The DABEAB Tuning is a distinct and resonant open guitar tuning that creates a rich harmonic landscape, ideal for a wide range of styles including atmospheric playing, fingerstyle, and slide guitar. It avoids a simple major or minor triad, instead presenting a sophisticated extended chord which invites unique melodic and harmonic exploration.

Verbal Analysis: This tuning immediately evokes a sense of openness and depth, largely due to the significantly lowered bass strings and the overall wide intervallic spread. The presence of two A notes and two B notes across different octaves creates a natural, ringing drone effect, adding to its expansive feel. The open strings form a harmony that lacks a definitive major or minor third, offering a versatile sound that can easily lean into various moods without committing to a specific tonality. When strummed open, it produces a rich, complex sonority that can be perceived as a D6/9 (without the third) or a Dadd9add6 chord. This makes it excellent for creating lush soundscapes, powerful, resonant chords, and intricate arpeggios. The parallel high A and B strings also provide bright, chime-like qualities for lead lines and melodic ornamentation.

Technical Analysis: The open string notes are D2-A2-B2-E3-A3-B3. Starting from the lowest D, the intervals are: a Perfect 5th (A), a Major 6th (B), a Major 9th (E), a Perfect 5th (A, an octave higher), and a Major 6th (B, an octave higher). This structure highlights the root, fifth, sixth, and ninth, forming a Dadd9/6 voicing (minus the third). This particular voicing is inherently ambiguous, allowing it to function effectively over both major and minor harmonic contexts. The strong fundamental (D-A power chord on the lowest strings) provides a solid base, while the higher extensions add complexity and sparkle. This tuning is excellent for exploring modal playing, as the absence of a fixed third allows different scales to be superimposed without harmonic clashes. Its wide intervallic spread also makes it conducive to unique chord shapes up the neck, often simplifying complex voicings into accessible fingerings.

• String 6 (Low E): Tuned to D2. This is your fundamental root note, providing a deep, resonant foundation.
• String 5 (A): Tuned to A2. This string provides the perfect fifth, establishing a strong, open harmonic base with the low D.
• String 4 (D): Tuned to B2. This adds a major sixth to the D, giving the tuning its unique character and color.
• String 3 (G): Tuned to E3. This note introduces a major ninth (or major second) relative to the low D, adding harmonic richness and complexity.
• String 2 (B): Tuned to A3. This is an octave reinforcement of the perfect fifth, adding brightness and sustain.
• String 1 (High E): Tuned to B3. This is an octave reinforcement of the major sixth, providing a high, ringing melodic voice.

How to Tune:

To correctly achieve the DABEAB tuning, please follow these specific string adjustments from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E):

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 5 semitones to B3. Important Note: Tuning this string down by 5 semitones is a substantial change in tension. If you plan to use this tuning frequently, it is advisable to consider using a lighter gauge string for your first string to maintain optimal playability and string longevity. Always tune carefully and gradually.