B String

[junkyardearl]

I feel a tad odd asking this, but why is the B string on a guitar tuned to B and not C? I'm sure there must be some great reason for this, but I sure as hell don't know it. Please don't hurt me.
~james

 

[effedupstrat]

Earl,
Its really quite simple. Long ago, in the land of seated rock bands, a man called Robert Fripp decided that he was so smart that he would just invent the best, most efficient way of guitar tuning. He showed it to all the other guitarists and because nobody likes a highbrow know-it-all, they all decided on EADGBE just to spite his uptight little ass.

Seriously, I believe the reason the guitar is tuned in this way is to facilitate the greatest number of chords and voicings with the least amount of finger-gymnastics.

oh, yeah, and to screw up that little 5th fret 7th fret harmonic thingie that everyone does that doesn't really tune it up properly anyway.

peace.

 

[effedupstrat]

This Fripp story is of course in jest, as I really like Bobby F(as his tight buds call him)'s playing.

He's crafty...He's so crafty!

peace.

 

[virtual.ray]

The main reason is to allow maximum use of all strings when chording.Think about it;if the b string was tuned to C,then the E string would become an F,so when you would make an E chord with your fingers,you'd get E,B,E,G#,C,F.Yuk!

 

[junkyardearl]

Ah, I never thought about having the lowest and highest strings match. That's a damn good reason.

 

[effedupstrat]

Earl,
Try making ALL the strings match. Then put the guitar on a table, turn your amp up real loud...no, louder than that...can you hear that AM radio station?...good. Now attack that puppy with a screwdriver and some #2 pencils, a vibrating love toy and a live chicken. Okay, now record it all and sing some pretentious nonsense over it.
Call it whatever you feel like. I'd still rather listen to it for 24 hours without respite than to have to bear one minute of BackSync Britneys. Ahh, the sweet sound of an errant dentist's drill.

peace.