Ichika Nito - Ethereal Tuning Analysis

The 'Ichika Nito - Ethereal' tuning, as demonstrated in Ichika Nito's video, transforms the standard guitar into a resonant soundscape, ideal for intricate, melodic, and ambient compositions. This tuning creates a unique sonic signature, characteristic of Nito's modern fingerstyle and progressive approach.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to D2 A2 C#4 F#4 C#5 D4. Analyzing these notes reveals a strong foundation in D Major 7th (D, F#, A, C#). When strummed open, this tuning produces a rich, luminous Dmaj7 chord (D, A, C#, F#, C#, D).

A defining characteristic of this tuning is its re-entrant nature, particularly with the 1st string (D4) being tuned lower in pitch than both the 2nd string (C#5) and the 3rd string (F#4). This inverted string order for the higher strings creates unexpected melodic possibilities and unique voicings that are not possible in standard or typical open tunings.

The intervals between adjacent strings are varied, offering a diverse palette:

• 6th String (D2) to 5th String (A2): Perfect 5th
• 5th String (A2) to 4th String (C#4): Compound Major 3rd (A to C# over an octave) which is a Major 10th.
• 4th String (C#4) to 3rd String (F#4): Perfect 4th
• 3rd String (F#4) to 2nd String (C#5): Perfect 5th
• 2nd String (C#5) to 1st String (D4): A descending Minor 7th or an ascending Major 2nd if considering octaves. This re-entrant jump is key to the tuning's unique feel.

The tuning's structure makes the open Dmaj7 chord highly resonant. Chord shapes that typically require complex fingerings in standard tuning might become more accessible or sound strikingly different. Exploring inversions and partial chords around the open Dmaj7 will yield very 'ethereal' and shimmering qualities. Barre chords or single-finger drones on the lower D and A strings, combined with melodies on the higher re-entrant strings, can create dense, harmonically rich textures.

How to Tune to Ichika Nito - Ethereal

To achieve the 'Ichika Nito - Ethereal' tuning, you will adjust your standard EADGBe guitar strings to the following notes. Please pay close attention to the significant changes required for some strings, as they may necessitate a different string gauge to maintain proper tension and prevent damage.

Important Note on String Movements: There appears to be a discrepancy in the provided tuning data. For strings 4, 3, and 2, the movement instructions specified in the 'fret_text' (e.g., "Tune down 1 semitones") do not lead to the final target notes from standard tuning (EADGBe). The instructions below will guide you to the correct target notes based on the 'tuning_notes' provided, and we will also mention the 'fret_text' instructions for reference to highlight this difference.

• 6th String (Low E): Starting at standard E2. Tune down 2 semitones to achieve D2. (The provided instruction also states: "Tune down 2 semitones".) This is a safe adjustment.
• 5th String (A): Starting at standard A2. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to remain at A2. (The provided instruction also states: "Keep as is; no change (0 semitones)".) No adjustment needed.
• 4th String (D): Starting at standard D3. You need to tune up 11 semitones to achieve C#4. This is a very significant upward adjustment. (The provided instruction states: "Tune down 1 semitones", which would lead to C3 from D3, not C#4.) Due to the extreme upward tension change of 11 semitones (nearly an octave), it is highly recommended to use a lighter gauge string for this position, or proceed with extreme caution as string breakage is likely. If tuning up more than 4 semitones, a different gauge string is generally advised.
• 3rd String (G): Starting at standard G3. You need to tune up 11 semitones to achieve F#4. This is a very significant upward adjustment. (The provided instruction states: "Tune down 1 semitones", which would lead to F#3 from G3, not F#4.) Due to the extreme upward tension change of 11 semitones (nearly an octave), it is highly recommended to use a lighter gauge string for this position, or proceed with extreme caution as string breakage is likely. If tuning up more than 4 semitones, a different gauge string is generally advised.
• 2nd String (B): Starting at standard B3. You need to tune up 14 semitones to achieve C#5. This is an extremely significant upward adjustment, more than a full octave. (The provided instruction states: "Tune up 2 semitones", which would lead to C#4 from B3, not C#5.) Due to the severe upward tension change of 14 semitones, it is strongly advised to use a considerably lighter gauge string for this position, or risk immediate string breakage and potential neck damage. If tuning up more than 4 semitones, a different gauge string is generally advised.
• 1st String (High E): Starting at standard E4. Tune down 2 semitones to achieve D4. (The provided instruction also states: "Tune down 2 semitones".) This is a safe adjustment.