Verbal and Technical Analysis of Standard (Terz) Tuning

This is Standard Tuning For an Alto Guitar. Standard (Terz) Tuning is a captivating variation designed for the Alto Guitar, which effectively transposes the entire range of a standard 7-string guitar up by a minor third (three semitones). The term "Terz" directly refers to this minor third transposition. This re-voicing creates a brighter, more brilliant tonal landscape, akin to playing a standard guitar with a capo on the 3rd fret, but with the enhanced resonance and playability of open strings.

Technically, the interval relationships between all seven strings remain identical to standard guitar tuning (B-E-A-D-G-B-E). This means that all your familiar chord shapes and scale patterns translate directly to this tuning. For instance, an open E major chord shape will now produce a G major chord, and an open A minor shape will become a C minor. This makes it incredibly accessible for players already comfortable with standard tuning, allowing them to explore new sonic textures without learning entirely new fingerings.

Open String Chords and Accessibility

The open strings in this tuning are D2-G2-C3-F3-A#4-D4-G4. These notes provide a rich harmonic foundation:

• The open D-G-C-F can suggest a D minor 7 (Dm7) or D sus4 with a flattened 7th.
• D-G-C forms a Dsus4 chord.
• G-C-F creates a Gsus4 or a C major 7 no root.
• With the full open tuning (D-G-C-F-A#-D-G), you have elements of a D minor 9 (D-F-A#-C-G, with D and G an octave higher) or a C Major 13 (#11) without a root, emphasizing the brighter tonality.

How to Tune to Standard (Terz) Tuning

To achieve Standard (Terz) Tuning, each string is uniformly tuned up by 3 semitones from its current standard tuning pitch. This results in the following target notes for each string:

• String 7 (Lowest String): Tune up 3 semitones to D2.
• String 6: Tune up 3 semitones to G2.
• String 5: Tune up 3 semitones to C3.
• String 4: Tune up 3 semitones to F3.
• String 3: Tune up 3 semitones to A#4.
• String 2: Tune up 3 semitones to D4.
• String 1 (Highest String): Tune up 3 semitones to G4.

It is important to exercise caution when tuning strings up. The tuning instructions advise: "Generally tuning up 3 or 4 semi tones the user should take care. When they exceed negative 4 or positive 4 or above a different guage string is advised." Since all strings are tuned up by 3 semitones, this falls within the range where care should be taken to avoid excessive tension or string breakage. If you intend to use this tuning regularly or find the string tension to be too high, considering a lighter gauge of strings is recommended.

Open String Notes:

• String 7 (Lowest String): D2
• String 6: G2
• String 5: C3
• String 4: F3
• String 3: A#4
• String 2: D4
• String 1 (Highest String): G4