Double A Minor Open Tuning: A Resonant Canvas for Expressive Music

The Double A Minor Open Tuning, originally described as "double am" and invented for a rendition of the traditional Irish tune "Lament for Owen Roe O'Neill," offers a deeply resonant and melancholic soundscape. This tuning immediately presents an A minor chord when played open, making it an excellent choice for folk, Celtic, fingerstyle, or classical pieces that benefit from a rich, drone-like harmonic foundation.

Technical Analysis

This tuning sets the open strings to E2-A2-C3-E3-A3-C4. Technically, it's an A minor triad (A, C, E) voiced across multiple octaves, creating a powerful and full-bodied open chord. The repeated notes — A on the 5th and 2nd strings, C on the 4th and 1st strings, and E on the 6th and 3rd strings — contribute to its distinctive "double" or layered quality.

• The low E2 and A2 provide a solid bass foundation, grounding the sound.
• The open A minor chord allows for immediate, full strumming of a minor harmony without fretting, ideal for drone-based music or simple accompaniment.
• Barring across the fretboard can easily yield other minor chords. For instance, a barre at the 2nd fret would produce a B minor chord (assuming the low E string is muted or fretted for B), or a barre at the 3rd fret for C minor, and so on.
• The consistent interval relationships across pairs of strings (e.g., C3-E3 and A3-C4 are minor thirds) can simplify chord shapes and lead to interesting melodic possibilities, particularly for arpeggiated figures.
• This tuning lends itself well to modal playing, especially in A minor or C major, as the open strings provide strong tonal centers.

Verbal Impressions

The Double A Minor Open Tuning has a profound and melancholic resonance. It feels ancient and evokes images of rolling hills and historical narratives, perfectly suiting its origin for a lament. The open A minor chord rings out with authority, providing a sustained and introspective quality. It encourages a slower, more deliberate playing style, allowing the richness of the open strings to fully resonate. Guitarists exploring Celtic melodies, traditional folk tunes, or compositions requiring a deep, expressive minor tonality will find this tuning inspiring and highly rewarding. The drone potential is exceptional, allowing for complex melodic lines to weave over a continuous harmonic bed.

Open String Notes

The open strings for this tuning are as follows:

• String 6: E2 (Low E)
• String 5: A2
• String 4: C3
• String 3: E3
• String 2: A3
• String 1: C4 (High E)

How to Tune (from Standard E-A-D-G-B-E)

To achieve the Double A Minor Open Tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning, follow these steps carefully:

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The string remains at E2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The string remains at A2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 4 semitones to C4.

Important Note on String Gauge: When tuning strings up or down by more than 4 semitones, it is generally advised to consider using a different string gauge to avoid excessive tension or slack, which can affect playability, intonation, and string life. In this specific tuning, string 1 is tuned down by 4 semitones, approaching this threshold, so monitor its tension and feel. The other strings are within a safer range for standard gauges.