Spirit Tuning is an evocative alternate tuning, famously associated with Grammy-winning guitarist and composer William Ackerman, who also founded the influential New Age record label Windham Hill Records. This tuning is crafted for acoustic-based instrumental music, aiming to create resonant and open soundscapes, characteristic of Ackerman's pioneering work.

Verbal Analysis:

The "Spirit Tuning" immediately suggests a focus on atmospheric and contemplative music. Its construction provides a rich harmonic foundation, allowing for complex voicings with minimal effort. When strummed open, the guitar yields a full and resonant A Major 7th chord, creating an ethereal and expansive sound perfect for ambient and fingerstyle compositions. This tuning facilitates lush, sustained chords and provides unique harmonic possibilities, encouraging exploration beyond standard voicings.

The arrangement of notes, with repeating As and C#s across different octaves, contributes to a shimmering resonance. Players will find that familiar chord shapes take on entirely new characteristics, offering fresh melodic and harmonic pathways, making it ideal for instrumental pieces that prioritize texture and mood.

Technical Analysis:

This tuning transforms the standard EADGBe into a rich C#3-A2-C#4-G#4-A3-E4 from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st) string. The open strings, when analyzed, present the notes A2, C#3, A3, C#4, E4, and G#4. This precise arrangement forms an A Major 7th chord (A-C#-E-G#) with octave doublings of A and C#, creating a dense and harmonically complete open voicing.

• The prominent A in the bass (5th string) anchors the tonality.
• The intervals between strings are non-standard, demanding a new approach to the fretboard but rewarding the player with unique sonic textures.
• The presence of the major 7th (G#) adds a sophisticated, jazz-influenced harmonic flavor, perfect for expansive, mood-driven compositions.
• This tuning is highly conducive to intricate fingerpicking patterns where the open string resonance can be fully exploited.

The guitar is tuned to the following notes, from the lowest (6th) string to the highest (1st) string:

• 6th String: C3#
• 5th String: A2
• 4th String: C4#
• 3rd String: G4#
• 2nd String: A3
• 1st String: E4

How to Tune:

To achieve Spirit Tuning from standard EADGBe tuning, follow these adjustments for each string:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#3.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitone to C#4.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 1 semitone to G#4.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at E4.

All string movements are within a safe range for standard gauge strings. However, always exercise caution when tuning, especially when increasing string tension.