Tuning Analysis: maj#15

The 'maj#15' tuning for Guitar is described as a very dreamy, ethereal, and folk-ish type tuning. This description perfectly encapsulates its unique sonic landscape, which prioritizes rich, sustained textures and a sense of open-ended harmony rather than conventional chord shapes.

Technical Breakdown:

The open string notes for this tuning are D#3, G2, D3, F3, A3, E4, from the lowest physical string (6th) to the highest (1st). This creates a unique intervallic structure across the guitar's range.

• 6th String (Low E string becomes D#3): Tuned down one semitone from E, this provides a slightly sharp, leading-tone quality in relation to D.
• 5th String (A string becomes G2): Tuned down two semitones, this note is actually the lowest pitch in the open tuning, establishing a deep, resonant foundation.
• 4th String (D string stays D3): This string retains its standard tuning, serving as a stable root or fifth for many potential harmonies.
• 3rd String (G string becomes F3): Tuned down two semitones, this creates a minor third interval with the D string below it.
• 2nd String (B string becomes A3): Tuned down two semitones, this forms a perfect fifth with the D string, and a major third with the F string below it.
• 1st String (High E string stays E4): Retaining its standard tuning, this string adds a bright, familiar top voice.

The full set of open pitches, ordered from lowest to highest, is G2, D3, D#3, F3, A3, E4. This combination of closely voiced notes (D, D#, F, E) and wider intervals (G, A) is key to its 'dreamy' character.

Chordal and Harmonic Implications:

While not an open chord tuning in the traditional sense, 'maj#15' offers fascinating harmonic possibilities:

• D minor Triad: Notably, strings 4, 3, and 2 (D3, F3, A3) form a perfect D minor triad. This makes D minor chords and arpeggios very accessible with minimal effort, providing a stable minor foundation within the tuning.
• D minor(add9): Incorporating the 1st string (E4) with the D minor triad (D-F-A-E) creates a rich D minor(add9) voicing, lending itself to contemplative and melancholic moods.
• Tension and Release: The D#3 on the 6th string creates a strong, often dissonant, relationship with the D3 on the 4th string. This half-step tension is a hallmark of the "dreamy" and "ethereal" sound, allowing for complex drones and suspensions when multiple open strings are played. The low G2 also provides a deep pedal tone.
• Folk-inspired Voicings: The intervallic nature with prominent minor thirds and perfect fifths, along with the added tensions, suggests a tuning well-suited for fingerstyle playing, drone-based compositions, and pieces with a modal folk flavor. The open 'D minor' shape can be easily moved up the neck for different minor keys, retaining the characteristic intervallic structure of the other strings.

This tuning encourages exploration beyond standard chord shapes, focusing instead on the interplay of open strings to create unique harmonic soundscapes, perfect for atmospheric and expressive playing.

How to Tune: maj#15

To achieve the 'maj#15' tuning, you will adjust your guitar strings from standard E A D G B E tuning as follows. Please tune carefully and check your pitch frequently.

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