The Asus4 Tuning for Cigar Box Guitar

This unique tuning, originally inspired by a baritone ukulele application, brings a distinctive sonic character to the Cigar Box Guitar. As described in its origin, "I saw a YouTube video of someone who used this tuning on a baritone ukulele; it sounded interesting, and so I decided I'd like to investigate it." It provides an open, resonant foundation perfect for blues, folk, or experimental music, with a strong, evocative suspended chord.

Technical Analysis

The open strings of this tuning for your Cigar Box Guitar are configured as A2, E3, A3, D4. This creates an open A suspended 4th (Asus4) chord. Breaking down the intervals:

• The lowest string (String 4) is A2.
• String 3 is E3, a perfect fifth above A2.
• String 2 is A3, a perfect fourth above E3 (and an octave above A2).
• String 1 is D4, a perfect fourth above A3.

This particular voicing (A-E-A-D) provides a strong root and fifth foundation (A-E) complemented by the octave root (A) and the characteristic suspended fourth (D). This configuration is highly resonant and excellent for slide playing, drones, and creating expansive soundscapes. While the open strings naturally form an Asus4, easily accessible chords include other suspended voicings by barring all strings at a given fret. For instance, barring at the 2nd fret would yield a Bsus4 chord (B-F#-B-E). Simple major or minor chords will require specific fingerings on the highest string to alter the D4, but the inherent open structure encourages modal exploration and unique melodic phrasing.

How to Tune

Follow these instructions carefully to achieve the Asus4 tuning from your current setup:

• String 4 (Thickest String): Tune down 5 semitones to reach the note A2. Caution: Tuning down by 5 semitones is a significant adjustment; consider using a different gauge string for optimal tension and stability, and tune slowly to avoid string damage.
• String 3: Tune down 3 semitones to reach the note E3.
• String 2: Tune down 2 semitones to reach the note A3.
• String 1 (Thinnest String): Tune down 2 semitones to reach the note D4.

The individual notes for each string in this tuning are as follows:

• String 4: A2
• String 3: E3
• String 2: A3
• String 1: D4