This distinctive guitar tuning, originally named "AEAG#BE," is a signature of musician Colin Marston, known for its application across his diverse guitar-centric projects. It offers a sonic landscape that is both deep and harmonically rich, deviating significantly from standard tuning to create a unique textural and tonal palette.

Verbal Analysis

The tuning features a dramatically lowered low A string, providing an exceptionally deep and resonant foundation. This is complemented by two other lowered strings (E and A), creating a powerful bass register that resonates strongly. The higher strings, including a sharpened G# and two standard-tuned notes (B and E), introduce a brighter, more complex harmonic layer. The overall impression is one of expansive depth, often dark and atmospheric, yet with clear major harmonic tendencies. It’s a tuning designed for intricate textures, dense chords, and sustained, droning passages that can evoke a sense of grandeur or foreboding.

Technical Analysis

• Instrument Type: Guitar
• Original Tuning Name: AEAG#BE
• Open Notes (Low to High): A1, E2, A2, G#4, B3, E4
• Harmonic Structure:

  The open strings A1-E2-A2-G#4-B3-E4 contain the notes A, E, G#, and B. When ordered and analyzed from the root A, these notes form an A Major 9th chord (A - Root, B - Major 9th, E - Perfect 5th, G# - Major 7th). Strumming the open strings creates a lush, full A Major 9th chord, providing an immediate harmonic richness.

• Chordal Possibilities:
  • Open A Major 9th: The most striking feature is the natural formation of an A Major 9th chord when strumming all open strings, offering a rich and complex starting point for compositions.
  • Power Chords: The lowest three strings (A1-E2-A2) form a powerful A5 chord. This allows for easily accessible and robust power chord voicings by simply barring these strings at different frets.
  • Major 7th/9th Voicings: The presence of G# as the major seventh provides a strong tonal center. Barre chords will often yield variants of A Major 7th or A Major 9th chords, offering diverse harmonic textures.
  • Droning: The repeated A and E notes across multiple octaves make this tuning highly effective for creating drones and sustained sonic textures, particularly in an A Major context.
  • Hybrid Approach: The significant drop in pitch on the lower strings juxtaposed with the higher strings remaining at or near standard tuning can facilitate interesting melodic and harmonic interplay between the registers.

How to Tune to A Major 9th Open Tuning (AEAG#BE)

Starting from standard EADGBe tuning (from low E to high E), follow these steps:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 7 semitones to A1. (Note: A significant drop of 7 semitones. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different gauge string is generally recommended to maintain optimal tension and playability.)
• 5th String (A): Tune down 5 semitones to E2. (Note: A significant drop of 5 semitones. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different gauge string is generally recommended to maintain optimal tension and playability.)
• 4th String (D): Tune down 5 semitones to A2. (Note: A significant drop of 5 semitones. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different gauge string is generally recommended to maintain optimal tension and playability.)
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 1 semitone to G#4.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
• 1st String (High e): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E4.

This tuning dramatically alters the lower strings, so for best results, consider using heavier gauge strings for the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings to ensure proper tension and avoid floppiness.