Justice Is Might (Sonic Youth Tuning)

This unique tuning, known as Justice Is Might, is a characteristic example of the experimental and dissonant soundscapes crafted by Sonic Youth. Designed for a standard Guitar, it dramatically reconfigures the instrument's harmonic landscape, moving far beyond conventional open tunings.

Verbal Analysis

At first glance, this tuning presents a highly unusual and ringing open chord structure. The open strings resonate as A2, A2, E3, E3, F4#, A3 (from low to high). The repeated A and E notes, particularly the octave A's on the low E and A strings, and the octave E's on the D and G strings, create a strong, resonant drone foundation. The presence of F# on the B string adds a distinct, almost modal color to this drone, deviating significantly from standard major or minor tonalities. This sonic texture is not built around a simple, consonant chord; instead, it establishes a rich, complex harmonic field that invites textural exploration, feedback, and extended techniques. It's a tuning designed for atmosphere and unconventional harmony, allowing for open, sustained notes and dissonant clusters typical of Sonic Youth's pioneering sound.

Chord-wise, the open tuning itself creates a sound that could be described as an A(no3)add6 or an open A5 with an added F# and significant octave doublings. The absence of a major or minor third (C# or C) in the lower octaves allows for ambiguity, while the F# introduces a bright, almost Lydian-like quality over the A-E drone. This open configuration naturally lends itself to powerful, ringing power chords and suspended-sounding harmonies by simply strumming the open strings or barring across them at various frets, opening up possibilities for unique voicings that would be impossible in standard tuning.

Technical Analysis

The tuning deviates significantly from standard EADGBe, with multiple strings altered by substantial intervals. The resulting intervallic structure from low to high is: Unison (A2-A2), Perfect 4th (A2-E3), Unison (E3-E3), Major 2nd (E3-F4#), Perfect 4th (F4#-A3). This creates a highly non-linear interval pattern, emphasizing unisons and perfect intervals in the lower strings before introducing a more compressed and somewhat dissonant sequence in the higher strings. The unison A2-A2 and E3-E3 provide a thick, sustained foundation, while the F4# (a tritone away from C, or a major 2nd above E) creates tension against the dominant A and E tones, defining the tuning's unique harmonic character. This structure is not conducive to traditional chord shapes but excels at generating dense, resonant textures and microtonal shifts through slight bending or vibrato.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'Justice Is Might' tuning from standard EADGBe:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 5 semitones from E2 to A2. Caution: Tuning up 5 semitones is a significant change. Consider using a lighter gauge string to prevent breakage.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 2 semitones from D3 to E3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 3 semitones from G3 to E3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 5 semitones from B4 to F4#. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change. Consider using a heavier gauge string to maintain tension and tone.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 7 semitones from E4 to A3. Caution: Tuning down 7 semitones (a perfect fifth) is a significant change. Consider using a heavier gauge string to maintain tension and tone.

String 6: The low E string is tuned to A2.

String 5: The A string is tuned to A2.

String 4: The D string is tuned to E3.

String 3: The G string is tuned to E3.

String 2: The B string is tuned to F4#.

String 1: The high E string is tuned to A3.