This tuning, officially designated A D A D F# B (a 6 String Drop A + Drop D variant), plunges your guitar into a realm of deep, resonant power and versatility. It's perfectly suited for genres requiring a heavy, driving sound, from metal and hard rock to experimental ambient textures. As the original description notes, it features a strong 'D Major part at the bottom' and fully embraces a 'Drop A' configuration, making it an ideal landscape for aggressive riffs, immense power chords, and open, droning soundscapes. The lower strings provide an incredibly robust foundation, while the unique intervals on the higher strings open up interesting melodic and harmonic possibilities, allowing for massive low-end impact with surprisingly nuanced upper voicings.

Technical Analysis

• The open string notes are: A1 D2 A2 D3 F#4 B3 (from lowest to highest string).
• Lowest Strings (A1 D2 A2 D3): The powerful repetition of A and D notes across octaves creates a rich, full-bodied drone when strummed open. This section is primed for heavy, chugging riffs and allows for incredibly deep sonic exploration.
• Upper Strings (D3 F#4 B3): The upper strings introduce a brighter, more complex harmonic texture. The interval from D3 to F#4 is a Major 3rd, and from F#4 to B3 is a Perfect 4th, offering interesting melodic and harmonic counterpoints to the low end.
• Overall Open Chord: The combined open notes are A, B, D, F#. This set of notes can be interpreted in several ways, most prominently as an Aadd9sus4 (A B D F#), a Dmaj6 (D F# A B), or even a Bm7 (B D F# A). The strong presence of A and D on the lower strings grounds the sound firmly in a powerful A or D tonality.
• Intervals (Lowest to Highest):
  • String 6 (A1) to String 5 (D2): Perfect 4th
  • String 5 (D2) to String 4 (A2): Perfect 5th
  • String 4 (A2) to String 3 (D3): Perfect 4th
  • String 3 (D3) to String 2 (F#4): Major 3rd
  • String 2 (F#4) to String 1 (B3): Perfect 4th

Chordal Possibilities

• Movable Power Chords: The A D A D pattern on the lower four strings (A1 D2 A2 D3) makes it incredibly easy to play immense, resonant power chords by simply barring across these strings at any fret. This shape provides a thick, full sound that's fantastic for heavy rhythm work.
• Open String Resonance: The open A and D notes across the lower strings allow for deep, sustaining drones, providing a huge wall of sound when combined with distortion or reverb.
• D Major and Minor Flavors: While not a standard open D Major chord, the presence of D, A, and F# strongly implies a D Major tonality. The addition of the B on the highest string adds a Bm7 or Dmaj6 flavor to the open sound, offering a surprisingly rich harmonic palette beyond simple power chords.
• Extended Chords and Voicings: The D F# B on the upper strings (3, 2, 1) forms a B minor triad (B-D-F#), allowing for quick access to minor voicings within the broader A/D tonal center. This encourages a mix of heavy low-end riffs with more melodic or jazzy upper voicings.

How to Tune Your Guitar for Deep A Droning Resonance

To achieve the Deep A Droning Resonance tuning (A D A D F# B), you will significantly alter the pitch of all your strings from standard E A D G B E tuning. Please proceed with care and use a reliable tuner. Given the substantial drops in pitch (all strings are tuned down 5 or more semitones), you might consider using a heavier gauge string set to maintain optimal tension and tone. Tuning changes exceeding 4 semitones up or down often benefit from different string gauges.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 7 semitones from E2 to A1. This forms the low 'Drop A' foundation of this tuning.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 7 semitones from A2 to D2. This also involves a substantial drop, contributing to the lower 'D Major part'.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 5 semitones from D3 to A2. This brings the fourth string into an A an octave above the lowest string.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 5 semitones from G3 to D3. This complements the lower D string and creates a strong D presence.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 5 semitones from B3 to F#4. This shapes the unique harmonic quality of the upper register.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 5 semitones from E4 to B3. This completes the tuning, adding the highest note of the open chord.