Tuning Analysis: Evil A

The 'Evil A' tuning for guitar is a deeply resonant and aggressive setup, perfectly living up to its name and the creator's description of "noodling around with angry sharps." This tuning pushes the boundaries of standard guitar voicings, creating a sonic landscape ideal for heavy, industrial, drone, or experimental music genres where a dark, driving, and powerful sound is desired.

Verbal Analysis

From the moment you strike the open strings, the 'Evil A' tuning delivers a heavy, almost metallic clang. The prevalence of sharp notes, particularly A# and D#, creates a dense, low-end rumble that can be both menacing and captivating. It evokes a feeling of tension and raw power, making it incredibly effective for riffs that demand a strong, unwavering foundation. Players will find it easy to create impactful, sustained drones and chugging rhythms. The open tuning itself rings out as a complex, dark chord, inviting exploration into non-traditional harmony and texture.

Technical Analysis

This 'Evil A' tuning transforms your guitar into an instrument tuned to the following open notes:

• String 6 (Low E): A2#
• String 5 (A): G3#
• String 4 (D): D4#
• String 3 (G): A4#
• String 2 (B): D5#
• String 1 (High e): A5#

Analyzing the intervals, this open tuning forms an A#sus4(add b7) chord (A# - D# - G#). More specifically, the notes are A# (root) - G# (minor 7th) - D# (perfect 4th) - A# (octave) - D# (perfect 4th) - A# (octave). The strong presence of A# and D# across multiple octaves creates a powerful, sustained drone effect. The repeating pattern of A# on strings 6, 3, and 1, and D# on strings 4 and 2, makes for incredibly resonant open chord voicings and facilitates easy power chord shapes.

Open Chords & Playability

With the open strings, you inherently have a massive, ringing A#sus4(add b7) chord. Beyond this, the arrangement of notes lends itself to:

• Instant Power Chords: By simply strumming the lower strings (e.g., 6, 4, 3 or 5, 3, 2), you can quickly achieve powerful A# or D# root-4th-root voicings.
• Drone-Friendly Riffing: The multiple octaves of A# and D# allow for sustained drone notes while fretting melodic or rhythmic patterns on other strings.
• Unique Fingerings: Standard chord shapes will be entirely re-voiced, opening up new harmonic possibilities and encouraging creative exploration outside of conventional playing.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'Evil A' tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-e, follow these steps with care, especially for larger string movements:

• String 6 (Low E to A2#): Tune down 6 semitones. Note: Tuning down 6 semitones is a significant change; consider using a heavier gauge string to maintain tension and avoid floppiness, or adjust your setup accordingly.
• String 5 (A to G3#): Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 4 (D to D4#): Tune up 1 semitone.
• String 3 (G to A4#): Tune up 3 semitones. Caution: Tuning up 3 semitones is substantial; proceed carefully to avoid snapping the string.
• String 2 (B to D5#): Tune up 4 semitones. Caution: Tuning up 4 semitones is at the upper limit for standard strings; proceed very carefully. Consider a lighter gauge string if frequent use is planned.
• String 1 (High e to A5#): Tune up 6 semitones. Note: Tuning up 6 semitones is a very significant increase in tension; a lighter gauge string is highly recommended to prevent snapping and ensure proper intonation.

General Recommendation: For any string movement exceeding 4 semitones (either up or down), it is strongly advised to consider a different gauge string to ensure playability, prevent string breakage, and maintain optimal instrument health. Always tune slowly and check string tension regularly.

String 6 (Low E): A2#

String 5 (A): G3#

String 4 (D): D4#

String 3 (G): A4#

String 2 (B): D5#

String 1 (High e): A5#