The "A Standard Tuning" is a deeply resonant and powerful tuning for the electric guitar. It is commonly referred to as "A Standard" because it maintains the familiar intervallic relationships of standard E tuning, but all strings are shifted down by three and a half steps (7 semitones). This tuning plunges your guitar into a much lower register, providing a thick, dark, and heavy sonic foundation. It's particularly favored in genres like metal, doom, and stoner rock, as exemplified by bands such as Taproot, Dystopia, and Slipknot, who utilized this low-end punch for songs like "Iowa."

Technical Analysis

This tuning transforms the open string notes of a standard-tuned guitar (E-A-D-G-B-E) to A-D-G-C-E-A (low to high). The relative intervals between the strings remain identical to standard tuning: a perfect fourth between the 6th and 5th (A-D), 5th and 4th (D-G), 4th and 3rd (G-C); a major third between the 3rd and 2nd (C-E); and a perfect fourth between the 2nd and 1st (E-A). This consistency means that all your familiar chord shapes and scales from standard tuning can be directly applied, but they will sound a perfect fifth lower. The lowest note, A1, provides an incredibly deep and rumbling base, perfect for crushing riffs and heavy power chords.

Open Chords and Harmonic Possibilities

The open strings of A-D-G-C-E-A offer immediate access to rich harmonic voicings:

• An open A minor chord (A-C-E) is naturally present, utilizing the 6th (A1), 3rd (C3), and 2nd (E3) strings.
• Open power chords on the lower strings are particularly impactful. For example, the open 6th (A1) and 5th (D2) strings, along with the 4th (G2), form an open A5 chord with a dominant fourth, lending a dark, suspended quality.
• Combining the 4th (G2), 3rd (C3), and 2nd (E3) strings gives you an open C major triad (C-E-G), providing a surprisingly bright contrast to the overall low tuning.
• All standard chord shapes, when played, will transpose down by a perfect fifth. For instance, an open E major chord shape will now produce an A major chord, and an open A minor shape will yield a D minor.

How to Tune

To achieve "A Standard Tuning" from standard E tuning, all strings must be lowered by a significant margin. Due to the extreme tension reduction, it is highly recommended to use a heavier gauge of strings to maintain proper playability, intonation, and to prevent string floppiness. Tuning down 7 semitones significantly reduces string tension, and thinner strings may become unplayable.

• 6th String (Low E) to A1: Tune down 7 semitones.
• 5th String (A) to D2: Tune down 7 semitones.
• 4th String (D) to G2: Tune down 7 semitones.
• 3rd String (G) to C3: Tune down 7 semitones.
• 2nd String (B) to E3: Tune down 7 semitones.
• 1st String (High E) to A3: Tune down 7 semitones.