This tuning, named "basse de faustino," is crafted specifically for an 8-string Bass Contrabass, offering a truly unique and expansive sonic landscape. As described in the original notes, it's "pour la basse de faustino, for faustino's bass !!!" – a personal and powerful setup.

Verbal Analysis

Faustino's Bass Tuning provides an incredibly deep and resonant foundation. The predominant C# and G# intervals across the lower seven strings create a massive, symphonic C# Major chord when strummed open, perfect for powerful drones, intricate bass lines, or heavy, driving riffs. This creates a highly consistent and predictable fretboard layout for those strings. The addition of the F4 on the highest string, however, injects a striking and unexpected color. This note moves the overall open sound away from a simple major harmony, hinting at bluesy, modal, or even dissonant possibilities, depending on how it's voiced. It's a tuning that promises both immense power and intriguing harmonic complexity, pushing the boundaries of what a contrabass can achieve.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this 8-string Bass Contrabass tuning are as follows (from lowest to highest string):

• String 8: C#2
• String 7: G#2
• String 6: C#3
• String 5: G#3
• String 4: C#4
• String 3: G#4
• String 2: C#5
• String 1: F4

The core structure of the first seven strings (C#2-G#2-C#3-G#3-C#4-G#4-C#5) forms a robust C# Major chord, primarily using Perfect 5th and Perfect 4th intervals:

• String 8 (C#2) to String 7 (G#2): Perfect 5th
• String 7 (G#2) to String 6 (C#3): Perfect 4th
• This pattern of P5-P4 repeats, creating octave intervals for C# (String 8, 6, 4, 2) and G# (String 7, 5, 3).

This consistent patterning means that across these seven strings, open-string chords are easily achievable. A simple barre across any fret will yield a clear power chord (root-fifth-octave-fifth, etc.). For instance, barring at the 1st fret would give a D Major power chord feel (D-A-D-A...). The open tuning itself is a massive C# Major chord, providing an excellent base for composition in C# Major or its relative minor, A# minor.

However, the highest string, String 1, is tuned to F4. This F natural is a minor 6th below the C#5 on String 2. Viewed chromatically, F is not a diatonic note in C# Major (which contains C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#). This F introduces a compelling dissonance or a strong modal flavor over the C# Major foundation. It could imply a C#sus4 sound (if F is treated as an E# that resolves up), or add a bluesy, #9-like quality. This unique top note invites creative melodic phrasing and offers a distinct tonal character, potentially leaning towards Lydian modes, blues scales, or creating more tension-filled voicings.

The overall range from C#2 to F4 is exceptionally wide for a bass, enabling the player to cover very low sub-bass frequencies while still having access to melodic lines in a higher register that might approach a baritone guitar's range. This makes the tuning incredibly versatile for a variety of musical styles, from foundational support to intricate lead work.

Open String Notes

The open strings for the "basse de faustino" tuning on an 8-string Bass Contrabass are:

• String 8 (lowest): C#2
• String 7: G#2
• String 6: C#3
• String 5: G#3
• String 4: C#4
• String 3: G#4
• String 2: C#5
• String 1 (highest): F4

How to Tune

To achieve the "basse de faustino" tuning, adjust your 8-string Bass Contrabass strings as follows:

• String 8 (C#2): Tune down 5 semitones. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change. Consider using a heavier gauge string to maintain optimal tension and tone, and to prevent potential string flop or intonation issues.
• String 7 (G#2): Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 6 (C#3): Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 5 (G#3): Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 4 (C#4): Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 3 (G#4): Tune up 1 semitone.
• String 2 (C#5): Tune up 2 semitones.
• String 1 (F4): Tune up 1 semitone.

Always tune slowly and check your intonation after tuning, especially with significant changes. It is recommended to use a reliable tuner for accuracy.