Tuning Analysis: Catriel's Open DAEBB

Verbal Description

This distinctive tuning, famously utilized by the guitarist from Rayos Catriel, offers a rich and expansive sound palette. With its double E and double B strings, it creates a naturally thick and resonant quality, almost like a built-in chorus or drone effect when played open. The tuning leans towards a bright and open character, making it well-suited for atmospheric music, folk, indie, or alternative rock genres where sustained open string voicings can add depth and texture. The low D string provides a robust and grounding foundation, while the unique combination of repeated notes lends itself to interesting melodic and harmonic possibilities.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to D2-A2-E3-E3-B3-B3 (low to high). Let's break down the intervals and harmonic implications:

• Interval Structure: The tuning features strong perfect fifths: D-A (P5), A-E (P5), and E-B (P5). These are interspersed with unisons: E-E and B-B. This structure ensures a powerful, resonant sound for strummed chords and excellent note separation for fingerstyle.
• Open Chord Voicing: The open strings collectively form a D6(sus2) chord (D, A, E, B). This includes the root (D), perfect fifth (A), major second/ninth (E), and major sixth/thirteenth (B). The absence of a major or minor third directly in the open tuning makes it highly versatile, allowing it to adapt to both major and minor harmonic contexts depending on the fretted notes.
• Chordal Possibilities:
  • Barre Chords: A simple single-finger barre across all six strings at any fret will typically yield an open voicing rich with perfect fifths, unisons, and often an added 2nd/9th or 6th/13th, creating complex yet harmonious sounds. For example, barring at the 2nd fret yields an E6(add9) (E-B-F#-F#-C#-C#).
  • Power Chords: The presence of multiple perfect fifths makes this tuning excellent for powerful two- or three-string power chords, especially on the lower strings (D-A-E).
  • Drone Effects: The unison E3-E3 and B3-B3 strings naturally lend themselves to creating sustained drones, adding depth and a 'wall of sound' effect, particularly when combined with melodic lines on other strings.
• Unique Characteristics: This tuning involves significant deviations from standard. The low E string is dropped to D, the D string is raised to E, the G string is dropped to E, and the high E string is dropped substantially to B. This combination creates a unique spread of notes that can be challenging but rewarding for creative exploration.

How to Tune to Catriel's Open DAEBB

To achieve the Catriel's Open DAEBB tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps. Please be mindful of string tension changes, especially for larger movements.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune your low E string (E2) down 2 semitones to D2.
• 5th String (A): Keep your A string (A2) as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune your D string (D3) up 2 semitones to E3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune your G string (G3) down 3 semitones to E3.
• 2nd String (B): Keep your B string (B3) as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains B3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune your high E string (E4) down 5 semitones to B3. Warning: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change. If you plan to keep your guitar in this tuning for extended periods, or if your string feels too loose, consider using a heavier gauge string for optimal tension and tone.