Unveiling Dave's Diminished: A Symmetrical Sonic Landscape

Dave's Diminished is a truly innovative tuning, conceived with a clear purpose: to unlock the harmonic potential of Barry Harris diminished scales. This tuning doesn't just shift notes; it re-engineers the guitar's intervallic landscape to create a highly symmetrical and musically potent experience, ideal for exploring sophisticated jazz harmony.

Technical Analysis: The Architecture of Symmetry

At its core, Dave's Diminished boasts a unique open string configuration:

• 6th String (Low E): E2
• 5th String (A): A#3
• 4th String (D): C#4
• 3rd String (G): G3
• 2nd String (B): A#4
• 1st String (High E): E4

The genius of this tuning lies in its intervallic structure between adjacent strings. It follows a precise, repeating pattern of:

• 6th String (E2) to 5th String (A#3): Diminished 5th (b5)
• 5th String (A#3) to 4th String (C#4): Minor 3rd (b3)
• 4th String (C#4) to 3rd String (G3): Diminished 5th (b5) (G3 is an octave lower than G4, but the interval quality is b5 from C#)
• 3rd String (G3) to 2nd String (A#4): Minor 3rd (b3) (A#4 is an octave higher than A#3, but the interval quality is b3 from G)
• 2nd String (A#4) to 1st String (E4): Diminished 5th (b5) (E4 is an octave lower than E5, but the interval quality is b5 from A#)

This consistent b5-b3-b5-b3-b5 sequence creates remarkable musical advantages. Any melodic or harmonic pattern can be transposed vertically across the fretboard by simply shifting it two strings over, maintaining its exact intervallic relationship relative to the new set of open strings. This significantly simplifies the navigation of complex diminished harmonies, allowing for intuitive movement and exploration.

Harmonic Insights: Open Chords and Reachable Voicings

Strumming all open strings in Dave's Diminished produces a distinct and resonant sound: an E diminished 7th chord (E - G - A# - C#). This immediate diminished sonority is a powerful starting point for exploring harmony, immediately grounding the player in the intended sonic world.

Due to the symmetrical nature, moving a two-string voicing that spans a diminished 5th (e.g., on strings 6 and 5) to strings 4 and 3, or strings 2 and 1, will yield the same diminished 5th interval, albeit on different root notes. Similarly, two-string voicings spanning a minor 3rd (e.g., on strings 5 and 4) can be mirrored on strings 3 and 2. This structure facilitates:

• Effortless Diminished Arpeggios: Simple diagonal movements can outline full diminished arpeggios across the fretboard with minimal shape changes.
• Unique Chord Voicings: The unique intervals open up possibilities for fresh, often dissonant but harmonically rich, chord voicings that are difficult to achieve in standard tuning.
• Improvisational Freedom: Players can quickly grasp the symmetrical logic and apply patterns in various positions, fostering a highly intuitive approach to improvisation within a diminished harmonic context, a cornerstone of Barry Harris's approach.

This tuning is an excellent choice for guitarists looking to delve deep into advanced jazz harmony, particularly those interested in the concepts popularized by Barry Harris, offering a direct and playable pathway into the world of diminished scales and chords.

Tuning Details: Your Strings in Dave's Diminished

Here are the target notes for each string in Dave's Diminished tuning:

• 6th String (Low E): E2
• 5th String (A): A#3
• 4th String (D): C#4
• 3rd String (G): G3
• 2nd String (B): A#4
• 1st String (High E): E4

How to Tune Your Guitar for Dave's Diminished

To achieve Dave's Diminished from standard E A D G B E tuning, follow these specific string adjustments:

• 6th String (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The string remains tuned to E2.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 1 semitone. Adjust your A3 string up to A#3.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitone. Adjust your D4 string down to C#4.
• 3rd String (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The string remains tuned to G3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 1 semitone. Adjust your B4 string down to A#4.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The string remains tuned to E4.

Important Note on String Gauge: When tuning, please exercise caution. For any string movement exceeding 4 semitones up or down from its standard pitch, it is generally recommended to consider using a different gauge string. Significant changes in string tension can affect playability and potentially cause damage to your guitar. In this specific tuning, all movements are within a single semitone, making it safe for standard string gauges.