Tuning Analysis: Mother (Antoine Dufour)

The 'Mother' tuning, as used by Antoine Dufour in his song from the 'Existence' album, is designed for an acoustic Guitar to create a deeply resonant and evocative soundscape. Antoine Dufour himself describes this tuning as 'really chilly and express old memories', a sentiment perfectly captured by its unique harmonic structure and wide intervallic voicings.

Technical Breakdown

This intricate tuning sets the guitar strings, from lowest to highest, to C#3 A2 E3 G4# B2 E4. This configuration creates a rich harmonic palette that immediately stands out. Analyzing the open string notes reveals a strong underlying A Major 9 chord (A-C#-E-G#-B), with various octave doublings. The notes A, B, C#, E, G#, and a higher E are all present across the open strings. This open chord provides a lush, full, and stable harmonic foundation, making it incredibly versatile for fingerstyle arrangements, ambient textures, and melodic compositions. The wide spread of these notes across different octaves (e.g., A2, E3, B2, C#3, G4#, E4) allows for complex voicings and sustained resonance, where individual notes of the A Major 9 chord ring out clearly.

The arrangement of the lower strings (C#3, A2, E3) creates a powerful low end, offering a deep resonance that can form the basis for various chordal movements or a droning bass. The inclusion of the B2 and E4 adds higher voicings and a shimmering quality. Many standard chord shapes will need to be re-imagined, but open chord voicings based around A Major, E Major, and C# minor will feel naturally harmonious. The tuning encourages exploration of open strings as melodic and harmonic anchors, lending itself to the 'chilly' and reflective mood described.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'Mother' tuning from standard EADGBe tuning, precise adjustments are crucial. Pay close attention to the semitone movements for each string:

• 6th String (Low E): From standard E2, tune down 3 semitones. The target note for this string is C3#. While -3 semitones is generally manageable on a standard E string, always approach detuning with care.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note for this string is A2.
• 4th String (D): From standard D3, tune up 2 semitones. The target note for this string is E3. This is a common and safe adjustment.
• 3rd String (G): From standard G3, tune up 1 semitone. The target note for this string is G4#. This is a minor adjustment.
• 2nd String (B): From standard B3, tune down 12 semitones. The target note for this string is B2. WARNING: Tuning this string down a full octave (12 semitones) is a very significant change that exceeds the recommended range for a standard gauge string. A much heavier gauge string is strongly advised to prevent breakage, buzzing, or poor intonation. Attempting this with a standard gauge B string may result in severe slackness or damage to the instrument.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note for this string is E4.

Tuning Notes (Lowest to Highest String)

• 6th String: C3#
• 5th String: A2
• 4th String: E3
• 3rd String: G4#
• 2nd String: B2
• 1st String: E4