BEADF	Amon Amarth, Crowbar, Soilwork, Carcass, Type O Negative, Sepultura in "Roots"
Bb standard	BbEbAbDbFBb	Cannibal Corpse in "Blowtorch Slaughter"
A standard	ADGCEA	KYPCK

Some groups (Placebo, Vektor), on the contrary, raise the standard scale by a semitone. Johnny Marr of the Smiths used a tuning a step higher than standard on some songs ("This Charming Man").

+ Standard tuning is the ideal compromise between range and ease of playing chords and melodies. Friendly with many keys. This is done especially clearly after you try several alternative tunings: many of them are better than the standard one in one of the parameters, but they are necessarily worse in another or several. The standard has become a standard for a reason - it is the most practical and universal.
– Sometimes you want something different)

Drop tunings

Drop tuning is a standard tuning with the sixth string lowered a tone.
They are named after the open note produced on the sixth string. For example, DropD is DADGBE.

+ Range extension down, power chords with one finger, and their extensions up (like 447454), the first five strings are tuned as in the standard - play solos as much as you want
– Slightly less versatility than standard tuning. The increased “gap” between the 5th and 6th strings somewhat limits play in the lower range.
To try: DropD (DADGBE)

Open formations

They are obtained when all the strings are tuned to the notes of a chord. Usually major or minor. They are called by the name of the chord. There is no clear connection between the name of the system and the system. For example, "open A major" is any tuning where there are open strings A, C# and E (and no others). It could be EEAAC And EAC#AC or even reduced AEAEAC#.

The most common options:

5-7-5-4-3

Open G	DGDGBD	Rolling Stones in "Brown Sugar" and "Start Me Up", Alter Bridge in "Watch Over You"
Open A:	EEAAC	Led Zeppelin in "In My Time of Dying", White Stripes in "Seven Nation Army"
Open F:	CFCFAC	Led Zeppelin in "When the Levee Breaks"

7-5-4-3-5

Open D	DADF#AD	Joni Mitchell in Big Yellow Taxi
Open E	EBEG#BE	Derek Trucks

7-5-7-5-4

>

Open C	CGCGCE	Devin Townsend
Open B	BF#BF #BD #

To try: Open G, Open D, Open C

+ Suitable for playing with a slide
– They are friendly to one or two keys, can be very inconvenient in others, and are not always friendly with scale-like passages.

Modal scales

That's what they call it open formations, based on a chord that is not major or minor. Typically this is a sus2 or sus4 chord.

The most famous of them is the “Celtic tuning” (opened by Dsus4):

Standard option - DADGAD(Led Zeppelin in "Kashmir", Staind in "Epiphany"). Lowered versions of this tuning were used by Mark Tremonti in Creed and Alter Bridge, Russian Circles and Sevendust.

Drone formations

Tunings where all or almost all the strings are tuned to the same note (not necessarily the same octave).

DDDDD- The Velvet Underground in "Venus In Furs"
BDDDDD- Goo Goo Dolls in "Iris"

+ Very different
– Very specific

"Seven-string without a sixth"

This is a standard tuning in which the sixth string is lowered not by a tone, as in drop tunings, but by 5 semitones. It turns out like a seven-string with a missing sixth string. And the fingering, which usually gives a fifth on the 5th and 6th strings, now gives an octave.

+ Fingerings can be moved anywhere on the fingerboard without having to adjust them. Complete symmetry.
– You'll have to forget about open chords and barre chords.
To try: EADGCF or D #BE (if you don’t want to tune the first and second strings higher)

Fifth scale (all Fifths)

Each next string is a fifth (7 semitones) higher than the previous one.

One of the main versions is CGDAEB. The lower C then turns out not too low for acoustics, but the upper B turns out to be very high - a fifth higher than the standard upper E. On a guitar with a standard scale and ordinary strings, this B is unattainable: the string will simply break before reaching it.
This guy from YouTube carefully used a very thin string to get the upper B.
A this put it on classical guitar instead of the first string, fishing line with a cross-section of 0.5 mm, combined with five nylon strings from the usual set.

The other extreme is to start with the standard high E and work fifths down from there. It will work out FCGDAE, the first string is as in standard tuning, and the sixth is almost an octave lower than the sixth in standard tuning. This is too low to produce clean notes on a standard scale guitar with this string. You will need a baritone or multi-scale guitar.

+ Complete symmetry, as in the fourth tuning. Huge range (almost an octave wider than standard tuning).
– You need a custom set of strings and a willingness to make compromises (or order an instrument with a multi-scale). You'll have to forget about small intervals and chords in which the notes are close to each other. Playing scales and melodies will require increased stretching.

By the way, a mandolin is tuned to fifth tuning ( GDAE), and that's it bowed instruments, except double bass: for example, violin in GDAE, and the cello in СGDA. In addition, there are four-string tenor guitars which have 4 strings and are tuned in fifth tuning CGDA.

"New Standard Tuning"

A tuning invented by Robert Fripp to solve the problem of the fifth tuning. He replaced the top fifth with a minor third, and it turned out CGDAEG. Upper Sol is also high, but already achievable. Can be used standard strings 9 or 10 gauge. But it’s better to assemble a custom kit.

"Nashville tuning"

-8 in the formula means that the 2nd string is tuned not higher than the third, but 8 semitones LOWER. “Nashville tuning” usually works out like this: we take a set of strings for a 12-string and put only the “thin” half of it on the 6-string, tuning it in the same way as on a 12-string. Now the first and second strings are tuned the same as in standard tuning, and all the others are tuned an octave higher. The result is a “ringing” tuning with a reduced range, in which some notes in the chords will be duplicated. This tuning is suitable for overdubs and any additional parts. For example, you can record the same chord part on a 6-string in standard tuning and the same chord in Nashville tuning. In essence, it turned out to be a 12-string, but the only difference is that this is not one performance, but two slightly different ones, which will give more volume, besides, these are two separate tracks and can be panned in different directions.

Double-drop tunings

They are obtained when in standard tuning they lower not only the sixth, but also the first string by a tone.

Double Drop D	DADGBD	Neil Young on "Cortez The Killer", Led Zeppelin on "Going To California"
Double Drop B	BF#BEG	Isis

To try: DADGBD. It's funny that this system is “one step away” from each of the three above - DropD (DADGBE), Open G (DGDGBD) and DADGAD.

Now about the seven-string guitar.

The standard seven-string tuning is a six-string E standard plus a 7th string in B.

Seven string B standard	BEADGBE	Dream Theater in "Caught In A Web", Steve Vai in "Riddle", Joe Satriani in "Mind Storm", Fallujah
Seven string Bb standard	BbEbAbDbGbBbEb	Morbid Angel, early Meshuggah, Nevermore
Seven string A standard	ADGCFAD	Fear Factory, Korn
Seven string Ab standard	AbDbGbBEAbDb	Deftones on "Hexagram"

Seven-string Drop tuning is a seven-string standard in which the seventh string is lowered a tone.

Seven-string DropA	AEADGBE	Suicide Silence, Whitechapel, later Scar Symmetry. Jazz guitarist George Van Eps, who played a seven-string electric guitar back in the 60s, also used this tuning.
Seven-string DropAb	AbEbAbDbGbBbEb	Periphery on seven-string songs
Seven-string DropG	GDGCFAD	Vildhjarta, Emmure
Seven-string DropF#	F#BEG#	Rivers Of Nihil, Deftones on Saturday Night Wrist album
Seven-string DropD	DADGCEA	Black Tongue

Some people take the six-string drop tuning and add a seventh string from the bottom. It can be a third lower:

Six-string DropD + low B	BDADGBE	Animals As Leaders in "Cafo"
Six-string Drop C# + low A#	A

Details Author: JetNet Views: 1003 09/04/2017 19:57 Category: Where to start???

In this article I want to clarify a little guitar tunings. What are they, why were they formed this way, and how to generally tune your guitar. Firstly, a little educational information. The order is indicated by letters. The letters are the notes that produce the open strings from the sixth (thickest) to the first (thinnest). Let's start with, so to speak, the standard - this standard guitar tuning.

Standard tuning E A D G B E (E)

In this tuning, the guitar is tuned in fourths, i.e. the interval between each string is a fourth. Read what it is. The exception is the second and third strings, the interval between which is a major third. They say in the jargon that the guitar is tuned in "E", i.e. these are the notes on the first and sixth strings. By tuning your guitar in this tuning, you can easily play regular full chords, major and minor. And in general, it seems to me that 90% of all songs can be played in it.

Low tuning Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb (E flat)

If all the strings are tuned to standard tuning and each one is lowered by a semitone, then we get low pitch E flat. The spacing between the strings is the same as in standard E tuning. What is this system used for? Mainly to make it easier for the vocalist to sing or for a lower and heavier sound (for example in heavy metal and other rock music).

Low tuning D G C F A D (D)

If in the standard tuning all the strings are lowered even lower - by 2 semitones, then we get the D tuning. Here also the intervals are preserved. Essentially all lower tunings of this type are just standard tunings with a lower tuning. Used again for a heavier and lower sound, for example in heavy metal. The standard can be lowered further and get, for example, C (to). The meaning will be the same.

Dropped D: D A D G B E

Now this is more interesting. Take the E standard and lower the 6th string to whole tone. Now we have 2 D notes on open strings. Fifths on the sixth string are pressed not with 2 fingers, as in the standard one, but with one. This is probably the most popular tuning in alternative metal. Gives a meatier sound and expands the guitar's range. Well, convenience appears when playing fifths (power chords).

Dropped C: C G C F A D

Everything is the same as in the case of Drop D, only we take the lowered tuning of D as a basis and also lower the sixth string an additional tone. The favorite tuning of all metalcore players.

So, by equivalently lowering the strings, you can tune the guitar even higher or lower. That is, in fact, all these tunings above are variations of 2 tunings: standard and drop. They are probably the most popular among guitarists. Using just them, you can play 99% of all the songs in the world with ease. In addition to them, there are also a lot of non-standard tunings, but they are quite rarely used. And in general, you yourself can even come up with your own guitar tuning and figure out how to play it =)

The guitar is one of the most famous and at the same time unpredictable instruments that can touch the most sensual strings of the soul. But the guitar itself also has them.

Few people pay attention to the name of the strings on a guitar, considering it completely unnecessary. But often the performance of any composition depends on the setting. Any dissonance causes associative rejection of the composition as a whole. But in this material the main focus will be on tuning the instrument and its use for beginning musicians.

Guitar string name: classic version

In general, it is considered a classic. However, one can recall quite a lot of examples of great composers who preferred seven strings to six (at least Vysotsky).

However, according to music theory and solfeggio, the names of the strings do not differ at all. Based on the rules established general theory music, the notes by which any instrument is built have their own names and abbreviations in the form of Latin symbols and language interpretations. In our case it is:

• C - to.
• D - re.
• E - mi.
• F - fa.
• G - salt.
• A - la.
• H - B (B - B-flat is indicated separately).

(sharps, flats, bekars or their double versions) are applied accordingly. But there are only 6 strings.

The string on the guitar at the top of the neck has the same sound as the first string at the bottom three octaves apart. Therefore, both the first and sixth are, as it were, dominant, but only in relation to a 6-string instrument (the main tuning is in E minor).

Mi-si-sol-re-la-mi: is the sequence in tuning correct?

Quite often, many beginning guitarists trying to understand the basics of the technique are immediately faced with the problem of tuning, not knowing which string corresponds to which symbol in the designation or sound.

If you go through the search, sequentially from the sixth string to the first, it will look like “e-la-re-sol-si-mi”. And the above sequence is reverse.

Such a sequence is not suitable for a flat sequence, since it should look like “si-mi-la-re-sol-do-fa”. However, we digress from the topic.

Fundamental tone and tuning

The name of the strings, as is already clear, is standard for any instrument. As for the (6-string) this is done quite simply.

There are several ways in which unison is suitable for a beginning musician. open string lower on the neck, with the one clamped at the fifth fret above. All strings, except the third, are built according to this rule. You can use the harmonic effect on different frets (the strings vibrate among themselves) or turn on a distortion effect, which will add drive and increase vibration. That is, the strings will have to be retuned until the sound matches completely. Professional electric guitars have a special micro-tuning device on the soundboard for this purpose).

Basic chords for beginners

For many beginning guitarists, the note “A” is usually associated with the chord, which is the second simplest chord in guitar technique.

It consists of only three fingers: two on the second fret (fourth and third string) and one on the second string on the first fret. The note "A" in in this case acts as a tonic.

But the simplest chord is still the E minor chord. There are only two strings - the fifth and fourth on the second fret. A major chord played from “E” involves holding the third string on the second fret, and a major chord with the tonic “A” is even simpler - three fingers on the second fret (second, third and fourth string).

Barre technique

Although the name of the strings on a guitar no longer causes misunderstanding, it is especially worth noting a technique called barre (clamping index finger all right).

Any standard chord can be built using this technique. In fact, the same simple applications indicated above can be applied to this case, but only the nut near the tuning mechanism on the headstock acts as a barre.

Varieties of playing techniques

The name of the strings on a guitar is often emphasized with certain symbols, although it is not directly advertised. For example, in the standard version the third, fifth, seventh and twelfth frets are designated (sometimes the ninth). For many famous guitarists you can find all sorts of signs, including skulls or something else. These guitars are made to order.

And playing any instrument is quite difficult, be it picking, strumming, tapping, sliding, etc. With the advent of “gadgets,” the technique has reached a new level. That alone is worth it... And modern guitarists generally demonstrate such miracles of technology that it simply boggles the mind.

The same Steve Vai, Marty Friedmann or Kirk Hammett are the only ones of our time. And by the way, even though they know classical school, do not always use it in their improvisations. For example, Friedman tends to play in fifths, or nine notes per pass. And everyone's technique is different. But if you set a goal, nothing is impossible. Maybe the modern reader will become a great guitarist in the future, who knows?

Many guitarists wonder which strings will best suit their tuning. When choosing, it is worth remembering that preferences for tension and string diameter are a very individual thing. It is for this reason that you should not take information from of this material as an absolute truth: we will present the most generalized and averaged data, according to which you can choose the optimal thickness of the set to suit your preferences.

For ease of reading the article, we will use whole string thickness designations (for example, 9-42 instead of 0.009-0.042).

Factors influencing the choice of string thickness

• Guitar scale: the longer it is, the tighter the strings will be, all other things being equal. In the table below we will be using the standard 25.5" scale. If you have a guitar with a smaller scale, then you will need to make a slight adjustment and go with a thicker set.
• String tension: The higher their tension, the thicker the strings - accordingly, they have a more powerful and voluminous sound. However, on the other hand, thicker strings have a smaller vibration amplitude, which is why their sound is not as rich in overtones, it is duller and flatter - this is especially audible on thin strings without winding.
• Third string: in most sets this is not wound (plain). In sets with a first string thickness of 12 or more, the third string is usually wrapped. In this case, it is worth considering that the braid increases the tension - you will have to forget about bending by one and a half to two tones, although, on the other hand, in lower tunings the third string of the wound sounds much fuller and richer.
• Today you can buy guitar strings in balanced sets (8-38, 9-42, 10-46, 11-50, 12-54, 13-56, etc.) and unbalanced(9-46, 10-52, 11-52, 12-56/60, etc.)

The former are usually used for standard tuning or tuning lowered across all strings by an equal number of semitones. The second type is ideal for lovers of drop tunings (the 6th string is lowered by a whole tone), as well as for those who use hybrid and open settings guitars.

• The thickest sets of strings (12-60, 13-72, etc.) are best suited for long-scale guitars - baritones. They have a scale length of 26 inches or more, and are used in very low tunings (for example, Standard A and lower).

In principle, such kits can also be used for instruments with a standard scale for deeply lowered tuning, but before purchasing you should consider a couple of nuances:

• You may simply not have enough scale adjustment options at the bridge, since lower tuning requires retuning. In this case, either replacing the bridge or switching to a thinner set will help.
• If you use a thicker set, you will either bore out the string grooves on the nut or simply won't be able to fit the strings into them. When going back to more thin strings, they will hang around in the bored grooves, making it difficult to fine-tune the guitar.

In addition, thick strings may not fit into the peg - it will also have to be bored.

Which strings are suitable for a particular tuning?

Guitar tuning	Matching String Sets
Standard E	8-38 is a specific set that is more suitable for experienced musicians. The very small diameter allows you to make microbends simply by pressing the strings harder against the frets (this is especially effective when using a scalloped neck). From famous musicians Yngwie Malmsteen is a fan of this set 9-42 - suitable for a beginning musician, installed on all production Fender guitars 10-46 is perhaps the most popular caliber for standard tuning: the perfect balance between comfort and tone. 9.5-44 - a compromise set for lovers of dynamic sound and frequent bends 11-50 - a favorite set of musicians performing blues and light rock: allows you to swing the wood of the guitar to full power 12-54 - suitable, for example, for guitars with voids inside the soundboard when playing jazz and blues. High tension
	9-46 - similar to the classic 9-42 set for drop tuning 10-52 - analogue of the 10-46 set for drop tuning 10-50 is not a very popular set, which, according to many musicians, is more balanced for drops and more pleasant to play than 10-52 10-60 - an unbalanced kit for those who play heavy music, this kit is used by Zakk Wylde 11-54 - bright and powerful sound when playing harmonic parts on low strings 11-56 - the most spacious and deep sound, suitable for musicians with strong fingers
Standard D	10-46 - light bends, tension below average. For singing lead parts 11-50 - perfectly balanced tension 12-54 - above average tension: every bluesman's dream 13-56 - strong tension, deep and powerful tone
	10-60 is a good choice for this tuning: 1-3 strings stretch well, low strings sound monolithic and deep 11-52 - minimum thickness for this tuning, tension below average 11-54 - classic set for drop C 11-56 - enhanced sound of low strings, the difference is not always noticeable 12-54 - thicker high strings, more suitable for playing harmonic parts 12-60 - strong tension, a good choice for heavy music with minimum quantity lead party
Standard A	14-68 - medium tension, excellent balance

Helpful tip: If you want to tune your guitar to B Standard or lower, consider buying a baritone or 7-string guitar - you need to understand that not all types of 6-string electric guitars are designed for experimenting with strong detuning.

Let us repeat that these recommendations are conditional and partly subjective. Suffice it to remember the great SRV, which used the 13-56 kit for the Standard Eb build: therefore, the most important thing is your feelings. Try several different sets, experiment - and you will certainly find the optimal set for your music!

Based on materials from an article by Egor Kalgannikov, 12.2013.