Unveiling the 'Sweeter Than Wine' Tuning (DAF#DBE)

This unique guitar tuning, known as DAF#DBE, is popularized by John Mark Pantana for his piece 'Sweeter Than Wine'. It transforms the standard guitar landscape into a rich, resonant sonic tapestry, offering a distinctly open and harmonically complex sound. This tuning leans into D major tonality but introduces intriguing extensions and open string relationships.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to D2-A2-F#3-D3-B3-E4 (low to high). When strummed open, these notes form a beautiful and full Dmaj6/9 chord. Let's break down its components:

• D (Root): String 6 (D2) and String 3 (D3) provide a strong foundation.
• A (Perfect 5th): String 5 (A2) reinforces the D major harmony.
• F# (Major 3rd): String 4 (F#3) clearly defines the D major quality.
• B (Major 6th): String 2 (B3) adds a sweet, expansive character to the chord.
• E (Major 9th/2nd): String 1 (E4) introduces a bright, shimmering extension.

The presence of the D root, F# third, and A fifth across the lower strings (D-A-F#) combined with the D-B-E on the higher strings creates a versatile platform. Barre chords become highly accessible, allowing players to transpose the open Dmaj6/9 shape across the fretboard to achieve different major 6/9 chords (e.g., an Emaj6/9 at the 2nd fret). Additionally, the unique voicing encourages the discovery of new chord shapes and melodic possibilities, particularly within the D major key and its relative minor (B minor).

Important Note on String 4 (F#3 vs F4#)

It's critical to address a potential discrepancy for String 4. While the provided 'tuning_notes' lists this string as F4#, the 'string_movements' data explicitly states to 'Tune up 4 semitones' from its standard D3, which would result in F#3. Tuning to F4# from D3 would require an extreme 16-semitone increase, which is physically impossible and highly dangerous for a standard guitar string. For player safety and practical playability, our analysis and tuning instructions assume the intended target note for String 4 is F#3.

How to Tune (From Standard EADGBe)

Careful attention to string tension is advised, particularly for strings undergoing significant semitone changes. If a string requires tuning up or down by more than 4 semitones, consider using a heavier or lighter gauge string respectively to prevent breakage or excessive looseness.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones from E2 to D2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 4 semitones from D3 to F#3. (Note: Tuning up 4 semitones puts considerable tension on the string. A heavier gauge string may be advisable for better tension and tone.)
• String 3 (G): Tune down 5 semitones from G3 to D3. (Note: Tuning down 5 semitones will make this string significantly looser. A heavier gauge string may be advisable for better tension and tone.)
• String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at B3.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at E4.

Tuning Notes (Low to High)

String 6: D2
String 5: A2
String 4: F4#
String 3: D3
String 2: B3
String 1: E4