Tuning Analysis: Baritone Am add 4

Verbal Description

The Baritone Am add 4 tuning is a deeply resonant and expansive setting designed for guitars with an extended scale length, typically 28 inches or longer. This tuning plunges the instrument into a rich, lower register, creating a baritone voice that is both powerful and articulate. It encourages a heavy, dark, and full sound, making it ideal for genres requiring a profound sonic presence, such as modern metal, doom, or even ambient soundscapes where low, sustained notes can truly shine.

The open strings present an intriguing harmonic landscape: A-D-A-E-A-C. This configuration immediately suggests a foundational A minor chord with an added D, giving it an Am(add4) flavor. This means the open strings themselves offer a melancholic yet full harmony. The repeated A notes across different octaves create a natural drone, enhancing its expansive feel. While the name suggests A minor, the inclusion of D makes it versatile for both A minor and D minor/major tonalities, offering easy transitions between these keys as mentioned in its description for jamming in A or playing expressively in D.

Technical Analysis

This is a custom drop tuning that deviates significantly from standard EADGBe. The full note lineup, from the thickest to thinnest string, is A1-D2-A2-E3-A3-C4.

Let's break down the intervals between strings:

• String 6 (A1) to String 5 (D2): Perfect Fourth (P4)
• String 5 (D2) to String 4 (A2): Perfect Fifth (P5)
• String 4 (A2) to String 3 (E3): Perfect Fifth (P5)
• String 3 (E3) to String 2 (A3): Perfect Fourth (P4)
• String 2 (A3) to String 1 (C4): Minor Third (m3)

The tuning's structure emphasizes a low-end power, particularly with the A-D-A-E sequence across the lower four strings. This blend of perfect fourths and perfect fifths makes power chords incredibly accessible and resonant, especially on the lower sets. For instance, a two-finger shape across strings 6 and 5 (A-D) forms a strong power chord, and similarly on strings 5-4 (D-A), 4-3 (A-E), and 3-2 (E-A). This makes riffing heavy and straightforward across the lower registers.

The open strings themselves form an A minor chord (A-C-E) with an added D (the perfect 4th). The full open chord voicing is A1-D2-A2-E3-A3-C4. This allows for an open A minor (add4) or an open A minor 11 (without the G) voicing, providing a full, rich texture without fretting. The minor third interval between the second and first strings (A3 to C4) is a characteristic of many open minor tunings, making it easy to form minor chords and melodies on the higher register, and simple to adapt traditional Am shapes.

The extensive downtuning across all strings necessitates a longer scale length and likely heavier gauge strings to maintain proper tension and intonation, as indicated by the tuning's description. The lowest string at A1 is a full 7 semitones below standard E2, creating a profound sonic impact and a truly baritone range.

Current Tuning: Baritone Am add 4

• String 6 (Lowest): A1
• String 5: D2
• String 4: A2
• String 3: E3
• String 2: A3
• String 1 (Highest): C4

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the Baritone Am add 4 tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these string adjustments carefully. Given the significant drops, a longer scale guitar (28"+) and heavier gauge strings are highly recommended for optimal playability and intonation.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 7 semitones from E2 to A1. This is a substantial drop; a heavier gauge string is advised.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 7 semitones from A2 to D2. Another significant drop; a heavier gauge string is advised.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 5 semitones from D3 to A2. A heavier gauge string is recommended for this drop.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones from G3 to E3. Exercise caution, but a string change may not be strictly necessary unless tension feels too loose.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones from B3 to A3. A manageable drop, typically okay with standard gauges, but check tension.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 4 semitones from E4 to C4. A heavier gauge string is recommended due to this drop.

Important Note: When tuning down more than 4 semitones (or up more than 4 semitones), as is the case for most strings in this tuning, it is generally recommended to use a different gauge string set specifically designed for lower tunings or baritone instruments. This helps maintain proper string tension, intonation, and playability, preventing floppiness or potential damage to lighter strings.