Verbal Analysis:

The 'Ani Difranco School Night' tuning presents a deeply resonant and somewhat melancholic sound, characterized by its significantly lowered overall pitch. It evokes a rich, earthy texture, perfect for intricate fingerstyle or rhythmic patterns that benefit from open, sustained tones. While not forming a conventional open major or minor chord, the tuning strongly suggests an underlying A# tonality. The lower strings (6th, 5th, 4th, 2nd) feature A# and F# notes, creating a strong, sometimes brooding, harmonic landscape. The unique addition of C4 on the 1st string, which is re-entrant (meaning it's tuned lower than the adjacent 2nd string), introduces a distinctive tension and melodic possibility. This setup is ideal for creating bluesy or folk-inspired voicings and specific melodic lines, hinting at the creative and unconventional approach often heard in Ani Difranco's music. It's a tuning designed for expressive playing, offering a distinct sonic palette.

Technical Analysis:

This is a highly altered drop tuning from standard EADGBe, with all strings tuned down significantly. The resulting open notes are A#2 F#3 A#3 D#4 F#4 C4, from thickest to thinnest string.

Key observations:

• The 6th string is tuned to A#2, providing a very low and foundational root.
• There is an octave relationship between the 6th string (A#2) and the 4th string (A#3), which offers a strong fundamental drone.
• The 5th string (F#3) is a perfect fifth above the 6th string A#2, establishing a powerful open fifth interval at the base of the tuning.
• The intervals from 5th to 4th string (F#3 to A#3) and 3rd to 2nd string (D#4 to F#4) are both minor thirds. This consistent interval facilitates the easy formation of minor or suspended chord shapes across these string pairs with minimal fretting.
• A significant feature is the re-entrant nature of the tuning on the thinner strings: the 1st string (C4) is tuned lower than the 2nd string (F#4). This inversion of pitch allows for unique melodic counterpoints, unexpected voicing possibilities, and can create a chiming effect when strummed.
• The overall open voicing contains the notes A#, C, D#, F#. This combination creates a rich and somewhat complex sound that can be interpreted as an A#sus4 chord with an added C natural, providing a distinctive, often melancholic or unresolved quality. This suggests the tuning is optimized not for simple open chords, but for specific harmonic and melodic interplay.

Chords & Playability:

While the open strings do not form a conventional major or minor triad, they provide a versatile foundation for:

• A# Power Chords/Minor Voicings: The strong presence of A# and F# across multiple strings (A#2, F#3, A#3, F#4) makes it effortless to create powerful A# fifth chords or minor-inflected shapes.
• Drone Effects: The repeated A# notes (6th and 4th strings) can be effectively utilized as sustained drones, allowing melodic movement or chord changes on other strings to create compelling textures.
• Unique Melodic Shapes: The re-entrant 1st string (C4) is a powerful tool for crafting interesting melodic leaps and voicings, where a higher-pitched note on the 2nd string might resolve to a lower one on the 1st string, or vice versa.
• Suspended and Jazzy Voicings: The A#, C, D#, F# blend offers ample opportunities for creating suspended chords, or extensions that would feel at home in various contemporary genres, including jazz, folk, and experimental music. Barre chords will require an understanding of the re-entrant first string to anticipate their unique harmonic output.

Open String Notes:

6th String (Low E): A#2

5th String (A): F#3

4th String (D): A#3

3rd String (G): D#4

2nd String (B): F#4

1st String (High E): C4

How to Tune:

To achieve the Ani Difranco School Night tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 6 semitones from E2 to A#2. Caution: Tuning down 6 semitones is a significant change. Consider using a heavier gauge string for optimal tone and tension.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 3 semitones from A2 to F#3.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 4 semitones from D3 to A#3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 4 semitones from G3 to D#4.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 5 semitones from B3 to F#4. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change. Consider using a heavier gauge string for optimal tone and tension.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 4 semitones from E4 to C4.

Always tune carefully and check intonation after making significant changes to ensure playability and protect your instrument.