Tuning Analysis: AEDADA Open Tuning

The AEDADA Open Tuning is an incredibly deep and resonant modification for a standard 6-string guitar, primarily used for genres requiring a heavy, guttural sonic foundation. As specified by its original description, it's particularly suited for the sounds of 'Detroit Metal City' songs, indicating its purpose in heavy metal and extreme subgenres where a profoundly low and massive sound is desired.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning plunges your guitar into a realm of immense depth and power. The open strings resonate with a dark, expansive quality, making it ideal for crushing riffs, sustained drones, and an overall sense of sonic weight. The lowest A provides a formidable root, while the subsequent E, D, A, D, A pattern creates a rich, full sound that can be both aggressively driving and atmospherically dense. It's perfect for players looking to explore extreme low-end frequencies and achieve a thick, wall-of-sound effect. Power chords become incredibly easy to finger across the lower strings, and the overall open nature encourages creative voicings and a focus on rhythmic intensity, particularly with the emphasis on the fourth (D) and fifth (E) intervals above the low A.

Technical Analysis

The AEDADA Open Tuning is achieved by dramatically lowering each string from standard EADGBE. The resulting open string notes, from thickest to thinnest, are A1, E2, D2, A2, D3, A3. This configuration forms a powerful, deep chord based around A, with the presence of A (root), E (perfect 5th), and D (perfect 4th). The intervals create a massive A5 power chord with significant D notes, leading to a sound that's both driving and slightly suspended. The duplicate D notes (D2 and D3) and A notes (A1, A2, A3) across different octaves provide a thick, harmonically rich drone. The pattern of D-A-D-A on the higher strings (from the 4th string onwards) facilitates easy two-finger power chords and open string harmonics, characteristic of many heavy and alternative tunings.

Accessible Chords & Shapes

Due to the nature of this open tuning, a variety of chords and voicings become readily available:

• Open Power Chords: Simply strumming all open strings yields a massive A-based power chord with a strong fourth (D) presence. Moving a single finger across the bottom three or four strings will create movable power chord shapes (e.g., barring the 5th fret on the lowest three A-E-D strings for a D5 chord).
• Drop Voicings: Similar to Drop A or Drop D tunings, single-finger barres across the lower strings will yield various power chords quickly, making heavy riffing extremely efficient.
• Droning & Riffing: The repeated A and D notes across different octaves make it perfect for droning, sustained notes, and chunky, rhythmic riffs where the open strings can be incorporated for added resonance and depth.
• Octave Chords: The presence of A1, A2, A3, and D2, D3 allows for easy construction of powerful octave chords, adding to the thick texture and massive sonic footprint.

How to Tune

To achieve the AEDADA Open Tuning from standard EADGBE, follow these steps. Please note that due to the extreme degree of detuning for all strings (exceeding a 4 semitone drop), it is critically important to use a much heavier gauge of strings than standard. This will maintain adequate tension, ensure better intonation, improve playability, and prevent potential damage to your guitar from excessively loose strings. For optimal performance, a professional setup for this specific tuning is highly recommended.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 7 semitones to A1.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 5 semitones to E2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 12 semitones to D2 (a full octave). Exercise extreme caution when tuning this string.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 10 semitones to A2.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 9 semitones to D3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 7 semitones to A3.

Always tune slowly and re-check your intonation after adjusting, as such dramatic changes can affect the instrument's setup.

The open string notes for the AEDADA Open Tuning are as follows (from thickest to thinnest string):

• String 6: A1
• String 5: E2
• String 4: D2
• String 3: A2
• String 2: D3
• String 1: A3