EBF#BC# Guitar Tuner

EBF#BC# | EBG♭BD♭ F#7sus4 Masaaki Kishibe Drifting Clouds - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - F#7sus4 Masaaki Kishibe Drifting Clouds

An E tuning of Masaaki Kishibes Drifting Clouds

Description of the F#7sus4 Tuning for Masaaki Kishibe's "Drifting Clouds"

This distinctive guitar tuning, officially named "F#7sus4 Masaaki Kishibe Drifting Clouds", is intricately crafted for the exquisite fingerstyle composition "Drifting Clouds" by Masaaki Kishibe. While the tuning is described as "An E tuning", indicating its connection to the lowest E string, a detailed harmonic analysis reveals its open notes coalesce into a rich F#7sus4 chord, providing a profoundly resonant and evocative sonic foundation for the piece.

Verbal Analysis:

This tuning conjures an expansive and shimmering soundscape, perfectly suited for intricate arpeggiated melodies and lush, sustained harmonies. The strategic arrangement of open fifths and suspended fourths imparts a bright, airy, and almost ethereal quality, allowing individual notes to ring out with exceptional clarity and sustain. It encourages a highly melodic and flowing approach to playing, where notes within the open chord structure can be artfully articulated, contributing to the song's namesake "drifting" feel. The significant upward tuning of several strings, particularly the 4th and 3rd strings (up 4 semitones), is likely to result in a tauter string feel and a clear, bell-like, and highly articulate tone, distinct from standard tuning.

Technical Analysis:

The open notes of this tuning are E2, B2, F#4, B3, C#5. When these notes are arranged harmonically, they form a powerful F#7sus4 chord structure:

The Lowest String (E2) functions as the minor 7th (b7) of F#.
The 5th String (B2) and 3rd String (B3) both provide the suspended 4th (sus4) of F#, in two different octaves, adding immense depth.
The 4th String (F#4) is the root of the F# chord.
The 2nd String (C#5) provides the perfect 5th of F#.

This deliberate and intelligent arrangement of notes makes the open position of the guitar highly resonant and harmonically complete as an F#7sus4. Consequently, open chord voicings of F#sus4, F#7, and related major/minor chords that incorporate these intervals are readily accessible and sound exceptionally full. The inherent brightness from the higher-tuned strings makes this tuning particularly suitable for intricate fingerpicking, percussive elements, and harmonics, which are hallmarks of Masaaki Kishibe's style.

How to Tune (Based on Standard EADGBe Tuning)

To achieve the F#7sus4 Masaaki Kishibe Drifting Clouds tuning, begin from standard EADGBe tuning and adjust your strings as follows. Please exercise caution, especially with strings requiring significant upward tuning (4 or more semitones), as this substantially increases string tension and may necessitate the use of a lighter gauge string set to prevent breakage and potential neck damage.

6th String (Low E): Tune up 0 semitones. Keep as is; no change. The target note is E2.
5th String (A): Tune up 2 semitones. Change A to B2.
4th String (D): Tune up 4 semitones. Change D to F#4. Caution: Tuning up 4 semitones (a major third) increases string tension considerably. A lighter gauge string is strongly advised for this string.
3rd String (G): Tune up 4 semitones. Change G to B3. Caution: Tuning up 4 semitones (a major third) increases string tension considerably. A lighter gauge string is strongly advised for this string.
2nd String (B): Tune up 2 semitones. Change B to C#5.
1st String (High E): The tuning for the highest (1st) string is not specified in the provided data. You may choose to keep it at standard E or adjust it according to the specific demands of the piece you are playing.