The tuning, aptly named Aruarian Dance Tuning, is a profound and evocative setup for the guitar, directly inspired by Nujabes' iconic track. This tuning completely redefines the instrument's harmonic landscape from the standard EADGBe, creating a deeply resonant and atmospheric sound that is both unique and highly expressive.

Verbal Analysis:

This tuning offers a sonic palette rich in open intervals and octave doublings, giving it a spacious, almost ethereal quality perfectly suited for intricate fingerstyle or ambient compositions. The arrangement of notes fosters a strong sense of a central tonality, particularly around C# and B, while avoiding traditional major or minor voicings on open strings. Instead, it leans into suspended or modal harmonies, encouraging drone-like playing and the exploration of unique melodic patterns across its resonant open strings. Players will find that familiar chord shapes will yield entirely new and often unexpected voicings, opening up creative avenues for songwriting and improvisation within its distinctive harmonic framework.

Technical Analysis:

The open notes of this tuning are C#3 B2 E3 B3 F#4 C#5, listed from the lowest (6th) string to the highest (1st) string. This is a significant departure from standard tuning, featuring several large interval shifts:

• The 6th string (Low E) is tuned down a major third to C#3.
• The 5th string (A) is tuned up a whole step to B2.
• The 4th string (D) is tuned up a whole step to E3.
• The 3rd string (G) is tuned up a major third to B3.
• The 2nd string (B) is tuned down a perfect fourth to F#4.
• The 1st string (High e) is tuned down a major third to C#5.

The tuning's structure reveals interesting harmonic relationships:

• Octave Relationships: A strong foundation is provided by the C#3 on the 6th string and C#5 on the 1st string, creating a full two-octave spread for the root. Similarly, B2 on the 5th string and B3 on the 3rd string offer another octave pairing.
• Open Chords: When strummed open, the notes C#, B, E, B, F#, C# combine to form a rich, suspended quality. The unique notes in the tuning (B, C#, E, F#) suggest a complex Bsus4 chord with an added C#, or a C#sus2 with an added B. Specifically, the open B2-E3-B3-F#4 (strings 5-4-3-2) provides a clear and resonant Bsus4 chord, making this harmony easily accessible.
• Reachable Chords: The open-string configuration makes it easy to establish C# or B as tonal centers using drone strings. Barring across any fret will instantly create a movable chord shape that maintains the internal intervals, allowing for unique suspended or open-fifth voicings across the fretboard. This encourages exploration beyond standard major/minor frameworks.

How to Tune

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones from E to C#3.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 2 semitones from A to B2.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 2 semitones from D to E3.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 4 semitones from G to B3. Caution: Tuning up 4 semitones is a significant change. Consider using a lighter gauge string to avoid excessive tension or breakage.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 5 semitones from B to F#4. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change. Consider using a heavier gauge string to maintain proper tension and intonation.
• String 1 (High e): Tune down 3 semitones from E to C#5.