How to get Lower Notes on Guitar without Downtuning!

In fact, this works for any instrument. You may have been wondering about it. Is it possible to get lower notes than E on the 6th string without any downtuning, and without any effects pedal?

Quick answer: YES!

Quick theoretical answer: all you have to do is use perfect 4th chords.

Ok, what the heck is a perfect 4th? It's an interval. On the guitar, most of the time that means a bar chord on two strings (except between the 2nd and 3rd string).

The root note of the bar chord is the upper string note. But doing this will generate a frequency ONE OCTAVE below it.

What's the magic behind this witchery? Because two strings are vibrating at the same time, each with its own fundamental frequency (and harmonics), in some combinations, such as a perfect 4th, they will produce undertones. Basically, from time to time (we're talking fractions of milliseconds here), the two strings will vibrate in a synchronized way that will move air at a slower frequency than their own. The undertone's fundamental frequency is in fact the greatest common divisor of the two strings' fundamental frequency.

This effect can be accentuated on a guitar with the help of distortion. Distortion does two things: compresses the signal, and amplifies overtones and undertones.

Another example of a bass rumble:

Definitely needs some amplification to be heard.

If you listen closely, besides the individual tones of those higher strings, their vibration generates a bass rumble. Something way lower than you can naturally achieve on the neck with only one string. The frequency of that bass rumble changes as you bend the note less or more.

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