Verbal Description

'Jound's Atonal Shift' is an exceptionally experimental and highly dissonant guitar tuning, as hinted by its creator's candid description. It plunges the low end into a deep, resonant abyss while introducing stark, clashing intervals on the higher strings. This tuning is not designed for conventional strumming or harmonious open chords, but rather for exploring avant-garde soundscapes, dense drones, or percussive, industrial textures. Its unique construction challenges traditional guitar playing, offering a palette for highly specific melodic lines or abstract sonic exploration.

Technical Analysis

• Open Notes: The tuning presents the notes A1, E2, E3, G4#, A4#, D5# from lowest to highest string. This spans a considerable range, with the lowest A1 being extremely deep.
• Intervals:
  • String 6 (A1) to String 5 (E2): A perfect fifth (P5). This provides a powerful, low-end drone.
  • String 5 (E2) to String 4 (E3): A perfect octave (P8). This creates a very wide gap in the middle, emphasizing the lower E drone.
  • String 4 (E3) to String 3 (G4#): A minor third (m3).
  • String 3 (G4#) to String 2 (A4#): A minor second (m2) or half-step. This is a very dissonant interval for adjacent open strings.
  • String 2 (A4#) to String 1 (D5#): A perfect fourth (P4).
• Harmonic Implications: The collection of notes (A, E, G#, A#, D#) is highly dissonant. The presence of both A and A# (Bb), and E and D# (Eb) creates strong chromatic clashes. There are no immediately apparent common chords (major, minor, 7th) that resonate harmonically in the open position. The lowest three strings (A1 E2 E3) form an A5 power chord with an octave E, providing a substantial, dark foundation. However, the upper strings introduce significant tension, making it suitable for avant-garde music, industrial, or metal genres that leverage dissonance and extended ranges.
• Potential Chords/Uses: While traditional open chords are not easily formed, this tuning could excel at creating:
  • Deep, ringing drone textures.
  • Heavy, low-frequency riffs, particularly utilizing the first three strings.
  • Angular, dissonant melodic lines and arpeggios on the higher strings.
  • Harmonic explorations outside of standard Western tonality.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'Jound's Atonal Shift' tuning from standard EADGBe (E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4), follow these specific string adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 7 semitones from standard E2 to A1. This is a significant drop.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 5 semitones from standard A2 to E2. This is also a substantial drop.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 2 semitones from standard D3 to E3.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 1 semitone from standard G3 to G4#.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 1 semitone from standard B3 to A4#.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 1 semitone from standard E4 to D5#.

Important Note: The lowest two strings require very significant changes in tension. Tuning down 7 and 5 semitones respectively means a dramatic reduction in string tension. For optimal playability, intonation, and to prevent potential damage to your instrument (such as string buzz, nut slot issues, or neck relief problems), consider using a much heavier gauge string set, especially for these lowest two strings, or even a baritone guitar setup. Any extreme tuning change (down 5+ semitones or up 3+ semitones) can impact string life and instrument setup. Always proceed with caution and monitor your guitar's response.