Tuning Description: Emotive Ascent

This unique tuning, originally conceived as a "fun emo tuning" for fingerstyle, opens up a world of rich, complex harmonies and shimmering textures. It's designed to inspire creative exploration, particularly with intricate fingerpicking patterns and arpeggios that highlight its expansive open voicing.

Verbal Analysis

The 'Emotive Ascent' tuning immediately strikes the ear with a sense of open airiness and a slightly melancholic yet bright character. The wide intervals between the lower strings create a deep, resonant foundation, while the higher strings, especially the prominent F4# on the 3rd string, add a distinctive clarity and sparkle. It's an excellent choice for players looking to break away from conventional voicings and discover new sonic landscapes. The tuning lends itself beautifully to ambient soundscapes, expressive melodic lines, and intricate fingerstyle compositions, allowing notes to ring out with a choir-like quality.

Technical Analysis

The open strings of 'Emotive Ascent' are configured as D2 A2 B2 F4# G3 D4 (from lowest to highest string). When played together, these notes form a complex and evocative chord. From the lowest D2, the intervals ascend through a Perfect 5th (A2), Major 6th (B2), Major 3rd (F4#), Perfect 4th (G3), and finally an Octave (D4). Specifically, the open notes D2-A2-B2-F4#-G3-D4 collectively imply a Dmaj11 chord, with an added 6th (B), but without the 7th or 9th. This gives it a sophisticated, suspended quality, full of harmonic tension and release. The presence of the F4# on the third string is particularly striking, creating interesting interplay with the G3 on the second string and the D4 on the first, suggesting bright D major sonorities within the higher register.

Due to its non-standard intervals, common chord shapes will need to be re-imagined. However, the open strings themselves provide a rich chord. Simple two and three-finger voicings will quickly reveal new harmonic possibilities. For example:

• Playing strings 6, 5, and 4 (D2, A2, B2) together yields a Dsus2(add6) or a Bm(addb6).
• Playing strings 3, 2, and 1 (F4#, G3, D4) together produces a D major triad with an added G (D-F#-G), creating a Dmaj(add4) voicing.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'Emotive Ascent' tuning, follow these precise string adjustments, aiming for the specified target notes. The tuning instructions below are derived directly from the provided string movement data.

• String 6 (D2): Tune up 3 semitones.
• String 5 (A2): Tune up 5 semitones.
• String 4 (B2): Tune up 2 semitones.
• String 3 (F4#): Tune up 4 semitones.
• String 2 (G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (D4): Tune up 3 semitones.

Important String Tension Advisory

Please exercise caution when tuning to 'Emotive Ascent'. Several strings require significant upward tuning, which can increase string tension considerably.

• Tuning String 5 up 5 semitones and String 3 up 4 semitones involves substantial tension changes.
• For these strings, particularly if you are starting from a standard gauge, it is highly recommended to consider using lighter gauge strings to prevent breakage and potential damage to your instrument. The high F4# target note on String 3 is particularly high and may require a specialized string gauge to achieve safely. Always tune slowly and carefully.

Open String Notes

The final notes for the 'Emotive Ascent' tuning are:

• String 6: D2
• String 5: A2
• String 4: B2
• String 3: F4#
• String 2: G3
• String 1: D4