Tuning Overview: D A E A D E

This intriguing tuning, D A E A D E, is a highly customized and expressive setup, designed to evoke a "darker feel" while remaining versatile for modern playing styles such as tapping and intricate arpeggios, often associated with genres like skramz. It's built on a foundation that prioritizes open, resonant voicings and allows for both heavy, drone-like passages and bright, melodic excursions.

Verbal Analysis

The user describes this tuning as an evolution from a D A E A C# E setup, with the goal of achieving a deeper, more somber atmosphere. This is primarily accomplished by raising the 2nd string (B string in standard) a semitone further, from C# to D, creating a powerful open D-based harmony. The retention of the high E on the 1st string (high E string in standard) ensures that despite the overall darker feel, there's still a bright, shimmering top end available for contrasts, leads, or upper extensions in chords. The structure lends itself well to techniques like tapping due to the easily accessible, open string intervals, allowing for fluid, note-dense passages without excessive fretting hand effort. Similarly, the open resonance is ideal for complex arpeggios, giving them a full, sustained quality. The ability to use the top two strings for specific voicings and then adding the highest strings for a darker feel suggests a dynamic approach to chord construction and melody.

Technical Analysis

Comparing to standard E Standard tuning (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4), the D A E A D E tuning presents a significant departure:

• Low E (6th string): Tuned down a whole step from E2 to D2.
• A (5th string): Remains at A2.
• D (4th string): Tuned up a whole step from D3 to E3.
• G (3rd string): Tuned up a whole step from G3 to A3.
• B (2nd string): Tuned up a minor third from B3 to D4.
• High E (1st string): Remains at E4.

The open strings D2-A2-E3-A3-D4-E4 form a rich, suspended chord. Specifically, it's an Open Dsus2add4 chord (D-A-E-A-D-E). This provides a substantial, harmonically ambiguous foundation that can be either resolved or exploited for its inherent tension.

Chordal and Melodic Opportunities:

• Open Chord: The open tuning itself is a resonant Dsus2add4. This provides an immediate "home" sound that is full and slightly melancholic, perfect for atmospheric introductions or sustained drones.
• Power Chords: The presence of D, A, and E intervals means that power chords are easily accessible across various string sets. For instance, barring across the 6th and 5th strings creates a D5. Barring across the 5th and 4th strings creates an A5. The repeating D-A-D-A pattern across strings 6-3 makes for very easy root-fifth-root or root-fifth voicings, facilitating quick, heavy riffs.
• Modal Exploration: The low D string establishes a strong root, but the presence of E (the 2nd) and A (the 5th) on the open strings allows for easy exploration of D Dorian or D Aeolian modes, depending on how other notes are introduced. The high E also contributes to this modal ambiguity.
• Barre Chords: Due to the non-standard intervals, traditional barre chord shapes will need significant adjustment. However, barring across all six strings at a single fret will produce unique, complex voicings. For example:
  • Fret 1: Eb B F Bb Eb F (Ebmaj7#11/Bb type voicing)
  • Fret 2: E C F# B E F# (Emaj7#11/B type voicing)
  These open-string intervals make it possible to create dense, chord-like sounds with minimal effort, which is excellent for sonic textures and soundscapes.
• Tapping & Arpeggios: The open string layout, particularly the repeating D and A notes, combined with the higher E, creates a fertile ground for two-hand tapping and open-string arpeggios. The natural resonance of the open strings will sustain well, making tapped phrases sound full and clear. The melodic intervals on the higher strings (A-D-E) are conducive to flowing arpeggiated patterns.

Overall, D A E A D E is a highly creative and sonically rich tuning that departs from convention to offer a distinct tonal palette, perfect for players seeking a darker, more expansive sound with a strong emphasis on open string resonance and modern playing techniques.

Tuning Notes

Here are the notes for each string in the D A E A D E tuning, from the lowest (6th string) to the highest (1st string):

• 6th String: D2
• 5th String: A2
• 4th String: E3
• 3rd String: A3
• 2nd String: D4
• 1st String: E4

How to Tune Your Guitar to D A E A D E

To achieve the D A E A D E tuning from standard E Standard tuning, follow these specific instructions for each string. Please ensure your guitar is in standard tuning (E A D G B E) before beginning, and use a reliable tuner.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones from E2 to D2. This is a common drop tuning, and the string should handle this tension change without issue.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains at A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 2 semitones from D3 to E3. This is a moderate increase in tension, but well within safe limits for a standard gauge string.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 2 semitones from G3 to A3. Similar to the 4th string, this is a manageable tension increase.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 3 semitones from B3 to D4. This is a slightly larger jump, but generally safe. Always tune slowly and carefully.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains at E4.

All string movements are within 4 semitones up or down, meaning a standard set of guitar strings should comfortably accommodate this tuning without the need for a different gauge. However, as with any tuning involving tension changes, listen to your guitar and always tune gradually.