Overview

Welcome to "D# standard phrygian," a unique and atmospheric tuning designed to immediately transport your sound into a distinctive modal landscape. This tuning takes the familiar feel of Standard tuning and subtly shifts it down a semitone across most strings, with a more significant drop on the 3rd string, to create an immediate D# Phrygian tonality. It's perfectly suited for those looking to explore exotic, dark, or Middle Eastern-inspired sounds without complex fingerings.

Verbal Analysis

The most striking feature of this tuning is the presence of the minor second (b2) interval right off the bat, with the low D# (String 6) and the E (String 3). This creates that characteristic tension and 'grinding' sound synonymous with the Phrygian mode. Strumming all open strings will yield a rich, dissonant chord that leans heavily into a D# Phrygian sound, filled with a root, b2, P4, P5, and b7. It's a sound that evokes mystery, tension, and a sense of vastness. The lowest three strings (D# G# C#) offer a powerful, almost drone-like foundation, while the higher E, A#, and D# add the melodic and harmonic color. This tuning is excellent for riffing on the lower strings, creating heavy, modal passages, or crafting intricate arpeggios that highlight its unique intervals. Chords like a D#sus2 (using D# on 6, E on 3, A# on 2) or a D#sus4 (using D# on 6, G# on 5, A# on 2) are easily accessible and resonate beautifully, fitting perfectly within the Phrygian context. Experiment with droning the low D# while playing melodies on the higher strings to fully embrace its modal potential.

Technical Analysis

Starting from the lowest string (String 6), the tuning is D#3 - G#3 - C#4 - E3 - A#4 - D#5. Analyzing the intervals relative to the root D# (String 6):

• String 6 (D#3): Root
• String 5 (G#3): Perfect 4th (P4)
• String 4 (C#4): Minor 7th (b7) an octave above
• String 3 (E3): Minor 2nd (b2)
• String 2 (A#4): Perfect 5th (P5) an octave above
• String 1 (D#5): Octave (Root) two octaves above

The key Phrygian characteristic is the b2 interval (D# to E) between String 6 and String 3. The open notes collectively contain the D#, E, G#, A#, C# notes, which correspond to the Root, b2, P4, P5, and b7 of the D# Phrygian scale (D# E F# G# A# B C# D#). This deliberate arrangement makes it incredibly easy to naturally voice chords and melodies that align with the Phrygian mode, especially useful for genres like metal, flamenco, or world music.

How to Tune

To achieve "D# standard phrygian" from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), follow these steps:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 1 semitones from E to D#.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 1 semitones from A to G#.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 1 semitones from D to C#.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones from G to E.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 1 semitones from B to A#.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 1 semitones from E to D#.

All string movements are within 3 semitones down, which is generally safe for a standard guitar with regular gauge strings. No specific string gauge changes are advised for this tuning.

String 6: D3# (Lowest string)

String 5: G3#

String 4: C4#

String 3: E3

String 2: A4#

String 1: D5# (Highest string)