Explore the unique soundscape of this custom Guitar tuning, aptly named "Polvo D" by its originators. This tuning has been prominently featured in many Polvo tracks, including "Time Isn't On My Side" and "Can I Ride," showcasing its distinct sonic character. It's a tuning designed to evoke a resonant, almost droning quality, diverging from conventional open tunings to create a rich, textural foundation.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning offers a dark, resonant, and expansive sound, heavily leaning into drone-like textures. The multiple D's and A's across different octaves create a thick, sustained foundation that is both powerful and atmospheric. The inclusion of the G string (G3) within this D-A centric framework introduces a suspended quality, giving the tuning a melancholic yet intriguing feel. It's perfectly suited for intricate arpeggios, sustained chords, and experimental lead lines that benefit from its wide harmonic spread and strong tonal center.

Technical Analysis

The tuning notes are D2 A2 A2 G3 D4 D4, from low to high. This setup immediately establishes a strong D root and A perfect fifth. The repetition of A2 (String 5 & 4) and D4 (String 2 & 1) creates unison and octave doublings, enhancing resonance and harmonic richness. When analyzing the intervals relative to the lowest D (D2):

• String 6 (Low D): Root (D2)
• String 5 (A): Perfect Fifth (A2)
• String 4 (A): Unison Perfect Fifth (A2)
• String 3 (G): Perfect Fourth (G3)
• String 2 (D): Root, one octave up (D4)
• String 1 (High D): Unison Root, one octave up (D4)

The open strings fundamentally form a Dsus4 chord (D-G-A), but the extensive octave and unison doubling of D and A notes provide a much fuller, almost orchestral voicing. This is not a standard open major or minor tuning, making it ideal for unique melodic and harmonic exploration.

Chords and Playability

With the open strings yielding a dense Dsus4, players can immediately achieve a rich, unresolved harmony that begs for melodic interplay. Barring across any fret will naturally produce suspended chords or power chords with added color, given the inherent intervals. For instance, barring at the 2nd fret would give E-B-B-A-E-E, suggesting an Esus4 chord. Simple shapes and single-note lines played against the open D and A strings will naturally resonate and create drone-like effects. The tuning encourages an experimental approach, moving beyond traditional chord voicings to leverage the unique intervals and resonant qualities.

Important Tuning Considerations

This tuning involves significant adjustments from standard EADGBe. Notably, String 4 is tuned down by 5 semitones (from D to A), which is a considerable drop. For optimal string tension, intonation, and to prevent string breakage, a heavier gauge string for String 4 is highly recommended. Additionally, String 2 is tuned up by 3 semitones (from B to D), requiring careful and slow adjustment to avoid snapping the string.

Open String Notes

• String 6 (Low E string): D2
• String 5 (A string): A2
• String 4 (D string): A2
• String 3 (G string): G3
• String 2 (B string): D4
• String 1 (High E string): D4

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

This tuning involves significant changes for some strings. Special care should be taken with String 4, which is tuned down 5 semitones; a different gauge string is strongly advised for optimal performance and to prevent string damage. For String 2, which is tuned up 3 semitones, proceed slowly and carefully as tuning up 3 or 4 semitones requires caution.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune to D2. Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 5 (A): Tune to A2. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 4 (D): Tune to A2. Tune down 5 semitones. (Note: For drops exceeding 4 semitones, a different gauge string is advised.)
• String 3 (G): Tune to G3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2 (B): Tune to D4. Tune up 3 semitones. (Note: Exercise caution when tuning up 3 or more semitones.)
• String 1 (High E): Tune to D4. Tune down 2 semitones.