Verbal Analysis: The Flora Fauna Sound

The "Flora Fauna Tuning" is a distinctive and richly resonant open tuning, perfectly aligned with its description as a foundation for shoegaze-type chords. The open strings immediately resolve to a beautiful A Major chord (A-C#-E), but with a unique and sprawling voicing that emphasizes sustain and harmonic layering. The doubled A note on the 3rd and 2nd strings creates a powerful, shimmering unison, while the two C# notes (one an octave above the other) add a bright, crystalline quality to the overall sound. The lower E and A strings provide a solid, droning foundation, creating a full-bodied, almost symphonic texture when strummed open. This tuning is designed to evoke wide, ethereal soundscapes, making it ideal for ambient, dream pop, and of course, shoegaze genres where lush, ringing chords are paramount. It encourages a less conventional approach to chord shapes, inviting players to explore the unique intervallic relationships across the fretboard.

Technical Analysis: Unpacking the Intervals

This tuning, from lowest to highest string, is E2 A2 C#4 A3 A3 C#5.

• The foundation of E2 and A2 on the lowest strings provides a strong Perfect 4th interval, often used for power chords (E-A).
• The subsequent strings build an A Major chord: A2 (Root), C#4 (Major 3rd), A3 (Root, octave higher), A3 (Root, unison with 3rd string), C#5 (Major 3rd, octave higher).
• The open tuning creates an A Major chord. Its specific voicing is E2-A2-C#4-A3-A3-C#5. The intervals across adjacent strings are:
  • String 6 (E2) to String 5 (A2): Perfect 4th
  • String 5 (A2) to String 4 (C#4): Major 10th (or Major 3rd over an octave)
  • String 4 (C#4) to String 3 (A3): Perfect 4th down (or minor 6th up)
  • String 3 (A3) to String 2 (A3): Unison
  • String 2 (A3) to String 1 (C#5): Major 10th (or Major 3rd over an octave)
• This arrangement provides a rich harmonic structure. The unison A3 on the 3rd and 2nd strings is particularly notable, adding to the sustain and fullness of open chords.

Open Chords & Fretboard Accessibility:

The open tuning itself forms a majestic A Major chord, ready for immediate sonic exploration. This A Major chord has a unique voicing due to the octave and unison intervals, providing a shimmering, full-spectrum sound. Due to the presence of multiple A and C# notes across the strings, common fingerings will naturally lean towards Major tonalities. Barring across any fret will instantly produce a Major chord, offset by the root of the lowest E string. For example:

• Open Strum: A rich A Major chord.
• Barre at 2nd Fret: A full B Major chord (F# B D# B B D#).
• Barre at 5th Fret: A full D Major chord (A D F# D D F#).

The open E and A strings also allow for easy formation of power chords by simply moving two fingers up the fretboard, while the higher strings can be left open to drone, creating interesting harmonic textures. The tuning encourages experimental chord voicings and arpeggios that utilize the resonant open strings, perfect for creating atmospheric and complex soundscapes.

How to Tune:

To achieve the Flora Fauna Tuning, adjust your guitar strings as follows. Always tune carefully and in small increments.

• 6th String (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note is E2.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note is A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitones. The target note is C#4.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 2 semitones. The target note is A3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 2 semitones. The target note is A3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 3 semitones. The target note is C#5.

Note on String Gauge: All string adjustments are within a moderate range (-3 to +2 semitones), so a standard string gauge should be perfectly acceptable. However, for tunings involving changes of 4 semitones or more (either up or down), considering a different string gauge is often advised for optimal tension and playability.