Tuning Analysis: Ryan Bridenstine Tuning

The "Ryan Bridenstine Tuning," described by its creator as "very easy to play," presents a fascinating and somewhat unconventional harmonic landscape.

Verbal Analysis

At first glance, this tuning appears to offer a unique, moody, and potentially jazzy or bluesy sonic palette when played open. The open string notes (from low to high: D#3, G#3, C3, G3, A#4, D#5) form a rich, complex harmony. The creator's claim of "very easy to play" suggests that common chord shapes or melodic patterns become readily accessible or simplified in this configuration. The presence of the C3 string being lower than the D#3 string creates an interesting inversion. While specific common chords may not immediately jump out as open voicings, the overall interval structure invites experimental playing and could lead to unique compositions.

Technical Analysis

The specific open notes for this 6-string guitar tuning are: D#3 (6th string), G#3 (5th string), C3 (4th string), G3 (3rd string), A#4 (2nd string), and D#5 (1st string). When arranged from lowest to highest pitch (C3, D#3, G3, G#3, A#4, D#5), these notes form a complex chord. This combination closely resembles a C minor 7 (b6) chord (C-Eb-G-Ab-Bb-Eb), giving the open tuning a dark, resonant, and sophisticated character. This harmonic foundation could be particularly inspiring for genres like jazz, blues, or progressive rock, offering a distinct starting point for improvisation and composition.

Important Discrepancy Alert: It is crucial to address a significant inconsistency within the provided tuning data. The target "tuning_notes" (D#3 G#3 C3 G3 A#4 D#5) describe a tuning where several strings are pitched substantially higher than their standard EADGBe counterparts. For instance, the 6th string's target of D#3 is nearly an octave (11 semitones) higher than a standard low E2. Similarly, the 5th, 2nd, and 1st strings are also pitched 11 semitones higher than their standard notes. Achieving these high pitches with standard guitar strings is extremely challenging, potentially damaging to the instrument, and contradicts the creator's description of being "very easy to play" and the mild semitone adjustments indicated in the 'How to Tune' section below. This suggests a possible octave notation error in the provided 'tuning_notes' or an oversight in the 'string_movements' data. Users attempting this tuning should proceed with extreme caution and consider specialized string gauges.

Open String Notes

These are the target notes for each string:

• 6th String (Low E Equivalent): D3#
• 5th String (A Equivalent): G3#
• 4th String (D Equivalent): C3
• 3rd String (G Equivalent): G3
• 2nd String (B Equivalent): A4#
• 1st String (High E Equivalent): D5#

How to Tune

Please note: The tuning instructions below are derived directly from the 'string_movements' data provided, which describes adjustments from standard EADGBe tuning. These movements lead to a final tuning of D#2 G#2 C3 G3 A#3 D#4, which differs significantly in octave for several strings from the 'tuning_notes' (D#3 G#3 C3 G3 A4# D5#) explicitly stated in the 'Open String Notes' section above. If you intend to achieve the higher-octave tuning described in the 'Open String Notes', be aware that it would require much more drastic tuning changes and potentially different string gauges than indicated by these movements, and likely custom string sets. Proceed with caution.

To achieve the tuning described by the string movements, adjust your guitar from standard EADGBe as follows:

• 6th String (E): Tune down 1 semitone to D#2 (Eb2).
• 5th String (A): Tune down 1 semitone to G#2 (Ab2).
• 4th String (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• 3rd String (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to G3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 1 semitone to A#3 (Bb3).
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 1 semitone to D#4 (Eb4).

String Gauge Advisory: For tuning movements that exceed negative 4 or positive 4 semitones, a different gauge string is generally advised to prevent breakage or damage to your instrument. For the movements specified in this particular tuning, all strings are within this recommended range, implying that standard string gauges should be suitable if following these specific semitone adjustments. However, this recommendation is superseded by the overall string tension considerations if you are attempting to reach the much higher 'tuning_notes' pitches as described in the 'Open String Notes' section.