Description: Belew Tuning (DADEDE)

This unique tuning, known as the Belew tuning, is famously associated with the innovative guitarist Adrian Belew. As he mentioned in an article, it transforms the guitar into a sonic landscape of D-A-D-E-D-E from low to high. This setup is perfect for exploring ambient textures, intricate arpeggios, and experimental soundscapes, reflecting Belew's signature style.

Verbal Analysis:

The Belew tuning offers a wonderfully open and resonant sound due to the abundance of D and E notes across the strings. It leans into a drone-like quality, where the open strings create a harmonically rich bed. The juxtaposition of perfect fourths and fifths with the prominent major second intervals (E notes) gives it a shimmering, almost bell-like quality, allowing for both melodic clarity and lush, sustained chords. It encourages a departure from traditional chord shapes, opening up new fingerings and voicing possibilities, making it an excellent choice for progressive rock, experimental, and ambient music styles.

Technical Analysis:

• Instrument Type: Guitar
• Tuning Notes: D2 - A2 - D3 - E3 - D4 - E4 (from low E to high E string)
• Intervals (from low to high string):
  • String 6 (D2) to String 5 (A2): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
  • String 5 (A2) to String 4 (D3): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
  • String 4 (D3) to String 3 (E3): Major 2nd (2 semitones)
  • String 3 (E3) to String 2 (D4): Minor 7th (10 semitones) - this creates a large leap in pitch, with D4 being an octave above D3, but positioned above E3.
  • String 2 (D4) to String 1 (E4): Major 2nd (2 semitones)
• Open Chord Voicing: When strummed open, the notes D, A, and E are present. This forms a Dsus2 chord (D - E - A). The stacked D's and E's create a rich, full voicing with a clear root (D) and a prominent suspended 2nd (E).
• Chordal Possibilities and Reach:
  • Open Dsus2: The full open tuning immediately gives you a Dsus2 chord, which can serve as a powerful drone or a starting point for melodic exploration.
  • Barre Chords: By barring all strings at a given fret, you can easily transpose the Dsus2 shape. For example, barring at the 5th fret yields a Gsus2, and at the 7th fret, an Asus2.
  • Unique Voicings: The adjacent D-E pairs (D3-E3 and D4-E4) make it easy to create beautiful major 2nd intervals and clusters across the neck, ideal for arpeggiated figures and harmonically dense passages. The low D-A-D foundation also makes for very accessible power chords and heavy, droning riffs rooted in D. The presence of these specific intervals across the fretboard encourages players to experiment with non-standard voicings and lead lines.

How to Tune to Belew Tuning (DADEDE)

To achieve Adrian Belew's distinctive DADEDE tuning, you will adjust your strings from standard E Standard tuning (E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4) as follows. Pay close attention to the number of semitones each string needs to move.

Standard Tuning Comparison:
Standard: E2 - A2 - D3 - G3 - B3 - E4
Belew: D2 - A2 - D3 - E3 - D4 - E4

String Movement Instructions:

• String 6 (Low E): Target D2. Tune down 2 semitones from E2. (Movement: -2 semitones).
• String 5 (A): Target A2. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). (Movement: 0 semitones).
• String 4 (D): Target D3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). (Movement: 0 semitones).
• String 3 (G): Target E3. Tune down 3 semitones from G3. (Movement: -3 semitones).
• String 2 (B): Target D4. Tune up 3 semitones from B3. (Movement: 3 semitones). Caution: Tuning a string up by 3 semitones should be done with care to avoid string breakage or undue stress on the guitar's neck. While this does not exceed the generally advised limit of 4 semitones where a different string gauge might be recommended, always tune slowly and be mindful of your instrument's tension.
• String 1 (High E): Target E4. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). (Movement: 0 semitones).

Always use a reliable tuner and tune slowly, especially when making larger adjustments, to ensure accuracy and protect your instrument.