Verbal and Technical Analysis

This "Lute F# Standard" tuning presents a fascinating twist on familiar string intervals, offering a unique sonic palette especially suited for the lute. While sharing the outer strings and bass notes of a standard guitar-like tuning, the crucial alteration on the 3rd string transforms its harmonic character. By lowering the typical G string down to F#, this tuning reorganizes the internal intervals, creating new harmonic relationships between the open strings. This can lead to fresh voicings and a distinct modal feel, making it excellent for Renaissance-inspired pieces, folk melodies, or exploring contemporary compositions with a unique open resonance. The more consistent perfect fourths (except one major third) also allows for more symmetrical chord shapes across several string pairs, while the altered 3rd string invites unique dissonances or consonant resolutions.

Technical Breakdown:

• Overall Tuning: E2 A2 D3 F#4 B3 E4
• Intervals from lowest to highest string:
  • 6th to 5th (E2-A2): Perfect Fourth
  • 5th to 4th (A2-D3): Perfect Fourth
  • 4th to 3rd (D3-F#4): Major Third
  • 3rd to 2nd (F#4-B3): Perfect Fourth
  • 2nd to 1st (B3-E4): Perfect Fourth
• Comparison to Standard Guitar (EADGBE): This tuning mirrors standard guitar tuning on strings 6, 5, 4, 2, and 1. The key difference lies in the 3rd string, which is tuned down from G to F#. This reconfigures the intervals around it: the D-G Perfect Fourth becomes a D-F# Major Third, and the G-B Major Third becomes an F#-B Perfect Fourth. This creates a much more 'fourth-based' tuning overall, with only one major third interval, which is an intriguing departure from typical guitar string theory.

Open Chords and Reachable Shapes:

The open strings (E, A, D, F#, B, E) do not form a single simple chord, but they suggest several interesting harmonic possibilities:

• A prominent D Major triad can be played using strings 5, 4, and 3 (A2, D3, F#4), providing a bright, open D major sound.
• The overall collection of notes (E, A, D, F#, B) is an E minor 7 add9 (no 3rd) or Eadd9(no G), suggesting an E minor or Dorian modality is easily accessible.
• The consistent perfect fourth intervals between most strings mean that many common chord shapes (especially barre chords or power chords) will translate relatively uniformly across most of the fretboard, with the exception of the D-F# major third interval between strings 4 and 3. This one change requires adapting fingerings for chords that span this interval, but also creates unique voicings.
• Open voicings for A minor, E minor, and D major chords are very resonant due to the presence of their roots and fifths (and the F# for D major).

How to Tune

1. String 6 (Lowest E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Tune to E2.
2. String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Tune to A2.
3. String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Tune to D3.
4. String 3 (F#): Tune down 1 semitone from its standard G note to F#4. (Note: A string movement of -1 semitone is safe for most standard string gauges).
5. String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Tune to B3.
6. String 1 (Highest E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Tune to E4.