Tuning Analysis: A-Centric Fourths

This unique custom tuning, originally named "jamaal" and described as "joejoejoejoejoejeojojojojojojojojojojojojojojojjojojojojojojoj", presents a truly distinctive soundscape for the guitar. It features a predominantly low, dark character due to all strings being tuned down significantly from standard EADGBe.

Verbal Analysis

The 'A-Centric Fourths' tuning plunges your guitar into a deep, resonant territory. The most striking feature is the perfect fourths relationship across the lowest four strings (A1-D2-G2-C3). This creates a consistent, almost bass-like foundation, making it ideal for powerful, chugging riffs, expansive open voicings, and experimental jazz harmonies. The drastic drop in pitch will yield a looser string feel and a rich, sustained tone often sought after in genres like doom metal, progressive rock, or ambient music.

However, the pattern shifts on the higher strings with a Major 3rd interval between C3 and E3, and then a Perfect 5th between E3 and B3. This break in the quartal pattern adds a layer of complexity and intrigue. It means that while the lower strings offer predictable shapes for power chords and quartal harmony, the upper strings will demand new fingerings and exploration, opening up fresh melodic and harmonic possibilities that diverge sharply from standard tuning habits.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes are A1-D2-G2-C3-E3-B3. Let's examine the intervals:

• String 6 (A1) to String 5 (D2): Perfect Fourth (7 semitones)
• String 5 (D2) to String 4 (G2): Perfect Fourth (7 semitones)
• String 4 (G2) to String 3 (C3): Perfect Fourth (7 semitones)
• String 3 (C3) to String 2 (E3): Major Third (4 semitones)
• String 2 (E3) to String 1 (B3): Perfect Fifth (7 semitones)

This combination is highly unconventional. The first four strings in perfect fourths provide a strong foundation for "all-fourths" chord shapes. For instance, a simple bar across strings 6-5 or 5-4 at any fret will yield a power chord. Barring across strings 6-5-4-3 will create quartal voicings, excellent for modern jazz or atmospheric soundscapes.

The open strings themselves do not form a simple major or minor chord but imply a complex harmonic structure. Ignoring octaves, the notes are A, B, C, D, E, G, which contains the notes of an A minor 7 chord (A-C-E-G) and a C major 9 chord (C-E-G-B-D-A). This rich harmonic content means open string strumming will produce a dense, full sound, often with a minor or dominant quality depending on the emphasis.

Chords that are "within reach" or easily modified:

• Power Chords: Very easy to form on strings 6-5, 5-4, and 4-3 by simply barring a single fret. These will have a deep, resonant quality.
• Quartal Harmonies: The lower four strings are a playground for quartal chords, providing dense, modern voicings by simply fretting notes in succession on adjacent strings.
• Open C Major Triad: Fretting G2 (4th string open), C3 (3rd string open), and E3 (2nd string open) creates a C major triad, making C major-based harmony readily accessible.
• A Minor 7 voicings: The combination of A, C, E, G (available across strings 6, 3, 2, 4) allows for easy exploration of A minor 7-type sounds.
• Expanded Arpeggios: The wide E3-B3 interval on the top two strings can be exploited for unique wide-interval arpeggios, adding a sense of space and tension to lead lines.

How to Tune

This tuning involves significant drops in pitch for all strings. It is strongly recommended to use a heavier gauge set of strings to maintain proper tension, intonation, and tone quality, as tuning down more than 4 semitones can cause existing strings to become too slack and potentially damage your guitar's neck or bridge if not properly set up for this tension.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 7 semitones to A1. (Original Note: E2) A different gauge string is highly advised for this significant drop.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 7 semitones to D2. (Original Note: A2) A heavier gauge string is recommended.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 7 semitones to G2. (Original Note: D3) Consider a heavier gauge string for this significant drop.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 7 semitones to C3. (Original Note: G3) A heavier string gauge is recommended here too.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 7 semitones to E3. (Original Note: B3) A heavier gauge string is advised.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 5 semitones to B3. (Original Note: E4) While not as extreme as the others, a heavier gauge might still be beneficial for tension.

Open String Notes

Your guitar strings will be tuned to the following notes:

• 6th String: A1
• 5th String: D2
• 4th String: G2
• 3rd String: C3
• 2nd String: E3
• 1st String: B3