From the gloomy depths of doom metal to the shimmering highs of dream pop, baritone guitars are finding their way into more and more music today. Their distinct voice—a hybrid between the punch of a bass and the articulation of a standard guitar—has proven to be one of the most flexible tools in modern songwriting. In this final chapter, we’ll explore:
- Contemporary artists and bands using baritones
- What tunings they use and why
- A curated list of songs to learn
- Tips for developing your own baritone style
1. Modern Bands Using Baritone Guitars
Baritone guitars aren’t just for niche sounds anymore. Here’s a breakdown by genre, with a look at key artists and how they use the baritone in their arrangements.
Metal & Prog Metal
- Deftones – Chino Moreno often uses baritone tunings for moody, layered textures. Songs like “Tempest” and “Rosemary” use B standard and Drop A tunings.
- Gojira – Uses baritone and extended-range guitars for massive rhythm parts (“Silvera”, “Stranded”).
- Periphery – Combines 7-string and baritone tunings (like Drop A or G#) for ultra-tight djent riffs.
- Sleep – Masters of fuzzed-out stoner doom, often tuning baritones to C standard or lower.
Tuning Tip: For modern metal, start with Drop A or A Standard to retain string tension and clarity with high-gain tones.
Alternative, Indie, and Shoegaze
- Failure – One of the earliest alternative bands to embrace baritone for atmosphere and density (“Fantastic Planet” era).
- Hum – Uses baritones with reverb and fuzz to create their signature wall-of-sound style (“Inlet” album is a masterclass).
- Nothing – Baritone + shoegaze = heaven. Often tune to C Standard or Drop B.
- Phoebe Bridgers – While not a baritone-exclusive player, she’s used baritone for introspective textures in live performances and recordings.
- Cigarettes After Sex – A clean baritone is central to their ethereal, sultry soundscapes.
Tuning Tip: Try B Standard or C Standard with heavy ambient effects for lush indie tones.
Cinematic, Ambient & Post-Rock
- Sunn O))) – Extreme use of baritone guitars tuned down to Drop A or lower, sustained through wall-of-amp setups for droning soundscapes.
- Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – Use baritones in film scoring to add weight without overwhelming the mix. Tuning varies, often experimental.
- Explosions in the Sky / This Will Destroy You – Although not exclusively baritone users, many post-rock tones emulate baritone registers through pitch-shifting or low tunings.
Tuning Tip: Try Open A minor (E-A-C-E-A-E) with reverb and delay for cinematic textures.
Modern Country & Americana
- Daniel Donato – Mixes cosmic country with baritone twang for unique hybrid tones.
- Chris Isaak – Known for surfy tones that often incorporate baritone guitars.
- Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Fleetwood Mac) – Used baritones in studio recordings for grit and rhythmic weight.
Tuning Tip: Use B Standard or Drop B with a slapback delay and spring reverb for authentic baritone twang.
2. Baritone Tunings and What They’re Best For
B Standard: B-E-A-D-F#-B | Versatile rock/metal/alt | Tempest” – Deftones
A Standard: A-D-G-C-E-A | Doom, cinematic, experimental | “Stranded” – Gojira
Drop A: A-E-A-D-F#-B | Heavy chugs, djent, modern metal | “Oblivion” – Mastodon
C Standard: C-F-A#-D#-G-C | Grunge, alt-rock, shoegaze | “Dragonaut” – Sleep
Drop B: B-F#-B-E-G#-C# | Modern country, rock, hard alt | “Rosemary” – Deftones
Open C: C-G-C-G-C-E | Post-rock, ambient, clean textures | “A Song for Our Fathers” – Explosions in the Sky
Open A minor: E-A-C-E-A-E | Cinematic, ambient | Film-style scoring with shimmer effects
3. Songs to Learn on Baritone Guitar
Here’s a mix of beginner-to-intermediate pieces across genres:
Metal/Heavy Rock
- “Tempest” – Deftones (B Standard)
- “Silvera” – Gojira (Drop A)
- “Bleed” – Meshuggah (emulate with Drop A baritone)
Shoegaze/Indie/Alt
- “Stars” – Hum (B Standard)
- “Heavenward” – Wolf Alice (C Standard)
- “Vertigo Flowers” – Nothing (Drop B)
Ambient/Post-Rock
- “First Breath After Coma” – Explosions in the Sky (Open C)
- “Procession” – Caspian (C Standard)
- “Sons of Light and Darkness” – God Is An Astronaut (B or A Standard)
Country/Western/Retro
- “Rebel Rouser” – Duane Eddy (B Standard or Drop B)
- “Wicked Game” – Chris Isaak (baritone versions in Drop B)
- “High Noon” – Dimitri Tiomkin (Spaghetti Western instrumental)
4. Developing Your Own Voice on Baritone
Play What You Know—in a New Way
Start with familiar chord progressions or riffs, but on your baritone. The altered tuning will instantly give them a fresh flavor.
Create Call-and-Response Parts
Use baritone and standard guitars together. One handles the riff, the other the melody. They complement each other beautifully.
Think Cinematically
Baritones are great for building tension and mood. Try:
- Swells with volume pedals
- Reversed reverb trails
- Octave or pitch-shifted harmonies
Use Restraint
The natural power of a baritone means you don’t have to overplay. Even sparse notes can sound huge. Let the tone breathe.
5. Gear Tips for Great Baritone Tone
- Amps: Use clean or mid-gain amps with lots of headroom (Fender Twin, Orange Rockerverb, Kemper/Fractal for versatility).
- Pedals: Reverb, fuzz, octave down, chorus, and modulation all pair well. Avoid over-compression—let the tone bloom naturally.
- Strings: Use heavier gauges (.013–.068 or more) to maintain clarity, especially below B tuning.
- Pickups: Humbuckers = fat and tight. P90s = gritty and articulate. Filter’Trons = perfect for surf and western twang.
Baritone guitars may have started as a fringe curiosity, but today they’re reshaping the sound of modern music—subtly in some cases, thunderously in others. From Deftones to Daniel Donato, the artists using them are united by one thing: the search for new sonic territory.
By exploring different tunings, genres, and creative applications, you can find your own voice with the baritone guitar. Whether you’re riffing in Drop A or layering ambient textures in Open C, this instrument offers endless potential for fresh inspiration.