The AADDAA tuning is a highly distinctive and resonant alternate tuning for the guitar, famously utilized by experimental artists like Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth. This tuning primarily emphasizes a deep, droning 'A' note across multiple octaves, with a prominent 'D' acting as a perfect fourth interval, creating a dense and expansive soundscape.

Verbal Analysis

Verbally, the AADDAA tuning immediately creates a massive, open, and sustained sound. The repeated 'A' and 'D' notes across the strings result in a rich, almost symphonic drone that is less about traditional chordal harmony and more about texture, resonance, and creating walls of sound. The low 'A' string provides a thunderous, foundational bass note, while the unison 'D' notes in the middle and higher 'A' strings add brightness and shimmer, maintaining a strong, focused tonal center. This makes it an ideal tuning for ambient soundscapes, noise rock, experimental music, and pieces where a sustained, layered sonic wash is desired over intricate melodic or harmonic progressions. It often lends itself to a trance-like or meditative quality due to its inherent resonance.

Technical Analysis

Technically, the AADDAA tuning translates to A1-A2-D3-D3-A3-A3, from the lowest (6th) string to the highest (1st) string. Here's a breakdown of the intervals relative to the lowest A (A1):

• String 6 (A1): Root
• String 5 (A2): Unison Octave (Root)
• String 4 (D3): Perfect Fourth above A1
• String 3 (D3): Unison with String 4 (Perfect Fourth above A1)
• String 2 (A3): Two Octaves above A1 (Root)
• String 1 (A3): Unison with String 2 (Root)

The open strings do not form a conventional major or minor triad but rather an A suspended 4th (Asus4) chord with a strong, droning character due to the multiple octaves and unison notes. The presence of unison D3 strings (3rd and 4th) is a key feature, allowing for rich sympathetic vibrations and unique voicings. The overall result is a highly resonant sound with a fundamental 'A' pitch augmented by its perfect fourth.

Chordal Possibilities

While not designed for conventional chord progressions, the AADDAA tuning opens up unique harmonic and textural avenues:

• Open Tuning Chords: The open strings naturally form a powerful A suspended 4th (Asus4). This unresolved, sustained quality is perfect for creating tension, meditative drones, or a sense of sonic vastness.
• Movable Barre Chords: By fretting all strings at a single fret, you can easily create movable suspended 4th chords. For example, a barre at the 2nd fret yields Bsus4, at the 5th fret Dsus4, and at the 7th fret Esus4. These will have the same dense, droning quality as the open A.
• Power Chords (5ths): Although not as straightforward as an open G or D tuning, you can approximate power chords by focusing on the A strings (6, 5, 2, 1) and either muting or avoiding the D strings (4, 3). For example, fretting the 6th string at the 5th fret (D) and the 5th string at the 7th fret (E) would create a D5 power chord shape across the lowest two strings, though its impact within the full tuning needs consideration. The tuning's strength lies more in its open resonance than in enabling typical power chord riffing.
• Textural Harmonies: The true beauty of this tuning shines in its ability to create rich, sustained textures. Simple two or three-finger voicings, especially when incorporating the open strings with fretted notes, can yield complex, shimmering harmonies. The unison D strings offer opportunities for slight detuning or microtonal bending to add an otherworldly, ethereal quality.

In summary, AADDAA is an experimental and highly resonant tuning that favors atmosphere, drone, and sound exploration over traditional melodic or harmonic structures, making it a powerful tool for artists seeking to push the boundaries of guitar music.

Current Tuning Notes

• String 6 (Low E Equivalent): A1
• String 5 (A Equivalent): A2
• String 4 (D Equivalent): D3
• String 3 (G Equivalent): D3
• String 2 (B Equivalent): A3
• String 1 (High E Equivalent): A3

How to Tune (from Standard E Standard Tuning)

To achieve the AADDAA tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), follow these instructions for each string:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 7 semitones from E2 to A1. Caution: This is a significant drop of 7 semitones. A heavier gauge string is strongly advised to maintain proper tension and tone and prevent string breakage or intonation issues.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from A2 to A2.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from D3 to D3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 5 semitones from G3 to D3. Caution: This is a significant drop of 5 semitones. A heavier gauge string is strongly advised to maintain proper tension and tone and prevent string breakage or intonation issues.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones from B3 to A3. This is a moderate adjustment and generally safe for standard gauge strings.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 7 semitones from E4 to A3. Caution: This is a significant drop of 7 semitones. A heavier gauge string is strongly advised to maintain proper tension and tone and prevent string breakage or intonation issues.