Overview: Tenor Baritone Tuning

The "Tenor Baritone Tuning" is specifically designed for 4-string guitars, notably standard on Eastwood Tenor Baritone models. This unique tuning provides a deep, resonant voice, positioning the instrument in a sonic territory between a standard guitar and a bass, with clear, articulate note separation.

Technical Analysis

This tuning follows a consistent pattern of perfect fifths (P5) across all strings: C2-G2-D3-A3. This structure, common in instruments like the cello, mandola, or tenor banjo, offers a highly logical and symmetrical fretboard layout. The wide intervallic jumps between open strings provide a clear harmonic foundation, emphasizing a strong root-fifth relationship across adjacent strings. The lower register, starting from C2, gives it the characteristic baritone depth.

Chords and Playability

While differing from standard guitar tuning, the perfect fifth intervals make forming power chords (root-fifth) incredibly intuitive. Simply fretting two adjacent strings at the same fret will produce a strong power chord. For instance, fretting the 4th and 3rd strings at the 5th fret yields an F5 chord. Full major and minor triads require a bit more fingerwork, often involving fretting at least three strings, but the consistent intervals simplify transposing shapes across the neck. Open strings themselves do not form common chords easily, but they lay a strong foundation for melodic lines and arpeggios that highlight the fifths harmony. This tuning excels in accompaniment roles, providing a rich, deep texture, and is also suitable for single-note lines with a distinct, resonant quality.

How to Tune

Achieving the Tenor Baritone Tuning involves specific adjustments from a presumed standard 4-string tuning. Please proceed carefully, especially with significant semitone changes:

• 4th String (Lowest): Tune down 4 semitones to reach C2. Please note: A downward movement of 4 semitones is substantial; ensure your string gauge can comfortably handle this tension change.
• 3rd String: Tune down 2 semitones to reach G2.
• 2nd String: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to maintain D3.
• 1st String (Highest): Tune up 2 semitones to reach A3.

Caution: When tuning involves movements of 5 semitones or more (up or down), it is generally recommended to consider using a different string gauge to prevent string breakage or intonation issues. While this tuning has a 4-semitone drop on the lowest string, which is at the upper limit of standard adjustments, movements of this magnitude should still be done with care, ensuring your strings and instrument can handle the tension changes.

4th String (Lowest): C2

3rd String: G2

2nd String: D3

1st String (Highest): A3