This tuning, named the Mexican Vihuela Tuning, adapts the characteristic sounds of the traditional Mexican Vihuela to a four-string guitar. The historical Vihuela from 19th-century Mexico, typically featuring five strings and prominent in Mariachi bands, serves as the inspiration. While the original Vihuela is a five-string instrument, this specific tuning for guitar is presented for four strings, offering a unique sonic palette.

Technically, the open strings are tuned in ascending order of pitch as follows: D3 (4th string), G3 (3rd string), B3 (2nd string), and E4 (1st string). This configuration does not result in a simple, common open chord when all strings are strummed. However, a closer look reveals interesting harmonic possibilities: the lowest three strings (D3, G3, B3) collectively contain the notes of a G major chord (G-B-D) in its first inversion, with D as the lowest note. When all four strings are played open (D-G-B-E), the voicing can be perceived as a G Major 6th chord (G-B-D-E) with D as the bass note (first inversion). This provides a bright, open sound that can be well-suited for folk melodies, traditional Latin American music, or for exploring unique chord voicings that emphasize major sixths and suspended qualities.

How to Tune

To achieve this Mexican Vihuela tuning on your guitar, please refer to the following instructions for each string. These instructions explicitly state the desired target pitch for each string, indicating no relative semitone adjustment from a predefined starting point is being specified in this tuning:

• 4th String (D3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 3rd String (G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 2nd String (B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 1st String (E4): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

As indicated by the 'string_movements' data, all strings are designated with 'no change' (0 semitones). This means the tuning specifies the exact absolute notes (D3, G3, B3, E4) to which your guitar strings should be set. If your instrument is not currently at these pitches, you will need to adjust each string to its specified note using a tuner. No specific warnings regarding string gauge are applicable based on the provided semitone movements, as they all indicate no change.

The individual string tunings for this adaptation are as follows:

• 4th String: D3
• 3rd String: G3
• 2nd String: B3
• 1st String: E4