FACABE Guitar Tuner

FACABE Марина, я умираю! - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Марина, я умираю!

nervous, tense tuning for sad music

This is a distinctive guitar tuning known as "Марина, я умираю!" (Marina, I'm dying!), a name that, along with its description as a "nervous, tense tuning for sad music," immediately conveys its profound emotional character. This unique setup moves far beyond standard guitar tuning to create a deeply resonant and evocative soundscape.

Technically, the open strings are set to F2-A2-C3-A3-B3-E4, from the thickest to the thinnest string. This arrangement results in a complex harmonic structure:

The lower three strings (F2-A2-C3) establish a clear and stable F Major triad, providing a foundational warmth and familiarity.
The fourth string, A3, cleverly reinforces this F Major harmony by doubling the A an octave higher, adding depth and richness to the chord.
However, the tuning takes a dramatic turn with the second string, B3. The B natural introduces a significant tension, being a tritone (an augmented fourth) away from the root F and a major second above the C. This sharp, unresolved interval is the primary source of the "nervous, tense" quality, creating a compelling dissonance that immediately captures attention.
The first string, E4, completes the tuning, providing a major seventh above the root F. When all open strings are played together (F-A-C-A-B-E), the resulting chord is a sophisticated and highly expressive Fmaj7(add #11) or Fmaj7(add B) voicing. This combination hints at advanced jazz harmonies or the poignant, extended chords found in contemporary classical and film scores.

This tuning is not designed for simple major or minor chords, but rather for creating powerful, emotionally charged arpeggios, drones, and unique chord voicings. The juxtaposition of the stable F Major triad with the jarring B and the melancholic E allows for rapid shifts between comfort and anxiety, making it exceptionally well-suited for its intended purpose: composing and performing sad, anxious, or deeply reflective music. Explorations within this tuning will uncover unique melodic pathways and harmonic textures that are both challenging and incredibly rewarding.

Open String Notes:

Here are the notes for each string in this tuning, from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st):

6th String (Low E string): Tuned to F2
5th String (A string): Tuned to A2
4th String (D string): Tuned to C3
3rd String (G string): Tuned to A3
2nd String (B string): Tuned to B3
1st String (High E string): Tuned to E4

How to Tune:

To achieve the "Марина, я умираю!" tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these precise adjustments carefully. Each instruction indicates the change from a standard-tuned string.

6th String (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone from E2 to F2.
5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains A2.
4th String (D): Tune down 2 semitones from D3 to C3.
3rd String (G): Tune up 2 semitones from G3 to A3.
2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains B3.
1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains E4.

Important Note on String Gauge: Adjustments of more than 4 semitones (either up or down) can significantly alter string tension and may require a different string gauge to maintain proper playability and prevent damage to your instrument or strings. For this particular tuning, all string adjustments are within a safe range for standard guitar strings.