Verbal Analysis

The 'To Be Gentle Tuning' is a deeply resonant and open tuning, specifically crafted for the EP of the same name. It dives into a lower register, setting a mood that is at once expansive and introspective. The significant down-tuning across most strings, particularly the lowest ones, creates a slacker feel and a profound, weighty sustain. This tuning excels in generating rich, ethereal soundscapes or serving as a foundation for heavy, atmospheric riffing, characteristic of post-rock or ambient metal genres. It encourages open-string playing, allowing for dense, ringing chords and drones that evoke a sense of spaciousness and melancholic beauty.

Technical Analysis

This tuning is built around the notes of F, A, C, and A# (Bb). The open strings are: A#2, F2, C3, F3, A3, C4. The lowest note is F2 on the 5th string, with the 6th string tuned to A#2 (Bb2) above it, creating an interesting, almost inverted bass structure. The presence of both A natural and A# (Bb) within the open tuning is particularly noteworthy. While the dominant chordal structure is a bright F major (F-A-C) across strings 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1, the A# (Bb) on the 6th string introduces a distinct color.

Key Intervals (from low to high strings):

• String 6 (A#2) to String 5 (F2): A perfect fourth down (Bb to F). This creates a powerful, wide interval in the bass.
• String 5 (F2) to String 4 (C3): A perfect fifth up (F to C).
• String 4 (C3) to String 3 (F3): A perfect fourth up (C to F).
• String 3 (F3) to String 2 (A3): A major third up (F to A).
• String 2 (A3) to String 1 (C4): A minor third up (A to C).

Open Chords & Voicings

• F Major (F-A-C): Played across strings 5 through 1 (F2, C3, F3, A3, C4), this tuning readily offers a full, ringing F major chord.
• F(add4) or F(add11): When all six strings are strummed open (A#2, F2, C3, F3, A3, C4), the tuning creates an F major chord with an added Bb (A#). This gives a slightly suspended, open, and melancholic quality, perfect for ambient textures.
• Bbmaj7/F implication: Focusing on the A# (Bb) as a bass note and combining it with F, A, C, hints at a Bb major 7th chord with an F in the bass, providing a rich harmonic complexity.
• Drone Potential: The repeated F and C notes across different octaves, combined with the low A# (Bb), make this an excellent tuning for creating sustained drones and pedal points.
• Power Chords: Simple two-finger power chords (root and fifth) can be easily formed across adjacent strings, especially the lower ones, yielding immense power and depth due to the heavy down-tuning.

The tuning's structure, with its open intervals and the unique inclusion of A# (Bb) alongside A natural, facilitates rich harmonic layering and provides a fertile ground for expressive fingerpicking and expansive chord voicings.

Tuning Notes

• String 6: A#2
• String 5: F2
• String 4: C3
• String 3: F3
• String 2: A3
• String 1: C4

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

• String 6 (Low E) to A#2: Tune down 6 semitones.

  Note: Tuning down 6 semitones (a tritone) is a very significant change. A heavier gauge string is strongly advised to maintain optimal tension, intonation, and tone, preventing excessive floppiness.

• String 5 (A) to F2: Tune down 4 semitones.

  Note: Tuning down 4 semitones is a substantial adjustment. A heavier gauge string is recommended for improved tension and playability.

• String 4 (D) to C3: Tune down 2 semitones.

• String 3 (G) to F3: Tune down 2 semitones.

• String 2 (B) to A3: Tune down 2 semitones.

• String 1 (High E) to C4: Tune down 4 semitones.

  Note: Tuning down 4 semitones is a substantial adjustment. A heavier gauge string is recommended for improved tension and playability.