Tuning Analysis: Owls 2

The tuning known as "Owls 2" presents a unique and resonant soundscape, living up to its mystical "hoot hoot" description. It deviates significantly from standard tuning, offering a fresh palette for melodic and harmonic exploration.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning immediately evokes a sense of open space and rich resonance. The open strings reveal a D major triad (D-F#-A) as a strong foundational element. With the addition of E and B, the overall open chord can be perceived as a lush D Major chord with added 9th (E) and 13th (B), effectively a Dmaj(add9,add6). This makes the tuning particularly well-suited for D major key playing, allowing for evocative arpeggios and harmonies with minimal fretting. The overall character is bright and full, yet with an underlying introspection due to the unconventional string intervals.

A striking feature is the dramatic shift in pitch between the 4th (D3) and 3rd (F#4) strings, presenting a large octave-and-a-major-third interval. This is immediately followed by an unusual descent from the 3rd string (F#4) to the 2nd string (A3), where the 2nd string is pitched lower than the 3rd. This non-linear arrangement across the strings will inspire unique voicings and scale patterns, potentially lending itself to fingerstyle playing where these intervallic relationships can be highlighted to create a distinctive, almost bell-like quality.

Technical Analysis

• Open Notes: D2 B2 D3 F#4 A3 E4 (from the lowest string to the highest string positions).
• Pitch Classes: The open strings contain the notes D, E, F#, A, B. These notes collectively form a D Major Pentatonic scale, providing a strong harmonic foundation in D Major.
• Chordal Implication: The open strings collectively form a D Major chord with added 9th (E) and 13th/6th (B) – essentially a Dmaj(add9,add6). This makes open D Major chords and arpeggios particularly resonant and full.
• Intervals between adjacent open strings:
  • 6th String (D2) to 5th String (B2): Major 6th up.
  • 5th String (B2) to 4th String (D3): Minor 3rd up.
  • 4th String (D3) to 3rd String (F#4): Major 3rd up, plus an octave (or a compound Major 10th). This is a very wide and distinctive interval.
  • 3rd String (F#4) to 2nd String (A3): Major 6th down. Note that the 2nd string (A3) is pitched lower than the 3rd string (F#4).
  • 2nd String (A3) to 1st String (E4): Perfect 5th up.
• Unconventional Pitch Order: The tuning features a non-ascending pitch order between the 3rd (F#4) and 2nd (A3) strings, which is a rare characteristic and opens up unique melodic and harmonic possibilities, requiring a different approach to fretboard navigation.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Owls 2" tuning, follow these adjustments. The movements are described relative to a standard starting position. Please exercise care when tuning, especially when increasing string tension, and consult the target notes carefully.

• 6th String: To reach D2, tune down 2 semitones.
• 5th String: To reach B2, tune up 2 semitones.
• 4th String: To reach D3, keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 3rd String: To reach F#4, tune down 1 semitone. (Note: While the movement itself is small, the target note F#4 is significantly higher than a standard G3 string. If you are starting from a standard gauge G3 string, tuning it up to F#4 would involve increasing tension by an octave plus a semitone, which would be extremely high tension and likely require a thinner gauge string. The instruction to "tune down 1 semitone" implies the string is already at G4. Please ensure your instrument and string gauge are suitable for this high pitch.)
• 2nd String: To reach A3, tune down 2 semitones.
• 1st String: To reach E4, keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

All individual string adjustments (semitone movements) fall within the recommended range of -4 to +4 semitones, generally considered safe for standard string gauges. However, as noted for the 3rd string, always be mindful of the absolute target pitch relative to your string gauge and instrument's capabilities.

The open strings for "Owls 2" are tuned as follows:

• 6th String (Lowest): D2
• 5th String: B2
• 4th String: D3
• 3rd String: F#4
• 2nd String: A3
• 1st String (Highest): E4