Tuning Analysis: New Metal DP

This unique tuning, known as New Metal DP, is specifically designed for NewMetal styles and for Daniel Padim's fingerstyle guitar approach, as indicated by its description. It offers a rich, resonant soundscape with a strong emphasis on low-end power and melodic possibilities.

Verbal Analysis

The 'New Metal DP' tuning presents a powerful and dark sonic foundation. With its lowest string tuned to D#3, it immediately signals a heavy, drop-style tuning. The arrangement of the open strings – D#, A#, D#, D#, A#, F – creates an open D#sus2 chord, or more accurately, a D#5 chord with an added Major 2nd (F). This gives it a distinctly modern, slightly dissonant, and resonant character, perfect for the aggressive yet intricate demands of NewMetal and advanced fingerstyle.

The multiple D#s and A#s across different octaves mean that open string resonance will be a key feature, allowing for massive, droning chords and sustained low notes. The unison D#4 strings (4th and 3rd) offer interesting textural opportunities, whether for layered riffing, slide effects, or percussive fingerstyle techniques. The presence of the F on the highest string adds a bright, cutting edge against the deep D# foundation, facilitating melodic lines that can pop out of a dense arrangement.

Technical Analysis

The open notes of the 'New Metal DP' tuning are D#3, A#3, D#4, D#4, A#4, F4. Analyzing the intervals from the lowest root note (D#3):

• 6th String (D#3): Root
• 5th String (A#3): Perfect 5th (P5)
• 4th String (D#4): Octave (P8)
• 3rd String (D#4): Octave (P8) - Unison with the 4th string
• 2nd String (A#4): Compound Perfect 5th (P12)
• 1st String (F4): Major 2nd (M2) from the root D#3 (or a Minor 3rd from the 5th A#4, creating some inner tension).

This creates an open D#sus2 voicing (D#-F-A#), heavily reinforced by the root and fifth. The strong D# and A# presence across multiple strings makes power chords incredibly easy to form, especially on the lower strings (6-5-4), where a single finger can fret a powerful D#5 or A#5 chord shape. The unison D#4s provide a thick, sustained quality, while the F4 on the high string offers a melodic extension. The tuning lends itself perfectly to:

• Open Chords: A natural D#sus2 chord is formed by strumming all open strings. By muting the 1st (high F) string, a strong D#5 power chord can be achieved.
• Power Chords: Simple two-finger shapes can yield robust power chords rooted on the 6th, 5th, or 4th strings, with the open D# and A# strings providing a massive, droning accompaniment. For instance, a single finger barred across the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings (e.g., at the 1st fret for E5) will create an E5 with open D#s and A#s ringing out, offering complex harmonic textures.
• Fingerstyle: The wide intervals and open string resonance will benefit fingerstyle players, allowing for intricate arpeggios and melodic patterns that leverage the sustained notes and the interplay between the low D# and the high F.

How to Tune

To achieve this distinctive tuning, adjust your guitar strings as follows. Always tune carefully and check pitch frequently.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune this string to D#3. This involves tuning down 1 semitones.
• 5th String (A): Tune this string to A#3. This involves tuning up 1 semitones.
• 4th String (D): Tune this string to D#4. This involves tuning up 1 semitones.
• 3rd String (G): Tune this string to D#4. This involves tuning down 4 semitones.
• 2nd String (B): Tune this string to A#4. This involves tuning down 1 semitones.
• 1st String (High E): Tune this string to F4. This involves tuning up 1 semitones.

Important Note on String Gauge: When tuning strings significantly up or down (exceeding 4 semitones in either direction), it is generally advisable to consider using a different string gauge to maintain optimal tension and prevent string breakage or damage to your instrument. For this tuning, the 3rd string is tuned down 4 semitones, which is at the threshold where a lighter gauge might be beneficial for consistency, though it is often manageable with standard gauges.

The open string notes for this tuning are as follows:

• 6th String: D#3
• 5th String: A#3
• 4th String: D#4
• 3rd String: D#4
• 2nd String: A#4
• 1st String: F4