Overview of 'The Reason' Tuning

'The Reason' is an intriguing and harmonically rich custom guitar tuning that deviates significantly from standard EADGBe. It presents a unique sonic landscape, centered around a bright B major tonality with an added E note that introduces a sophisticated suspended or extended harmonic quality. The wide intervallic relationships between certain strings create an open, ringing resonance, perfect for arpeggiated figures and sustained chords.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning has a distinct bright and open character. The presence of multiple B and D# notes across different octaves gives it a strong affinity for the key of B Major. Strumming all open strings reveals a Badd11 chord (B - D# - F# - E), offering a full, yet slightly melancholic or yearning sound. The low D# on the 6th string provides a deep foundation, acting as a major third in a B chord, or a root if exploring D# tonalities. The upper strings, featuring F#4, D#4, B3, and E4, are clustered in a way that allows for easy melodic playing and bright, chiming voicings. It's a tuning that encourages experimentation, pushing players to explore new fingerings and voicings that wouldn't be possible in standard tuning.

Technical Analysis

The open notes of 'The Reason' tuning are: D#3 (low E string), B2 (A string), F#4 (D string), D#4 (G string), B3 (B string), E4 (high E string). The lowest pitch in the tuning is B2 on the 5th string, making it a foundational note. Analyzing the intervals from this B2, we find:

• String 5 (B2): Root
• String 6 (D#3): Major 3rd above B2
• String 2 (B3): Octave above B2
• String 3 (D#4): Octave above D#3 (and a Compound Major 3rd above B2)
• String 1 (E4): Perfect 4th above B3 (and a Compound Perfect 4th above B2)
• String 4 (F#4): Perfect 5th above B3 (and a Compound Perfect 5th above B2)

The core notes of B, D#, and F# (a B Major triad) are prominent across multiple strings and octaves, making open B Major and its inversions readily available. The addition of E4 on the highest string creates a Badd11 chord when all strings are strummed open. The wide interval of a compound perfect fifth between string 5 (B2) and string 4 (F#4) provides a strong harmonic anchor and drone possibilities. The inner strings (3, 2, 1) featuring D#4, B3, E4 maintain familiar intervals (Major 3rd and Perfect 4th), offering some common ground for adapting chord shapes.

Accessible Chords & Shapes

Due to the open string configuration, several chords are naturally resonant:

• Open B Major / Badd11: Strumming all strings open yields a rich Badd11 chord. You can emphasize a pure B Major by muting the high E string or fretting it to F#.
• Power Chords: The relationships between strings, particularly the low B2 and the high F#4, lend themselves well to powerful open or two-finger voicings, especially those built around B or D#.
• Drone and Modal Play: The repeated B and D# notes across octaves provide excellent opportunities for drone notes, allowing for expressive modal playing over these sustained tones.

Tuning Notes

• String 6 (Low E): D3#
• String 5 (A): B2
• String 4 (D): F4#
• String 3 (G): D4#
• String 2 (B): B3
• String 1 (High E): E4

How to Tune 'The Reason'

To achieve 'The Reason' tuning, adjust your guitar strings as follows. Always tune carefully and in small increments.

• String 6 (Low E to D3#): Tune down 1 semitone to reach D3#.
• String 5 (A to B2): Tune up 2 semitones to reach B2.
• String 4 (D to F4#): Tune up 4 semitones to reach F4#. Caution: Tuning up 4 semitones can put significant tension on your string. For optimal playability and to avoid string breakage, consider using a lighter gauge string for this particular string.
• String 3 (G to D4#): Tune down 4 semitones to reach D4#. Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones can make the string feel quite loose. For optimal playability and intonation, consider using a heavier gauge string for this particular string.
• String 2 (B to B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (High E to E4): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).