Tuning Analysis: Wall of Sound

The 'Wall of Sound' tuning, as its name suggests, is designed to create a rich, resonant, and almost monolithic sonic presence. This unique tuning, apparently experimented with by Lee Ranaldo during the development of Sonic Youth's 'Justice is Might', is particularly notable for its heavy reliance on unison and octave relationships, especially within its lower register. While it didn't make the final cut for the recording, its potential for creating dense, drone-like soundscapes and accessible harmonic structures is clear.

Technical Breakdown

The open strings for this tuning are: A2 A2 A3 A3 B3 D4.

This arrangement creates an intriguing set of intervals:

• String 6 (A2) to String 5 (A2): A perfect unison, providing an immediate sense of girth and sustain.
• String 5 (A2) to String 4 (A3): A perfect octave, further emphasizing the A root and creating a deep, resonant foundation.
• String 4 (A3) to String 3 (A3): Another perfect unison, stacking more A notes and thickening the middle voice.
• String 3 (A3) to String 2 (B3): A Major 2nd, introducing a melodic tension and opening up the harmonic possibilities.
• String 2 (B3) to String 1 (D4): A Minor 3rd, adding another layer of color and a bluesy or suspended feel over the dominant A drone.

When strummed open, this tuning doesn't form a conventional major or minor chord. Instead, you get a powerful, sustained A drone with the added B (a 9th) and D (an 11th or 4th). This results in an A(no3)add9add11 or an Asus2sus4 type of voicing. The abundance of A notes across different octaves truly builds a 'wall' of fundamental tone, over which the B and D create a shimmering, slightly dissonant texture that is rich with potential for ambient and experimental music.

Chordal Opportunities

The original description mentions "easy barre triads," and this is where the tuning truly shines for specific applications. While not strictly triads in a classical sense, the structure allows for powerful, movable shapes:

• Open Chord: Strumming all strings open yields the resonant A(no3)add9add11 sound, perfect for drones or atmospheric pads.
• Movable Barre Shapes: By barring all six strings at any fret, you can easily shift this entire structure up and down the neck. For example, barring at the 2nd fret would give you a B(no3)add9add11 (B B B B C# E) and barring at the 5th fret would give you a D(no3)add9add11 (D D D D E G). These shapes provide a consistent, thick, and harmonically rich voicing that moves with ease, allowing for compelling melodic and rhythmic ideas over a strong, consistent harmonic color. The repeated unison and octave notes ensure that these barre chords always sound full and impactful.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'Wall of Sound' tuning from standard EADGBe tuning, follow these precise string adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E to A2): Tune up 5 semitones. This is a significant adjustment, and a heavier gauge string is advised for optimal tension and longevity.
• String 5 (A to A2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 4 (D to A3): Tune up 7 semitones. This is a very substantial change, and using a heavier gauge string is strongly recommended to prevent breakage and ensure proper tone.
• String 3 (G to A3): Tune up 2 semitones.
• String 2 (B to B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (High E to D4): Tune down 2 semitones.

Important Note: The significant semitone changes on String 6 (+5 semitones) and especially String 4 (+7 semitones) mean that the string tension will be considerably higher than standard. For these strings, it is highly advisable to use a heavier gauge than your typical set to avoid string breakage and potential neck damage over time. Conversely, if you plan to frequently switch back to standard tuning, be mindful of the repeated tension changes.