Asus2 Open Tuning: A Resonant and Harmonic Landscape

This particular Guitar tuning, aptly named Asus2 Open Tuning, offers a rich and resonant soundscape. As described by its creator, it's an Asus2 tuning "which I thought sounded cool". This sentiment perfectly captures the open and inviting quality of the tuning.

Verbal Analysis

Strumming all open strings in this tuning produces a full and beautiful Asus2 chord (A, B, E). This makes it incredibly easy to achieve a lush, harmonious sound right from the start, ideal for singer-songwriters, folk, ambient music, or even rock. The prominent root note 'A' and the suspended 'B' create a slightly melancholic yet ethereal quality, preventing it from sounding overly bright or dark. The repeated 'E' notes across octaves provide a strong, stable foundation, allowing for sustained drones and rich overtones. It feels natural and open, lending itself well to both strumming patterns and intricate fingerpicking.

Technical Analysis

Compared to standard tuning (EADGBe), the Asus2 Open Tuning is achieved by making specific adjustments to the middle strings:

• The 6th string remains at E2.
• The 5th string remains at A2, serving as the primary root.
• The 4th string is tuned up 2 semitones from D3 to E3, creating a perfect fifth and an octave unison with the low E.
• The 3rd string is tuned up 2 semitones from G3 to A3, providing an octave of the root A.
• The 2nd string remains at B3, providing the crucial major second interval for the Asus2 chord.
• The 1st string remains at E4, reinforcing the perfect fifth.

The resulting open notes are E2-A2-E3-A3-B3-E4. This configuration places the A notes on strings 5 and 3, E notes on strings 6, 4, and 1, and the B note on string 2. The intervals from the root A (5th string) are a perfect fifth (E), root (A), perfect fifth (E), octave (A), major second (B), and perfect fifth (E). This repetition of A and E across octaves creates a powerful harmonic resonance.

Chordal Possibilities

Beyond the open Asus2 chord, this tuning opens up a world of easy chord shapes:

• Open Chords: The tuning inherently gives you Asus2. By simply barring across various frets, you can effortlessly achieve other suspended second chords. For instance, barring the 2nd fret yields Bsus2, the 3rd fret Csus2, and the 5th fret Dsus2.
• Power Chords: With the 6th, 5th, 4th, and 1st strings all being E or A notes (root and fifth), powerful two- and three-note power chords are easily accessible by simply muting other strings or using partial barres. A5 and E5 are particularly resonant.
• Drones and Melodies: The repeated E and A notes are excellent for creating drones while playing melodies on the higher strings, especially the 2nd (B) and 1st (E) strings, which are standard relative to each other.

How to Tune

To achieve the Asus2 Open Tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these precise string adjustments:

• 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 up 2 semitones. This changes the note from D3 to E3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 2 semitones. This changes the note from G3 to A3.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note is B3.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note is E4.

Important Note on String Tension: The tuning adjustments for this particular setup are moderate, with the largest change being tuning up 2 semitones on the 4th and 3rd strings. These changes are generally safe for most standard gauge strings. However, as a general rule, exercise caution when tuning any string up by 3 or more semitones, and consider a different gauge string if movements exceed 4 semitones up or down to ensure optimal playability and prevent string breakage.

6th String: E2 (Low E)
5th String: A2 (A)
4th String: E3 (D string tuned up)
3rd String: A3 (G string tuned up)
2nd String: B3 (B)
1st String: E4 (High E)