Prepare to delve into a deep and resonant soundscape with the 'Open A#6 Suspended' tuning. This unique configuration redefines the guitar's sonic potential, offering a rich, low-end foundation perfect for ambient textures, heavy riffing, and experimental sound design.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning is characterized by its powerful, almost drone-like quality, dominated by the assertive A# and D# notes. The open strings immediately present a full, suspended chord, capable of creating both tension and release. The distinctive G string adds a melancholic yet intriguing harmonic color, pulling the overall sound towards an A#6 voicing. Its lowered pitch across most strings suggests a heavier gauge set to maintain tension and clarity, promising a deep, guttural resonance.

Technical Analysis

The 'Open A#6 Suspended' tuning sets the guitar's open strings to A#2 D#3 A#3 D#4 G3 A#4 (low to high). This arrangement forms an A#sus4 chord (A#, D#, A#, D#, A#) with the second string (G3) adding a major sixth, resulting in an A#6 voicing. Notably, the G3 is positioned an octave lower than might be expected in a typical ascending chord voicing, creating an interesting harmonic spread.

• String 6 (Low): A#2 (Root)
• String 5: D#3 (Perfect Fourth from A#)
• String 4: A#3 (Octave Root)
• String 3: D#4 (Perfect Fourth from A#)
• String 2: G3 (Major Sixth from A#)
• String 1 (High): A#4 (Octave Root)

The repeated A# and D# notes create a strong tonal center, while the G3 provides harmonic richness. The intervals between strings 6-5 (P4), 5-4 (P5), 4-3 (P4), and 1-2 (P4, if G-A# is considered a 4th up to A#) provide a consistent, easily navigable fretboard. The unusual placement of G3 (lower than D#4) offers unique voicing possibilities and challenges standard chord shapes.

Open Chords and Possibilities

The open strings themselves form a rich A#6 chord, making it instantly musical. The predominant A# and D# notes throughout (strings 6, 5, 4, 3, 1) lend themselves to easy suspended chord voicings. Barre chords will naturally yield suspended 4th chords: for example, barring at the first fret produces a Bsus4 (B E B E G B), and barring at the third fret creates a C#sus4 (C# F# C# F# G C#). Experimentation with the G string (string 2) is key, as it can be muted for a pure A#sus4, or integrated to achieve the characteristic A#6 sound and other unique harmonies. This tuning encourages drone playing, rhythmic percussive techniques, and exploring wide, open voicings across the fretboard.

How to Tune 'Open A#6 Suspended' (from Standard EADGBe)

Please note: All strings are tuned down significantly. Tuning down more than 4 semitones can cause strings to feel loose or require a heavier gauge to maintain proper tension and tone. It is strongly advised to consider a heavier gauge string set for optimal performance and to prevent string breakage or intonation issues when tuning down this far.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 6 semitones to A#2. (Requires a significant adjustment; a heavier gauge string is advised.)
• String 5 (A): Tune down 6 semitones to D#3. (Requires a significant adjustment; a heavier gauge string is advised.)
• String 4 (D): Tune down 4 semitones to A#3. (Requires a notable adjustment; a heavier gauge string is advised.)
• String 3 (G): Tune down 4 semitones to D#4. (Requires a notable adjustment; a heavier gauge string is advised.)
• String 2 (B): Tune down 4 semitones to G3. (Requires a notable adjustment; a heavier gauge string is advised.)
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 6 semitones to A#4. (Requires a significant adjustment; a heavier gauge string is advised.)