Tuning Overview:

The "A#A#A#D#D#A#" tuning is a unique and deeply resonant setup, aptly described by its creator as "a droning tuning I made with only 2 notes: A# and D#." This statement perfectly captures the essence of this highly specialized tuning, designed to create a rich, sustained harmonic texture.

Verbal Analysis:

This tuning is an exploration in sonic minimalism, focusing intensely on the interplay between the root note A# and its perfect fourth, D#. With multiple strings tuned to A# across different octaves (A2#, A2#, A3#, A4#) and the remaining strings to D# (D4#, D4#), the open strings naturally form a robust A#sus4 chord. This configuration is ideal for creating thick, ambient soundscapes, powerful, open drones, and expansive textures. The repetition of notes encourages a percussive, almost percussive, approach or a sustained, ringing quality. It's a tuning that invites exploration of harmonic tension and release around its core A#sus4 sonority.

Technical Analysis:

• Open Chord: The open strings resolve to an A#sus4 chord (A# - D# - A# - D# - D# - A#). This is built from the root (A#) and the perfect fourth (D#).
• Intervalic Structure: Examining the intervals between adjacent strings (from thickest to thinnest):
  • String 6 (A2#) to String 5 (A2#): Unison (0 semitones)
  • String 5 (A2#) to String 4 (A3#): Octave (12 semitones)
  • String 4 (A3#) to String 3 (D4#): Perfect Fourth (5 semitones)
  • String 3 (D4#) to String 2 (D4#): Unison (0 semitones)
  • String 2 (D4#) to String 1 (A4#): Perfect Fifth (7 semitones)
• Droning Potential: The unisons on strings 6-5 and 3-2, combined with the octaves and perfect intervals, ensure maximum resonance and sustain across the instrument.
• Harmonic Simplicity: With only two distinct notes, the tuning simplifies the harmonic palette, making it easier to construct powerful voicings and compelling melodic lines that highlight the A# and D# relationship.

Chords and Playability:

Due to the symmetrical nature of this tuning, particularly the unisons and octaves, many chords become incredibly accessible:

• Open Chord: As mentioned, the open strings form a rich A#sus4 chord. This chord serves as the foundation for improvisation and songwriting in this tuning.
• Barre Chords: Simple one-finger barres across multiple strings will produce different inversions or voicings of suspended chords, moving the A#sus4 shape up and down the neck with ease. For example, barring all strings at the 1st fret would yield a Bsus4.
• Power Chords / Drones: The unisons on the lower strings (6th and 5th) and middle strings (3rd and 2nd) make it very easy to create thick, powerful two-note drones or power chord-like voicings with minimal effort. For instance, just playing strings 6, 5, 4 open produces a massive A# octave.
• Melodic Opportunities: Melodies played on any single string will naturally resonate against the sustained open drone of the other strings, creating a full and harmonically rich sound, even with single notes.

How to Tune:

Achieving this tuning requires significant adjustments from standard EADGBe tuning. Please proceed with caution, especially with large downward movements. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, considering a different gauge string is often advisable to maintain optimal tension and intonation.

• String 6 (Low E to A2#): Tune down 6 semitones to reach A2#. This is a substantial drop, lowering the string by a perfect fifth.
• String 5 (A to A2#): Tune down 11 semitones to reach A2#. This is a very significant change; exercise extreme caution or consider a heavier gauge string for this.
• String 4 (D to A3#): Tune down 4 semitones to reach A3#.
• String 3 (G to D4#): Tune down 4 semitones to reach D4#. This lowers the string by a major third.
• String 2 (B to D4#): Tune down 8 semitones to reach D4#. This is a substantial drop; exercise extreme caution or consider a heavier gauge string for this.
• String 1 (High E to A4#): Tune down 6 semitones to reach A4#. This is a significant drop, lowering the string by a perfect fifth.

String 6: A2#

String 5: A2#

String 4: A3#

String 3: D4#

String 2: D4#

String 1: A4#