Demon Tuning (EGCFAD) Overview

The "Demon Tuning," also known as EGCFAD, is a unique Electric Guitar Tuning designed to offer a distinct sonic landscape. As the description suggests, it is essentially a D Standard tuning (DGCFAD) with the lowest D string "pushed back up" to E. This creates an interesting juxtaposition: the familiar low E string of standard tuning paired with the lower, heavier intervals of a modified D Standard for the upper strings.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning immediately suggests a heavy, dark, and possibly dissonant character, living up to its "Demon Tuning" moniker. The wide minor third interval between the low E and G strings creates a thick, guttural foundation, perfect for powerful, riff-oriented music in genres like metal, hard rock, and experimental rock. While not designed for easy, open strumming of common major or minor chords, it excels in creating specific textures, driving single-note lines, and complex harmonic voicings. It invites a more creative approach to chord shapes, particularly power chords and suspended voicings, allowing players to explore unconventional harmonies and crushing low-end sounds.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes are E2-G2-C3-F3-A3-D4. Let's break down the intervals from lowest to highest string:

• E2 to G2: Minor 3rd (3 semitones)
• G2 to C3: Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• C3 to F3: Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• F3 to A3: Major 3rd (4 semitones)
• A3 to D4: Perfect 4th (5 semitones)

This configuration is far from standard tuning, making traditional open chords largely inaccessible in their usual forms. However, the sequence of G-C-F-A-D (strings 5-1) mirrors the top five strings of D Standard tuning, just without the lowest D. This means many familiar chord shapes and scales from D Standard can be adapted, but their root notes and overall harmonic context will change due to the presence of the low E string.

Open Chords & Reachable Shapes:

• Direct open chords are challenging. For instance, an open E major (E-G#-B) or E minor (E-G-B) is not directly available across all six strings. However, the E-G interval on the lowest two strings provides a natural minor sound for the low end, which can be exploited for heavy, minor-key riffs.
• Power Chords: Players will likely focus on two or three-string power chords. For example, a root-fifth power chord can be formed on the G-C (5th-4th strings) or C-F (4th-3rd strings) pairs. The presence of the E string allows for massive low-end power, but requires careful voicing due to the minor 3rd interval with the G string. For heavy riffs, one could utilize the E string as a drone, playing riffs on the lower four strings that maintain the D-Standard relationships, creating a very dark sound.
• Sus Chords and Dissonance: The mixed intervals naturally lend themselves to suspended chords, open voicings, and dissonant clusters, offering a rich palette for modern compositions. For example, barring across strings 4, 3, 2, 1 at the 2nd fret would give D-G-B-E (from C-F-A-D), which can be an interesting open voicing.

How to Tune to EGCFAD (Demon Tuning)

To achieve the EGCFAD tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-e), follow these steps for each string. Generally, for movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different string gauge is advisable for optimal tension and tone. In this particular tuning, all changes are within a safe range for standard string gauges, making it relatively easy to switch into.

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 5 (A to G): Tune down 2 semitones to G.
• String 4 (D to C): Tune down 2 semitones to C.
• String 3 (G to F): Tune down 2 semitones to F.
• String 2 (B to A): Tune down 2 semitones to A.
• String 1 (High E to D): Tune down 2 semitones to D.

String 6: E2 (Lowest string, thickest gauge)

String 5: G2

String 4: C3

String 3: F3

String 2: A3

String 1: D4 (Highest string, thinnest gauge)