Tuning Analysis: Funny Boy's Acoustic Pro Drop

Verbal Description

Enter a realm of unconventional sound with the Funny Boy's Acoustic Pro Drop tuning. Originally conceived by 'funny boy' on an acoustic guitar on January 30, 2023, this tuning is described by its inventor as being "for pros only." This bold claim is well-founded, as it deviates significantly from standard tuning, offering a deep, dark, and highly resonant soundscape. All six strings are tuned down, with some experiencing substantial drops, demanding a thoughtful approach to playing and chord voicings. It's a tuning that encourages exploration beyond conventional harmony, perfect for experimental music, ambient textures, or creating unique rhythmic patterns.

Technical Analysis

This Guitar tuning sets the open strings to B1-F#3-C#4-F3-G#4-C#5 (low to high). The extensive lowering across the board results in a rich, guttural low end and dense, sometimes dissonant, upper registers. Analyzing the open notes (B, F#, C#, F, G#, C#), we observe a complex harmonic structure:

• The foundation of B and F# suggests a B root, with C# adding a Major 2nd.
• The inclusion of F natural creates a striking diminished 5th (tritone) relationship with B, or a minor 3rd from C#, adding significant tension.
• G# introduces a Major 6th or augmented 5th element, further enriching the harmonic palette.

This combination does not resolve into a simple open major or minor chord, but rather hints at altered dominant, diminished, or highly extended chords like a B(add9)(b5)(6) or a Bm7b5(addM6). This complex intervallic structure makes it ideal for unique fingerstyle arrangements, dissonant arpeggios, or power chord shapes that take advantage of the deeply dropped strings rather than traditional open chord strumming. The 'pro-only' description suggests its true potential lies in melodic invention and specific voicings rather than broad harmonic strokes.

How to Tune

To achieve the Funny Boy's Acoustic Pro Drop tuning, follow these precise string adjustments from your guitar's current tuning. Please note the significant drops, especially on the 6th string, which may require a lighter gauge string set for optimal tension and playability if this tuning is to be used frequently. Always tune slowly and carefully.

• 6th String (Low E string equivalent): Tune to B1. Tune down 5 semitones. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change. Consider a different gauge string if you plan to keep your guitar in this tuning for extended periods to maintain proper string tension and avoid intonation issues.
• 5th String (A string equivalent): Tune to F#3. Tune down 3 semitones.
• 4th String (D string equivalent): Tune to C#4. Tune down 1 semitone.
• 3rd String (G string equivalent): Tune to F3. Tune down 2 semitones.
• 2nd String (B string equivalent): Tune to G#4. Tune down 3 semitones.
• 1st String (High E string equivalent): Tune to C#5. Tune down 3 semitones.

Open String Notes:

Here are the target notes for each string in this tuning, from the lowest to the highest:
String 6: B1
String 5: F#3
String 4: C#4
String 3: F3
String 2: G#4
String 1: C#5