Verbal Analysis

The Augmented Harmony Tuning is a truly unique and modern approach to guitar voicings, stepping far beyond traditional guitar tunings. This tuning creates an open soundscape rich with tension, symmetry, and an almost otherworldly atmosphere. It encourages exploration of non-diatonic harmonies, making it perfect for avant-garde, jazz fusion, ambient soundscapes, or experimental music. The open strings themselves present a complex, resonant cluster that hints at sophisticated harmonic possibilities, rather than immediately resolving to a simple major or minor chord.

Technical Analysis

This tuning sets the strings to: D2 - G#3 - C3 - F#4 - A#4 - E4 (from low E to high E string). The intervallic relationships between adjacent strings are:

• 6th String (D2) to 5th String (G#3): While the pitch-class interval is a tritone (D to G#), the actual interval is an octave and a tritone (18 semitones up). This creates a significant jump in pitch.
• 5th String (G#3) to 4th String (C3): A major third (4 semitones up).
• 4th String (C3) to 3rd String (F#4): Similar to the 6th to 5th string, the pitch-class interval is a tritone (C to F#), but the actual interval is an octave and a tritone (18 semitones up).
• 3rd String (F#4) to 2nd String (A#4): A major third (4 semitones up).
• 2nd String (A#4) to 1st String (E4): A tritone (6 semitones up).

The overall tuning structure is characterized by an alternating pattern of Tritone and Major Third pitch-class intervals, forming a symmetrical cycle (D-G#-C-F#-A#-E). Crucially, the collective open string notes (D, G#, C, F#, A#, E) contain two augmented triads: D augmented (D, F#, A#) and C augmented (C, E, G#). This inherent augmented harmony provides the tuning with its distinctive character and name, making it less about diatonic scales and more about symmetrical and extended harmonies.

Chordal Opportunities & Reach

Given the unique structure, this tuning naturally lends itself to:

• Augmented Harmonies: The open strings directly present the notes of D Augmented (D, F#, A#) and C Augmented (C, E, G#). Strumming all strings yields a dense, open augmented cluster chord with a wide voicing and rich resonance.
• Symmetrical Voicings: The repeating tritone/major third interval pattern means that finger patterns and chord shapes built on these intervals will be highly transposable across different string sets, facilitating symmetrical melodic and harmonic ideas.
• Dissonant & Ambient Textures: The combination of tritones and significant octave jumps creates a rich, spacious, and sometimes unsettling sound, ideal for creating drones, atmospheric soundscapes, and experimental textures.
• Modern Jazz & Atonal Music: This tuning opens up vast possibilities for exploring more complex harmonies and atonality, where the guitar can function as a textural or color instrument rather than adhering to traditional chord progressions.

How to Tune

To achieve the Augmented Harmony Tuning from standard EADGBe tuning, follow these adjustments for each string:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 1 semitones.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 2 semitones.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 1 semitones.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 1 semitones.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Note: All string adjustments are minor (within 2 semitones), making this tuning generally safe for standard gauge guitar strings.

6th String: D2

5th String: G#3

4th String: C3

3rd String: F#4

2nd String: A#4

1st String: E4