The Open D Hybrid Fifths tuning is a unique and intriguing setup for the guitar, offering a bright, rich, and complex major tonality when strummed open. While the original name from the user, "All fifth", suggests a tuning primarily built on perfect fifth intervals, this setup features a fascinating mix, starting with two perfect fifths, followed by a perfect fourth descent, and then two more perfect fifths.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning instantly conjures a lush, open D Major sound. The stacked intervals (D, A, E, B, F#, C#) create a resonant Dmaj13 chord when all strings are strummed without fretting. This makes it excellent for ambient music, folk, and any style where a rich, sustained major chord is desired. It's particularly well-suited for slide guitar, allowing for expressive melodies over the underlying D Major harmony. The bright, Lydian-like quality of the open strings (D E F# A B C#) can inspire melodic exploration in the D major scale, making it feel both familiar and fresh.

The user's initial desire for a "drop D on all strings" is an interesting aspiration that this tuning diverges from, offering instead a highly musical and harmonically sophisticated open chord. However, the substantial downward adjustments on several strings, particularly the 3rd and 2nd strings, will require careful attention to string tension and may benefit from using heavier gauge strings to maintain proper intonation and playability.

Technical Analysis

The tuning notes, from low to high, are D2-A2-E3-B2-F#3-C#4. Let's break down the intervals:

• 6th String (D2) to 5th String (A2): A perfect fifth (7 semitones).
• 5th String (A2) to 4th String (E3): Another perfect fifth (7 semitones).
• 4th String (E3) to 3rd String (B2): A perfect fourth *down* (7 semitones down, or a major 6th up from B2 to E3). This breaks the consistent fifths pattern.
• 3rd String (B2) to 2nd String (F#3): A perfect fifth (7 semitones).
• 2nd String (F#3) to 1st String (C#4): Another perfect fifth (7 semitones).

This unique sequence of P5-P5-P4(down)-P5-P5 creates a distinctive character. The open strings (D, A, E, B, F#, C#) form a rich Dmaj13 chord (Root, P5, M9, M13, M3, M7). This means that a simple open strum yields a complex, harmonically full chord, which can be a fantastic canvas for songwriting and improvisation.

The "shapes" of this tuning mean that many common chord voicings will need to be relearned. However, the consistent fifths on the outer string pairs (6-5, 5-4, 3-2, 2-1) could facilitate power chord shapes on these groups. The large drops on the 3rd and 2nd strings (8 and 5 semitones respectively from standard) will significantly reduce string tension, which could lead to buzzing or require a lighter touch. Experimenting with different string gauges is highly recommended to optimize playability and tone.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve the Open D Hybrid Fifths tuning (D2-A2-E3-B2-F#3-C#4) from standard EADGBe tuning, follow these instructions. Please be mindful of significant tension changes, especially for strings tuned more than 4 semitones up or down, where a different string gauge might be advised.

• 6th String (Low E - E2): Tune down 2 semitones to D2. (Movement: -2 semitones).
• 5th String (A - A2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at A2.
• 4th String (D - D3): Tune up 2 semitones to E3. (Movement: +2 semitones).
• 3rd String (G - G3): Tune down 8 semitones to B2. (Movement: -8 semitones). *Caution: This is a significant drop. Consider using a heavier gauge string for optimal tension and tone.*
• 2nd String (B - B3): Tune down 5 semitones to F#3. (Movement: -5 semitones). *Caution: This is a substantial drop. Consider using a heavier gauge string for optimal tension and tone.*
• 1st String (High E - E4): Tune down 3 semitones to C#4. (Movement: -3 semitones).