Tuning Overview: Brincher Tuning

The Brincher tuning, conceived in 1998 by its creator, draws inspiration from the distinctive sounds of bands like Polvo, Chavez, Slint, and Quicksand. It's an experimental tuning designed to break away from conventional guitar voicings and inspire unique harmonic textures.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning is characterized by its intentional dissonance and unpredictability. Playing standard chord shapes in Brincher tuning results in "weird and dissonant, but often strangely beautiful" chords, encouraging a fresh approach to harmony. Unlike many open tunings, it avoids predictable shapes by ensuring no open strings share the same note. A familiar anchor is provided by the first two strings (high E and B), which remain in standard pitch, offering a small comfort zone amidst the unconventional landscape. A distinctive feature is the significant detuning of the lower strings, particularly the 3rd (G string) down 6 semitones to C♯4 and the 4th (D string) down 4 semitones to A♯3. This extreme slackness on these strings is perfect for expressive techniques like deep bends and wide vibratos, a creative solution for achieving pitch-shifting effects before digital pedals were commonplace. Users should be aware that the heavily detuned 3rd string might be challenging to keep in tune consistently.

Technical Analysis

The Brincher tuning presents a highly unconventional arrangement of notes across the fretboard:

• 6th String: D♯3 (Eb3)
• 5th String: G2
• 4th String: A♯3 (Bb3)
• 3rd String: C♯4 (Db4)
• 2nd String: B3
• 1st String: E4

A notable feature is the non-linear pitch progression: the 5th string (G2) is tuned significantly lower than the 6th string (D♯3), creating a wide, dissonant interval. Similarly, the 2nd string (B3) is tuned a semitone lower than the 3rd string (C♯4), reversing the typical ascending order. The intervals between strings (from 6th to 1st) are approximately: D♯3 to G2 (descending an octave and a minor 3rd), G2 to A♯3 (ascending major 6th), A♯3 to C♯4 (ascending major 3rd), C♯4 to B3 (descending minor 2nd), and B3 to E4 (ascending perfect 4th).

Due to these highly unusual and often inverted intervals, traditional open chords are not readily available and will produce unexpected voicings. However, this inherent strangeness is the tuning's core strength, encouraging experimentation. The top two strings (B3 and E4) form a perfect 4th, offering a familiar interval for crafting power chords or melodic lines in the higher register. The tight, dissonant cluster formed by the 3rd (C♯4) and 2nd (B3) strings, combined with their extreme slackness, opens doors for unique bends, vibratos, and microtonal explorations.

How to Tune

To achieve the Brincher tuning from standard EADGBe (E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4) tuning, follow these string movements:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 1 semitone to D♯3 (Eb3).
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 4 semitones to A♯3 (Bb3). Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is significant; consider a heavier gauge string for optimal performance and tension.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 6 semitones to C♯4 (Db4). Caution: Tuning down 6 semitones is substantial; a heavier gauge string is strongly recommended to maintain playability and avoid excessive looseness.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones), remaining at B3.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones), remaining at E4.

The open notes for the Brincher tuning are (from thickest to thinnest string):

6th String: D♯3 (Eb3)

5th String: G2

4th String: A♯3 (Bb3)

3rd String: C♯4 (Db4)

2nd String: B3

1st String: E4