The Monkolonious Tuning: An Exploratory Sonic Landscape

Named "Monkolonious" with the intriguing description "NASA", this guitar tuning truly embodies an spirit of exploration, pushing the boundaries of conventional guitar voicings. It's a tuning that deviates significantly from standard EADGBe, creating a sonic landscape that is both complex and potentially dissonant, yet ripe with unique harmonic and melodic possibilities for the adventurous guitarist.

Verbal Analysis

At its core, the Monkolonious tuning (D2 A2 D3 F#4 G3 C4) immediately establishes a deep, resonant foundation with a D power chord on the lower three strings (D-A-D). This gives it a strong, earthy base. However, the upper three strings introduce a highly unconventional and somewhat inverted pitch structure. The 3rd string is tuned to F#4, followed by the 2nd string at G3, and the 1st string at C4. This means the 3rd string (F#4) is actually higher in pitch than the 2nd string (G3), which is highly unusual for a guitar and requires a different approach to fingering and chord shapes.

The open notes of the tuning — D, A, F#, G, C — combine to form a rich, complex cluster. While it doesn't resolve into a simple major or minor chord, it contains elements of a D Major triad (D-F#-A), a minor seventh (C), and a perfect fourth (G). This creates a sound akin to a Dmaj7sus4 or a Dsus4 with an added major third and minor seventh, offering a unique blend of tension and resolution. This intricate voicing is perfect for creating modern, jazz-fusion, or experimental music, moving away from predictable harmonies.

Playing open chords will yield surprising results, with traditional chord shapes being completely re-contextualized or unusable. Instead, this tuning encourages fresh exploration, leading to unique voicings, arpeggios, and melodic lines that would be impossible in standard tuning. The close proximity of the F#4 and G3 on the 3rd and 2nd strings, despite their unusual order, could create interesting microtonal or drone effects.

Technical Analysis

• Full Tuning: D2 A2 D3 F#4 G3 C4 (from thickest to thinnest string).
• Compared to Standard (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4):
  • String 6: E2 → D2 (down a major second / 2 semitones)
  • String 5: A2 → A2 (unison)
  • String 4: D3 → D3 (unison)
  • String 3: G3 → F#4 (up an augmented 7th / 11 semitones. Note: As detailed in 'How to Tune', achieving F#4 from G3 requires significant tension not reflected in the provided tuning movements, which specify only a 1-semitone drop from G3 resulting in F#3. For the purpose of the target tuning description, F#4 is the specified note in the `tuning_notes`.)
  • String 2: B3 → G3 (down a minor third / 4 semitones)
  • String 1: E4 → C4 (down a major third / 4 semitones)
• Open String Intervals (from D2): D (root), A (Perfect 5th), D (Octave), F# (Major 3rd, but an octave higher and out of standard pitch order), G (Perfect 4th, also out of standard pitch order), C (minor 7th).
• Chordal Implications: The D-A-D foundation provides a solid base. The upper strings (F#4, G3, C4) create an inverted chord structure where the 3rd string is higher than the 2nd. This suggests that simple barre chords across all strings will not be practical, but partial voicings and melodic movements will thrive. The open string notes (D, F#, A, G, C) offer a rich, extended D chord sound, containing elements of D major, a suspended 4th, and a minor 7th.
• Creative Potential: This tuning encourages breaking away from standard guitar theory. It's ideal for percussive playing, drone effects, and crafting intricate, non-linear melodies. The unique high-low-high pattern of strings 3-2-1 provides a distinct sonic signature.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve the Monkolonious tuning, follow these precise adjustments. Please note the specific semitone changes and consider string gauge for larger adjustments.

• String 6 (Low E): Starting from E2, tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• String 5 (A): Starting from A2, keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to A2.
• String 4 (D): Starting from D3, keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to D3.
• String 3 (G): Starting from G3, tune down 1 semitone to F#3. Important Note: While the specified target note for this string in the tuning is F#4, the provided string movement instruction only indicates a 1-semitone drop from G3, which results in F#3. Achieving F#4 from a standard G3 would require an extreme increase in tension (approximately +11 semitones), which is not advised without a much lighter gauge string and professional setup. For safety and consistency with the tuning instructions, follow the movement to F#3.
• String 2 (B): Starting from B3, tune down 4 semitones to G3. Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change; consider using a slightly heavier gauge string if you frequently use this tuning to maintain optimal tension and tone.
• String 1 (High E): Starting from E4, tune down 4 semitones to C4. Similar to string 2, tuning down 4 semitones is substantial. For best results and string longevity, a slightly heavier gauge string might be beneficial for this position.