About the Far Away Bm7sus4 Tuning

This is a truly unique and evocative guitar tuning, famously used by Jose Gonzalez for his song "Far Away." It transforms the standard guitar's voicing, offering a rich, melancholic, and deeply resonant soundscape, perfectly suited for intricate fingerstyle arrangements.

Verbal Analysis

The core of this tuning lies in its significantly dropped low B string, which immediately provides an exceptionally deep and sustained bass foundation. The open strings - B1-A2-D3-A3-B3-E4 - don't form a conventional major or minor chord, but instead create a complex harmonic structure best described as a B minor 7th suspended 4th (Bm7sus4). This results in an open, ringing quality with a slightly somber or introspective character. The thoughtful repetition of A and B notes across different octaves (A2 and A3; B1 and B3) fosters natural drones and sympathetic resonances, which are hallmarks of fingerstyle compositions that leverage open tunings. This setup encourages a more melodic approach to chord voicings, where individual notes can ring out, creating a textured and layered sound.

Technical Analysis

• Instrument: Standard 6-string Guitar.
• Tuning Notes (Low to High): B1-A2-D3-A3-B3-E4.
• Harmonic Structure: When played open, the tuning combines the notes B, A, D, and E. This creates a B minor 7th chord (B-D-A) with an added perfect 4th (E), giving it the Bm7sus4 characteristic.
• Chordal Possibilities:
  • Open Voicings: The open strings themselves present a full, resonant Bm7sus4. By simply strumming all open strings, you get a rich, complex harmony.
  • Drone Strings: The duplicated A and B notes (A2, A3 and B1, B3) are excellent for creating drone effects, where certain strings are left open to resonate while others are fretted.
  • Accessible Chords: Due to the open intervals, simple two or three-finger chord shapes can yield rich results. For instance, barring across the 2nd fret on the D, A, B, and E strings (originally G, B, E) would produce an E-based chord (E-B-C#-F# from original A-D-A-B-E). Shifting common minor shapes up or down the neck while allowing open strings to ring will produce unique, expanded voicings.
  • Melodic Potential: The open intervals make it easier to weave melodic lines that incorporate the open strings, adding depth and sustain.

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the Far Away Bm7sus4 tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-E, follow these steps:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 5 semitones (a perfect fourth) from E2 to B1. Caution: This is a significant drop (-5 semitones). If your guitar is not typically set up for such low tunings, you may experience string buzz or intonation issues, and a heavier gauge string is advised for optimal tone and tension.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains at A2.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains at D3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 2 semitones (a major second) from G3 to A3.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains at B3.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains at E4.

6th String: Tuned to B1. This is the lowest note, providing a deep, resonant bass foundation.
5th String: Tuned to A2. This string remains standard, offering a solid root or fifth in many open voicings.
4th String: Tuned to D3. Also remaining standard, it contributes to the minor third or suspended second quality of the tuning.
3rd String: Tuned to A3. This string is raised, creating a perfect octave above the fifth string, enhancing resonance.
2nd String: Tuned to B3. Remaining standard, it provides an octave above the lowest string, reinforcing the core tonal center.
1st String: Tuned to E4. This highest string remains standard, adding a distinctive perfect fourth or eleventh to the overall harmony.