Verbal Description

The 'D sus2' tuning, also known as a Michael Hedges tuning, transforms the guitar into a highly resonant and harmonically rich instrument. It’s an open tuning that immediately presents a bright, suspended quality, moving beyond conventional major or minor tonalities. This tuning is designed to inspire unique fingerstyle patterns, percussive techniques, and rich open-string drones, characteristic of Hedges' groundbreaking work. The arrangement of notes creates a spacious and ethereal soundscape, making it ideal for exploring non-traditional harmonies and intricate melodic lines.

Technical Analysis

This is an open D sus2 tuning, with the string notes arranged as D2-A2-E3-E3-A3-A3 from the 6th (low E) to the 1st (high E) string. The core notes of D, E, and A form a D sus2 chord, providing a strong tonal center while maintaining an open, airy feel. The presence of two E3 strings (4th and 3rd) and three A strings (5th, 2nd, and 1st) creates natural unison and octave relationships, which can be exploited for shimmering harmonics, sustained drones, and unique voicings. The overall range spans from D2 to A3.

Chords and Playability

• The most apparent open chord is a D sus2 (D-A-E), which rings out beautifully on the open strings (D2-A2-E3-E3-A3-A3).
• The repeating E and A notes across different octaves facilitate easy drone playing and arpeggiation, allowing for rich, sustained textures.
• With the low D and high A, simple single-finger barres across the lower strings can instantly create powerful suspended chords or unique voicings. The inherent open quality allows for complex harmonies with minimal fretting, making it easy to discover new chord shapes.
• This tuning is particularly well-suited for fingerstyle guitarists and those looking to experiment with ambient textures, modal explorations, and percussive techniques due to its inherent resonance and the wide intervals between certain strings.

Open String Notes

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

How to Tune from Standard E-A-D-G-B-E

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2. (Original E2 -> D2)
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2. (Original A2 -> A2)
• String 4 (D): Tune up 2 semitones to E3. (Original D3 -> E3)
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3. (Original G3 -> E3)
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3. (Original B3 -> A3)
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 7 semitones to A3. (Original E4 -> A3) Caution: This is a significant drop (-7 semitones); for optimal tension and tone, a heavier gauge string may be advised for this string.