This 'Open E/A Baritone' tuning offers a profound and resonant sonic experience, living up to its description as one that truly rumbles. It combines the bright, chimey qualities of an Open E major chord with an incredibly deep, foundational A note, pushing the boundaries into baritone territory.

Verbal Analysis

At its core, this is a tuning built for power and resonance. The open strings, when strummed together, create a rich, full sound that can be interpreted in a few ways. If you focus on the top five strings (E2-E2-B2-E3-G4#), they form a robust E Major chord (E, B, G#). However, with the inclusion of the incredibly low A1 on the 6th string, the overall open tuning evokes an A Major 7th chord with a prominent 5th (A-E-B-E-G#). The duplicated E2 on strings 5 and 4 provides a fantastic, thick unison that will add immense depth and a unique sonic character to any strummed chord or riff.

This tuning lends itself exceptionally well to genres that benefit from a deep, heavy sound, such as doom metal, blues, slide guitar, or expansive ambient soundscapes. The low A1 string gives it a substantial 'thump' that can drive a rhythm section or provide a drone for melodic exploration. One-finger barring across the top five strings (E-E-B-E-G#) will instantly yield major chords (F, G, A, etc.) when moved up the fretboard, making rhythm playing very accessible. The presence of the A1 means that familiar open E shapes (if ignoring the A1 initially) will take on an A-centric harmonic character when the low string is incorporated, offering new harmonic possibilities. Due to the very low tuning, notes will sustain longer and vibrate with greater intensity, making it ideal for powerful, slow compositions or dramatic, resonating chords. It's a tuning that encourages a deliberate and heavy playing style.

Technical Analysis

The tuning is structured as follows, from lowest (6th) to highest (1st) string: A1 - E2 - E2 - B2 - E3 - G4#.

• String 6 (A1): The lowest note, providing a deep, baritone foundation, a full octave and a fifth below standard low E.
• String 5 (E2): A perfect fifth above A1, matching the standard low E.
• String 4 (E2): A unison with String 5, creating a powerful, thick, and resonant sound, an octave below standard D.
• String 3 (B2): A perfect fifth above E2, reinforcing the E harmony, a perfect fourth below standard G.
• String 2 (E3): A perfect fourth above B2, completing the E triad with the G4#, a major third below standard B.
• String 1 (G4#): A major third above E3, providing the major quality for the higher E chord component, a major third below standard high E.

The intervals are predominantly perfect fifths and unisons on the lower strings, which are inherently stable and resonant, making this tuning exceptionally powerful for heavy strumming and slide techniques. The G# on the high string adds a bright, melodic top end to the otherwise dark and deep tuning, offering a good balance. This combination allows for both robust open-string riffs and expressive melodic lines. The 'baritone' designation is explicitly earned by the extremely low A1, which is significantly below standard guitar tunings, demanding either a guitar built for lower tunings or very heavy gauge strings on a standard instrument.

How to Tune

Achieving the 'Open E/A Baritone' tuning requires significant adjustments. Please note that all strings will be tuned down substantially from a standard EADGBe tuning. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, it is highly recommended to consider using a heavier gauge string set to maintain proper tension and intonation, as well as to prevent string breakage or potential damage to your instrument's neck.

• String 6: Tune down 7 semitones to A1. (A different gauge string is advised due to the significant drop.)
• String 5: Tune down 5 semitones to E2. (A different gauge string is advised due to the significant drop.)
• String 4: Tune down 10 semitones to E2. (A different gauge string is advised due to the significant drop.)
• String 3: Tune down 8 semitones to B2. (A different gauge string is advised due to the significant drop.)
• String 2: Tune down 7 semitones to E3. (A different gauge string is advised due to the significant drop.)
• String 1: Tune down 8 semitones to G4#. (A different gauge string is advised due to the significant drop.)

String 6: A1 (Lowest String)

String 5: E2

String 4: E2

String 3: B2

String 2: E3

String 1: G4# (Highest String)