Tuning Analysis: Go Your Own Way (Rosebud)

This intriguing guitar tuning, named "Go Your Own Way (Rosebud)," is famously associated with Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. It's believed he utilized this unique arrangement for the iconic song "Go Your Own Way" and was also documented playing it in a rehearsal recording for the 1976 film "Rosebud." This tuning deviates significantly from standard EADGBe, offering a distinct sonic palette that contributes to Buckingham's signature style.

Verbal Analysis

The most striking aspect of this tuning is its open chord structure. When strummed open, the strings D-F-A#-F-A#-D resolve into an open D Augmented chord. This creates a sound that is both rich and somewhat suspended, avoiding the typical resolution of major or minor triads. The doubled F and A# notes across different octaves add a ringing quality, giving the tuning a bright yet ambiguous character. It’s a tuning designed for melodic exploration, arpeggiated figures, and unique voicings rather than traditional power chords or straightforward strumming. It evokes a feeling of tension and release, perfect for intricate fingerstyle or driving, arpeggio-based rhythms that define much of Buckingham's work.

Technical Analysis

• Instrument Type: Guitar
• Open String Notes: D2 F2 A#3 F3 A#4 D4 (from low E to high E string positions)
• Core Harmony: The open strings (D, F, A#) form a D Augmented triad, reinforced by octave doublings. This gives the tuning a naturally tense, expansive, and 'unresolved' feel, as augmented chords do not have a strong pull to a root.
• Interval Relationships:
  • Low D (Root)
  • F (Minor Third above D)
  • A# (Augmented Fifth above D, or Major Third above F)
  • F (Octave of the 5th string's F)
  • A# (Octave of the 4th string's A#)
  • High D (Octave of the 6th string's D)
• Chordal Possibilities:
  • Open D Augmented: The tuning's foundation. This chord is readily available simply by strumming all open strings, offering an immediate distinctive sound.
  • Transposable Augmented Chords: By barring across any fret, one can easily create other augmented chords (e.g., barring the 1st fret yields D# Augmented, 3rd fret yields F Augmented).
  • Extended Voicings: The unique intervals and open strings allow for complex, open voicings that are difficult to achieve in standard tuning. This makes it ideal for creating intricate melodic lines, arpeggios, and drones with a 'floating' quality.

How to Tune to Go Your Own Way (Rosebud)

This tuning requires significant adjustments from standard EADGBe. Please proceed with care and use a reliable tuner. Tuning strings down 4 semitones is a substantial change. While generally safe for standard gauge strings, consistently tuning strings down by 4 or more semitones, or up by 4 or more semitones, may eventually benefit from a different string gauge to maintain optimal tension, tone, and feel.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones from E to D2.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 4 semitones from A to F2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 4 semitones from D to A#3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 2 semitones from G to F3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 1 semitone from B to A#4.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones from E to D4.