The Sharpened Mid-Range Standard tuning offers a fresh, experimental landscape for guitarists, diverging subtly from the familiar comfort of standard E tuning. As indicated by its original description, it's designed as a "test scale for creating new patterns," encouraging exploration beyond conventional chord shapes and melodic ideas.

Verbally, this tuning presents an intriguing harmonic palette. By raising the middle three strings (A, D, G) by just one semitone, it introduces a subtle but significant shift in the guitar's sonic character. The open strings don't immediately resolve into a common, easily recognizable chord, instead offering a slightly dissonant yet resonant foundation. This creates a sound that can feel modern, jazzy, or even a bit avant-garde, depending on how it's approached. It's ideal for players looking to break free from habitual fingerings and discover new voicings, unique melodic lines, and unconventional harmonic textures.

Technically, the tuning is E2-A#3-D#4-G#4-B3-E4. Compared to standard E tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), the 5th, 4th, and 3rd strings are each sharpened by one semitone. This creates a distinctive set of intervals:

• E2 (6th String) to A#3 (5th String): An Augmented 4th (6 semitones) – This is the most striking interval and a key characteristic.
• A#3 (5th String) to D#4 (4th String): A Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• D#4 (4th String) to G#4 (3rd String): A Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• G#4 (3rd String) to B3 (2nd String): A Minor 3rd (3 semitones)
• B3 (2nd String) to E4 (1st String): A Perfect 4th (5 semitones)

The presence of the Augmented 4th between the 6th and 5th strings immediately signals a departure from traditional harmony. The middle three strings (A#-D#-G#) form a stack of two perfect fourths, a common interval in jazz and modern music, which can be leveraged for interesting voicings. While no simple major or minor open chord is readily available, the tuning invites experimentation:

• Exploration of Dissonance: The E-A# interval provides an opportunity to lean into sharp, cutting harmonies.
• Harmonic Clusters: By lightly fretting across specific strings, especially the A#, D#, G# stack, players can discover dense, modern chord voicings.
• Melodic Shifts: Familiar scales and arpeggios will take on new sonic qualities, particularly on the middle strings. For example, a standard A minor pentatonic shape will yield unique melodic ideas.
• Open E Octaves: The low E and high E strings remain in standard tuning, providing familiar anchors for lead lines or drones, while the middle strings add color.
• Movable Shapes: Barre chords across the A#-D#-G# section will maintain their perfect fourth intervals, allowing for easy transposition of specific melodic or harmonic cells.

This tuning is less about playing existing songs and more about generating new musical ideas, making it a powerful tool for composition and improvisation.

Tuning Notes:

• 6th String (Low E): E2
• 5th String (A#): A#3
• 4th String (D#): D#4
• 3rd String (G#): G#4
• 2nd String (B): B3
• 1st String (High E): E4

How to Tune:

To achieve the Sharpened Mid-Range Standard tuning, follow these specific adjustments from standard E tuning:

• 6th String (E2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Your 6th string should remain tuned to E2.
• 5th String (A3): Tune up 1 semitone. Adjust your 5th string from A3 up to A#3.
• 4th String (D4): Tune up 1 semitone. Adjust your 4th string from D4 up to D#4.
• 3rd String (G4): Tune up 1 semitone. Adjust your 3rd string from G4 up to G#4.
• 2nd String (B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Your 2nd string should remain tuned to B3.
• 1st String (E4): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Your 1st string should remain tuned to E4.

Important Note: All string movements in this tuning are within a safe range of 0 or +1 semitones. Therefore, a change in string gauge is not necessary for this particular tuning, and the strings can be safely adjusted.