E Six Tone Symmetric Guitar Scale — Drop B
Guitar scale in Drop B tuning — fretboard diagram
E Six Tone Symmetric in Drop B — Notes and Intervals
The E Six Tone Symmetric scale is a mathematical abstraction that divides the octave into six equal parts. On Guitar, its notes are E, F, G#, A, C, C#. It lacks a tonic or a home note, making it perfect for modern composers who want to avoid traditional keys and explore total tonal suspension. Commonly used in Contemporary Classical, Experimental, Avant-Garde. Notable players include Bela Bartok, Olivier Messiaen. Use for atonal or polytonal composition. Not chord-specific — this is a tool for breaking free of traditional harmony.
Notes: E, F, G#, A, C, C#
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3M, 4P, 5A, 6M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 #5 6
Formula: H-WH-H-WH-H-WH
Number of notes: 6
Tuning: Drop B (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#)
About Drop B Tuning
Drop B tuning (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#) takes the guitar into territory traditionally reserved for 7-string instruments, delivering a subsonic heaviness that you can feel in your chest. This tuning has become essential in modern extreme metal, deathcore, and djent, where low-end clarity and rhythmic precision are paramount.
Drop B represents the practical limit of what a standard 6-string guitar can handle before tone quality degrades. With the right string gauge (12-60 or heavier) and proper setup, it delivers the crushing lows of a 7-string while keeping the familiar 6-string layout. Bands like Architects, Periphery (on some tracks), and Parkway Drive have used Drop B to create some of the heaviest riffs in modern metal.
Notable artists: Architects, Parkway Drive, Whitechapel, Born of Osiris, Emmure
Best for: Extreme metal riffs, deathcore breakdowns, djent chugs, and any style demanding the lowest possible 6-string tuning
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- E Six Tone Symmetric in Standard Tuning
- E Six Tone Symmetric in Drop D
- E Six Tone Symmetric in DADGAD
- E Six Tone Symmetric in Open G
- E Six Tone Symmetric in Baritone (B Standard)
- E Six Tone Symmetric in 7-string
- E Six Tone Symmetric in 8-string
- E Six Tone Symmetric in Drop C
- E Six Tone Symmetric in Open D
- E Six Tone Symmetric in Half Step Down
- E Six Tone Symmetric in Open E
- E Six Tone Symmetric in Open A
- E Six Tone Symmetric in Double Drop D
- E Six Tone Symmetric in Open C