Verbal Analysis: A Shimmering Landscape

The "F Lydian Majesty" tuning offers a truly unique and expansive sonic palette, moving beyond traditional major or minor tonalities. As an intriguing "Open F variant," it naturally resonates with a bright, almost ethereal quality, largely due to the prominent augmented fourth (or #11) in its voicing. This isn't your typical folk tuning; it's designed to inspire creativity with its inherent Lydian color. Guitarists will find it particularly rewarding for ambient soundscapes, expressive chord melodies, and modern compositions. The tuning's structure makes barre chords a delightful experience, allowing you to effortlessly transpose its rich, complex character across the fretboard. It encourages a more experimental approach, inviting you to explore new harmonic territories and discover unexpected voicings.

Technical Analysis: Fmaj7(#11) Voicing

This tuning, F2-A2-B2-F3-B3-E4, is technically an Fmaj7(#11) chord played on open strings. Let's break down the intervals from the low F (6th string):

• F (Root) on the 6th string.
• A (Major 3rd) on the 5th string.
• B (Augmented 4th / #11) on the 4th string. This specific interval is the heart of the tuning's Lydian character, creating a bright, slightly dissonant, yet highly resonant quality.
• F (Perfect Octave) on the 3rd string, providing a strong anchor and resonance.
• B (Augmented 4th / #11, one octave higher) on the 2nd string, reinforcing the Lydian sound.
• E (Major 7th) on the 1st string, completing the Fmaj7 chord and adding further harmonic richness.

The presence of two B natural strings and two F strings, along with the A and E, forms a sophisticated Fmaj7(#11) sonority. This chord contains the notes F, A, B, E, which are the root, major third, augmented fourth (or #11), and major seventh, respectively.

Open Chords and Fretboard Potential

• Open Strings: Strumming all open strings immediately yields a vibrant Fmaj7(#11) chord. This makes it perfect for drone-like accompaniments or for simply letting the complex harmony ring out.
• Barre Chords: The structure is exceptionally well-suited for barre chords. By barring all strings at any fret, you instantly transpose the Fmaj7(#11) quality. For example, barring at the 1st fret creates an F#maj7(#11), and at the 3rd fret, an Amaj7(#11). This consistency across the fretboard simplifies playing complex harmonies in various keys.
• Reach-Around Chords: The unique intervals also open up possibilities for interesting partial chords. Consider the open F strings (6th and 3rd) and B strings (4th and 2nd); playing these pairs together creates powerful, resonant intervals. Experimenting with two or three-finger shapes around the open string intervals (e.g., F-A on strings 6-5, or B-E on strings 4-1) can lead to fresh, unexpected voicings. The Maj7 interval between the 6th (F) and 1st (E) strings also allows for rich, open chord shapes.
• Melodic Exploration: The Lydian scale (Major with a #4) fits perfectly over this tuning, making it an excellent foundation for melodic improvisation that maintains a bright, uplifting, and slightly mysterious character.

Open String Notes

Here are the notes for each string in the "F Lydian Majesty" tuning, from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st) string:

• 6th String: F2 (Low F)
• 5th String: A2 (A)
• 4th String: B2 (B)
• 3rd String: F3 (Middle F)
• 2nd String: B3 (High B)
• 1st String: E4 (Highest E)

How to Tune Your Guitar for F Lydian Majesty

Please follow these instructions carefully. When tuning significantly up or down (more than 4 semitones), consider using a different gauge string to avoid excessive tension or looseness.

• 6th String (Low E Standard): Tune up 1 semitone to F2.
• 5th String (A Standard): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The string remains A2.
• 4th String (D Standard): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• 3rd String (G Standard): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• 2nd String (B Standard): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The string remains B3.
• 1st String (High E Standard): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The string remains E4.