The "DADEBA Billy McLaughlin Tuning" is a distinctive open tuning for guitar that creates a rich and resonant soundscape. Characterized by its unique intervals and the presence of multiple 'D' and 'A' notes across the strings, it lends itself to a full, spacious, and often percussive playing style, as favored by its namesake, Billy McLaughlin. This tuning moves away from standard guitar voicings to open up new harmonic and melodic possibilities.

Technical Analysis:

This tuning transforms the standard EADGBe into D2-A2-D3-E3-B3-A3. This configuration features:

• Root and Fifth Focus: The lowest three strings (D2-A2-D3) form a powerful D5 chord, providing a strong harmonic foundation that is easy to exploit for driving rhythms and drone effects.
• Extended Harmony: The full set of open strings (D, A, D, E, B, A) includes the root (D), perfect fifth (A), major second/ninth (E), and major sixth (B). This collection of notes suggests a Dsus2/4 or D6/9 tonality. The E and B notes add a shimmering, extended quality that prevents the tuning from sounding like a simple major or minor chord.
• Unique Intervals: The interval between the 3rd string (D3) and 2nd string (E3) is a major 2nd, while the 2nd string (E3) to 1st string (B3) is a perfect 5th. However, the first string then drops to A3, creating an interesting minor 2nd interval between the 2nd string (B3) and 1st string (A3) when played in sequence, or a major 7th from A to B across those strings. This can lead to both resonant drone-like effects and opportunities for melodic or slightly dissonant voicings, perfect for creating tension and release.

The open strings themselves can be strummed to create a rich, ambiguous D-based chord (D-A-D-E-B-A) that is neither strictly major nor minor but full of harmonic potential, often leaning towards a suspended or added-note quality. Power chords are incredibly accessible, especially on the lower strings. The spread of D's and A's across the tuning also means that arpeggiated patterns will sound particularly lush and resonant.

Open Chords and Voicings:

With the DADEBA tuning, open string voicings immediately offer a sense of grandeur and openness:

• Full Open Strum: Strumming all open strings (D-A-D-E-B-A) creates a rich Dadd9sus4/A or D6/9sus4 feel, perfect for expansive, atmospheric music.
• Power Chords: Moving a single finger across the lowest three strings (e.g., fretting all three at the 2nd fret for E5) is simple and powerful, making heavy riffs and rock-oriented playing very intuitive.
• Barre Chords: Barre chords will yield unique voicings. A single barre across all strings will create complex, extended chords based on the root of the barre. For example, a barre at the 2nd fret would yield an E-B-E-F#-C#-B chord, which is an Eadd9sus4/B.
• Melodic Opportunities: The distinct intervals between the higher strings encourage melodic fingerstyle playing, allowing for ringing drones and expressive lines to be woven seamlessly into compositions.

How to Tune:

To achieve the DADEBA Billy McLaughlin Tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps. Please take care when tuning, especially with significant pitch changes. Generally, if a string requires tuning up or down more than 4 semitones, a different gauge string is advised for optimal performance and to prevent string breakage or poor intonation.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down from E2 to D2. This is a movement of 2 semitones down.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (A2). This is a movement of 0 semitones.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (D3). This is a movement of 0 semitones.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down from G3 to E3. This is a movement of 3 semitones down.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (B3). This is a movement of 0 semitones.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down from E4 to A3. This is a significant movement of 7 semitones down. For this string, tuning down 7 semitones to A3 might require a heavier gauge string for optimal performance and to avoid the string becoming too slack.

The tuning for each string, from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st), is as follows:

• String 6 (Low E) tunes to D2
• String 5 (A) tunes to A2
• String 4 (D) tunes to D3
• String 3 (G) tunes to E3
• String 2 (B) tunes to B3
• String 1 (High E) tunes to A3