The Dsus2 Modal tuning for Guitar, famously utilized by Don Ross in his captivating song "Thin Air," offers a bright, open, and resonant soundscape. This tuning transforms the standard EADGBe into DADEAE, creating a rich Dsus2 chord (D-A-E) across the open strings. The name "Modal" aptly describes its tendency to facilitate melodic and harmonic exploration, moving beyond conventional major/minor chord structures.

Technically, the open strings consist of D (root), A (perfect fifth), and E (major second/ninth), creating a strong, sustained sonority. The doubling of D, A, and E across various octaves provides a drone-like quality, perfect for fingerstyle arrangements and expressive compositions. With the low D and high E and A strings, this tuning naturally lends itself to open, ringing voicings. Chords based around D, A, and E will be easily accessible, and the unique intervals between strings encourage fresh melodic runs and arpeggios that highlight the suspension, giving it a characteristic open and ethereal feel often found in contemporary acoustic guitar.

This tuning is particularly well-suited for intricate fingerstyle pieces where rich sustain and open harmonic textures are desired, allowing for complex musical ideas to be expressed with relative ease due to the sympathetic resonance of the open strings.

Open String Notes:

• String 6 (Low E): D2
• String 5 (A): A2
• String 4 (D): D3
• String 3 (G): E3
• String 2 (B): A3
• String 1 (High E): E4

How to Tune:

To achieve the Dsus2 Modal tuning (DADEAE) from standard EADGBe tuning, follow these specific string adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to A2.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to D3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E4.

Note on String Gauges: While the semitone adjustments for this tuning are relatively minor (within 3 semitones up or down for altered strings), generally, for tunings that require changes of more than 4 semitones (either up or down), considering a different string gauge is advisable to maintain optimal tension and prevent string breakage or intonation issues. For this tuning, standard light or medium gauge strings should perform well without significant risk.