The 'All A' Tuning: A Monolithic Drone

This unique tuning, aptly named 'All A', transforms your 6-string guitar into a deeply resonant, drone-centric instrument where every open string vibrates at the note A, across multiple octaves. It moves away from conventional chordal playing, offering a sonic canvas for expansive textures, heavy riffs, and experimental soundscapes.

Technical Analysis

The 'All A' tuning sets the open strings to A1 (low E string), A2 (A string), A2 (D string), A3 (G string), A3 (B string), and A4 (high E string). This creates a rich, layered stack of A notes spanning four octaves. Technically, this is an open unison/octave tuning on A. The intentional duplication of octaves (A2 on strings 5 & 4, A3 on strings 3 & 2) will naturally enhance sustain and create a thick, harmonically dense sound, almost like a natural chorus effect, even without external processing.

Musical Implications & Chordal Approaches

Strumming all open strings in 'All A' produces an overwhelmingly powerful and monolithic A sound. This makes it an ideal tuning for:

• Drone Music: The sustained A serves as a foundational element for ambient pieces, sound meditations, or as a bed for other instruments.
• Heavy Riffing: This tuning excels in generating a massive, wall-of-sound effect, particularly well-suited for genres like doom metal, stoner rock, or any style requiring a formidable low-end presence on the root note A.
• Simplified Barre Chords: A unique advantage is that any single-fret barre across all strings will instantly create a new 'open' tuning. For instance, barring at the 2nd fret will result in an open B (all B notes across octaves), and barring at the 3rd fret will give an open C. This simplifies transposition of the core drone effect significantly.
• Melodic Counterpoint: Individual melodies played on fretted notes will stand out starkly against the constant, resonant A drone, allowing for interesting melodic and harmonic interplay.

While not designed for conventional major/minor chord voicings, 'All A' forces a re-evaluation of the fretboard, encouraging a focus on texture, single-note lines, and the immense power of a singular fundamental tone.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'All A' tuning from standard EADGBe, carefully adjust each string as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 7 semitones to A1. (Caution: This is a substantial drop. Consider using a heavier gauge string to maintain optimal tension and prevent floppiness.)
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to A2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 5 semitones to A2. (Caution: This is a significant drop. A heavier gauge string is advised for better playability and intonation.)
• String 3 (G): Tune up 2 semitones to A3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 5 semitones to A4. (Caution: This is a considerable rise. Exercise extreme care to avoid string breakage, or use a lighter gauge string specifically for this tension.)

• String 6: Tuned to A1
• String 5: Tuned to A2
• String 4: Tuned to A2
• String 3: Tuned to A3
• String 2: Tuned to A3
• String 1: Tuned to A4