A#G#D#G#A#D# Guitar Tuner

A#G#D#G#A#D# | B♭A♭E♭A♭B♭E♭ Eb Sus - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Eb Sus

Broken Open

D#sus4 Broken Open Tuning Analysis

This unique Guitar tuning, aptly named "Broken Open", offers a captivating soundscape that deviates significantly from standard tuning. It's built around the notes of a D#suspended4 chord (D#, G#, A#), but arranged in a spacious and non-linear fashion across the fretboard, creating a wide-open, resonant, and slightly ethereal quality.

Verbal Analysis

The "Broken Open" aspect of this tuning is immediately apparent in its sonic character. Unlike tunings that facilitate easy strumming of major or minor chords, this D#sus4 arrangement encourages a more deliberate, almost ambient approach. The suspended fourth intervals (D#-G#, A#-D#) create a sense of gentle tension and release, maintaining an unresolved yet pleasing harmony. It feels spacious and expansive, ideal for atmospheric compositions, fingerstyle arpeggios that highlight individual string resonances, or drone-based music where sustained notes can intertwine to form rich sonic tapestries. It avoids conventional chord shapes, pushing the player to explore new voicings and melodic possibilities.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this tuning, from low to high, are A#2 G#3 D#4 G#4 A#4 D#5. This configuration is a scattered and extended voicing of a D#sus4 chord, which comprises the notes D#, G#, and A#. Each of these notes appears at least once, spanning a range of two and a half octaves from the low A#2 to the high D#5.

String 6 (A#2): Provides a deep foundation, acting as the 5th of a D#sus4 chord.
String 5 (G#3): The suspended 4th, an octave below the G# on string 3.
String 4 (D#4): The root of the D#sus4 chord.
String 3 (G#4): The suspended 4th, an octave above the G# on string 5.
String 2 (A#4): The 5th, an octave above the A# on string 6.
String 1 (D#5): The root, an octave above the D# on string 4.

The intervals between adjacent strings are:

String 6 (A#2) to String 5 (G#3): Minor 7th (or down a Major 2nd)
String 5 (G#3) to String 4 (D#4): Perfect 5th
String 4 (D#4) to String 3 (G#4): Perfect 4th
String 3 (G#4) to String 2 (A#4): Major 2nd
String 2 (A#4) to String 1 (D#5): Perfect 4th

This blend of wide and narrow intervals creates a harmonically rich canvas, facilitating resonant open string playing and unique chord voicings not found in standard tuning.

Accessible Chords & Shapes

Open D#sus4 Harmony: Strumming the open strings will naturally yield a D#sus4 harmony. Due to the "broken" intervallic structure, selective strumming or arpeggiating the strings will often sound more articulate and expressive than a full, heavy strum.
Drone Textures: The open strings create a lush, sustained drone effect, perfect for ambient soundscapes or as a bed for melodic improvisation.
D# Major/Minor Variations: With minimal fretwork, particularly on the 3rd and 5th strings, it's possible to alter the G# (sus4) to a G (major 3rd) or G natural (minor 3rd if we consider Eb minor), allowing for quick transitions to D# Major or Minor chord qualities.
Power Chords: The prevalence of perfect 4th (D#-G#, A#-D#) and perfect 5th (G#-D#) intervals on adjacent strings makes forming power chords relatively straightforward, particularly on strings 5-4, 4-3, and 2-1. These shapes can be easily moved up and down the neck.
Two and Three-Note Voicings: The unique string intervals lend themselves to interesting two- and three-note chord fragments that can create a modern, open sound.

How to Tune to D#sus4 Broken Open

To achieve this unique "Broken Open" D#sus4 tuning, follow these specific adjustments from standard EADGBe tuning. Please pay close attention to the direction and number of semitones for each string:

String 6 (Low E to A#2): Tune down 6 semitones. Caution: Tuning this string down 6 semitones is a significant change, resulting in much lower string tension. If your guitar is not typically set up for such a low pitch on the thickest string, or if you regularly switch back to standard tuning, you may consider using a heavier gauge string for optimal performance, intonation, and to prevent string flop.
String 5 (A to G#3): Tune down 1 semitone.
String 4 (D to D#4): Tune up 1 semitone.
String 3 (G to G#4): Tune up 1 semitone.
String 2 (B to A#4): Tune down 1 semitone.
String 1 (High E to D#5): Tune down 1 semitone.

Always use a reliable digital tuner and tune slowly and carefully to avoid over-tightening or breaking strings, especially when tuning up.

Open String Notes (Low to High):