Verbal Description

The FACDAB tuning, as described in its origin, offers an "american primitive sounding" palette, inviting exploration and experimentation. It's truly a "bit different," eschewing conventional open chords for a more complex and resonant sonic landscape. The tuning is characterized by a strong, low F foundation on the bass strings, coupled with intriguing intervals on the higher strings. This creates an open, ringing quality that lends itself beautifully to fingerstyle playing, drone-based compositions, and creating unique melodic textures. Players will find it particularly inspiring for folk, blues, or experimental music where a rich, somewhat raw, and unconventional sound is desired.

Technical Analysis

This tuning sets the strings of your guitar to the following notes from lowest to highest pitch: F2 A2 C3 D3 A3 B4.

The foundational notes F2, A2, and C3 on the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings respectively, form a clear F Major triad. Extending to the 3rd string, the D3 completes an F6 chord (F-A-C-D), providing a warm and consonant base.

The higher strings introduce more complex and expressive intervals:

• The 2nd string is tuned to A3, an octave of the A2 on the 5th string, adding richness and sustain to the A note and reinforcing the F major harmony.
• The 1st string is tuned significantly high to B4. This B4 creates a major 7th interval with the C3 on string 4 and a major 2nd with the A3 on string 2. More strikingly, it forms a tritone with the root F2, introducing a distinctive tension and brightness that perfectly aligns with the "primitive" description. This interval provides a unique chime-like quality, perfect for open string melodies and drones that stand out.

Open Chords & Reachable Shapes:

• Open F6: Strumming the lowest four strings (F2 A2 C3 D3) yields a clear and resonant F6 chord.
• F Major triad: The F2, A2, C3 on strings 6, 5, 4 are a natural F major triad, easily accessible for rhythm playing and building more complex harmonies.
• Complex Voicings: The full open tuning (F-A-C-D-A-B) results in a rich and harmonically dense sound, best explored through arpeggiation or selective strumming to highlight specific intervals. The B4 against the F6 base can evoke suspended or altered dominant sounds, depending on context and interpretation.
• Modal Possibilities: The presence of D, A, and B, alongside the F-A-C triad, hints at modes like F Lydian or D Dorian, depending on which notes are emphasized. Simple one or two-finger fretboard shapes will uncover a wealth of unique harmonic colors and provide opportunities for expressive lead lines that play off the open strings.

How to Tune Your Guitar to FACDAB

To achieve the FACDAB tuning, start from standard EADGBe tuning and adjust each string as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone from E2 to F2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones from D3 to C3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 5 semitones from G3 to D3.
  Important: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant drop in pitch. For optimal tone, intonation, and to prevent string floppiness, it is highly recommended to use a heavier gauge string for your 3rd string.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones from B3 to A3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 7 semitones from E4 to B4.
  Important: Tuning up 7 semitones is a very large increase in tension. For safety, to prevent string breakage, and for better playability, it is highly recommended to use a lighter gauge string for your 1st string.