Tuning Analysis: Air Ground

As described by Antoine Dufor, the 'Air Ground' tuning is indeed a "super groovy" one, designed to unlock rich, resonant harmonic possibilities on the guitar. This is a highly distinctive and musically intelligent tuning that deviates significantly from standard EADGBe, creating a unique sonic landscape.

Technical Breakdown:

• Open Notes: The tuning from the 6th (lowest) string to the 1st (highest) string is D#3 A#3 C3 G3 A#4 D4.
• Harmonic Structure: When the open notes are arranged by pitch, they reveal a sophisticated harmonic structure: C3, D#3 (Eb3), G3, A#3 (Bb3), D4, A#4 (Bb4). This collection of notes strongly outlines a C minor 7 chord with an added 9th. The root (C), minor third (D#/Eb), perfect fifth (G), and minor seventh (A#/Bb) are all present and strategically placed. The D4 adds a beautiful 9th to this already rich chord.
• Voicing and Intervals: The low C3 on the 4th string creates a wide, open voicing, especially when played against the A#3 on the 5th string (a minor 6th interval down to C3). The octave jump from G3 (3rd string) to A#4 (2nd string, an augmented 4th up to A#4 or a minor 3rd down to A#4 if comparing G3 to A#3) further emphasizes the unique character, offering both deep bass and shimmering high notes within the same chord. The repetition of A# an octave higher (A#3 on 5th string, A#4 on 2nd string) adds to the fullness and resonance of the sound.

Musical Implications & Chords:

This tuning is a goldmine for players looking for a deep, melancholic, yet versatile harmonic palette. An open strum across all six strings (or a selection) will immediately yield a powerful and resonant C minor 7 (add 9) chord. This makes it ideal for:

• Drone & Fingerstyle: The inherent chordal structure allows for beautiful open string drones and intricate fingerstyle patterns that maintain a consistent harmonic center. It encourages exploration of the resonant qualities of the open strings.
• Easy Chord Shapes: By simply barring across the frets, one can easily transpose the C minor 7 (add 9) shape to other minor 7 (add 9) chords (e.g., barring at the 3rd fret would yield an Eb minor 7 (add 9) sound relative to the open C). The unique intervalic relationships between strings will allow for interesting melodic and harmonic possibilities with minimal fretting, opening up a world of sophisticated minor harmony with ease.
• Groove & Rhythm: The rich, full sound achieved with this tuning lends itself well to rhythmic accompaniment, providing a deep, soulful character that can drive a groove effectively.

Overall, 'Air Ground' is a thoughtful and creative tuning that offers a strong harmonic identity, particularly around C minor, and encourages exploration of wide voicings and resonant open-string textures.

Open String Notes:

• String 6: D#3
• String 5: A#3
• String 4: C3
• String 3: G3
• String 2: A#4
• String 1: D4

How to Tune:

To achieve the 'Air Ground' tuning, adjust your strings as follows, aiming for the target note for each string:

• String 6 (D#3): Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 5 (A#3): Tune up 1 semitone.
• String 4 (C3): Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 3 (G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2 (A#4): Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 1 (D4): Tune down 2 semitones.

All string movements are within safe limits (less than 4 semitones up or down), so a change in string gauge is not generally advised for this tuning. Always tune carefully and check string tension.