This is the DAAAAE Dsus2 tuning for Guitar, famously described as a "Dreamy shoegaze tuning" and utilized by the legendary Kevin Shields. It's exceptionally well-suited for droning, offering a rich, resonant soundscape that evokes atmospheric and ethereal textures.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to D2-A2-A2-A3-A3-E4, reading from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st) string. This configuration centers heavily around the note A, with four of the six strings tuned to A across two octaves. The foundational root note D is established on the low 6th string, while the high E on the 1st string provides a distinctive upper harmonic.

• String 6 (D2): The foundational root of the tuning.
• String 5 (A2): A perfect fifth above D2, establishing a strong harmonic base.
• String 4 (A2): Unison with the 5th string, reinforcing the A drone.
• String 3 (A3): An octave higher than the 4th and 5th strings, adding brightness to the drone.
• String 2 (A3): Unison with the 3rd string, further enhancing the resonant A.
• String 1 (E4): A perfect fifth above A3, completing the Dsus2 voicing with a prominent high interval.

The intervals create a dominant Dsus2 chord (D - A - E), where the E acts as the 9th or 2nd. The repetition of A notes across multiple strings and octaves is the key to its characteristic dreamy, droning quality, allowing for immense sustain and harmonic richness.

Chords & Playability

• Open String Chord: When strummed open, this tuning immediately rings out a full and resonant Dsus2 chord (D-A-E), enriched by the layered A notes, creating a thick, sustained sound perfect for shoegaze.
• One-Finger Barres: The arrangement of the A strings (A2-A2-A3-A3) makes this tuning highly amenable to one-finger barres across these middle strings, producing consonant sounds that still resonate with the open D and E, ideal for simple yet powerful chord voicings.
• Power Chords: Moving the low D and high E strings in parallel while maintaining the A drone can easily create powerful, sustained chords with minimal effort, perfect for rhythmic strumming or developing ambient textures.
• Droning Potential: The sheer number of A notes makes this tuning a drone machine. It encourages atmospheric playing, letting notes ring out and blend, which is central to the shoegaze aesthetic. Simple melodic lines played on the high E string will float over the deep, sustained A and D tones.

How to Tune (Starting from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve the DAAAAE Dsus2 tuning, adjust your guitar strings as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones from E2 to D2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from A2 to A2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 5 semitones from D3 to A2.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 2 semitones from G3 to A3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones from B3 to A3.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from E4 to E4.