There’s no denying John Frusciante’s god-like status. His ability to weave melody and mayhem into six strings is a constant source of inspiration. But there’s one Red Hot Chili Peppers song that holds a special place in my tuning toolbox: Scar Tissue.
This track isn’t just iconic for its hauntingly beautiful melody and Flea’s pulsating bass line. It also harbors a secret weapon – a slightly detuned B string. Here’s the thing: chances are, it wasn’t intentional.
Some will argue Frusciante was a tuning mastermind, deliberately throwing the B string flat to achieve a specific, “just intonation” interval. While that makes for a cool theory, there’s another, more rock-and-roll explanation.
Think about it.
Frusciante is notorious for his improvisational fire. In the throes of creation, it’s entirely plausible a stray bend or an overzealous strum detuned the B string and made it slightly flat, then back down a hair, landing it somewhere beautiful, yet technically “out of tune.”
Here’s where the magic happens. That detuned B string creates a subtle dissonance, a bittersweet twang that weaves its way through the opening chords and melody. It adds a layer of melancholic tension that perfectly complements the song’s introspective lyrics. It’s almost like the guitar itself is yearning for something just out of reach, mirroring the emotional core of “Scar Tissue.”
It’s All Just Intonation
While the accidental detuning might seem like a departure from traditional tuning, it’s interesting to consider its connection to Just Intonation. This approach emphasizes mathematically perfect intervals between notes, creating a purer sound for chords. In “Scar Tissue,” Frusciante isn’t strumming full chords, but rather picking out individual notes that build the melody. Here’s where the the good stuff (and the slight dissonance) happens. The detuned B string, which might have been intuitively adjusted for a more consonant chord voicing, creates a subtle tension when played as single notes within the melody. This unexpected friction adds a layer of beauty and melancholic yearning that perfectly complements the song’s emotional landscape. Even a happy accident can have surprising theoretical roots!
How to Tune Guitar for Scar Tissue?
Here’s the simplest tuning guide you’ll encounter: tune down the B string by 14 cents. That’s it!
For this, you’ll need a good tuner that can help you display cents, so make sure to check my article discussing guitar tuners.
Some Art Isn’t Intentional, But It’s Meant to Be
The beauty lies in the fact that it wasn’t a calculated move. It was a happy accident, a testament to Frusciante’s ability to find beauty in the unexpected. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most inspiring sounds come from imperfections, from the places where the rules get bent just a touch. So next time you pick up your guitar, don’t be afraid to experiment. You never know, a little detuning might just birth your next masterpiece.