Overview

The FACEGE tuning is a rich and atmospheric open Fmaj7 tuning, perfectly suited for genres like Midwest Emo and Shoegaze. As the original description notes, it's surprising this hasn't been widely documented, highlighting its unique appeal for players seeking fresh sonic textures. This tuning opens up a world of shimmering chords and intricate arpeggios, making it a fantastic choice for creating lush, expansive soundscapes.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to F2-A2-C3-E3-G3-E4 (from low to high). This arrangement immediately presents an F major 7th chord (F-A-C-E) across the bottom four strings, establishing a harmonious and resonant foundation. The addition of the G3 on the second string introduces a 9th, creating an Fmaj9 sound in the open position, which adds a sophisticated, slightly suspended quality. The repeated E4 on the high E string reinforces the major 7th, adding sparkle and sustain to the overall voicing.

Examining the intervals:

• String 6 (F2) to String 5 (A2): Major 3rd
• String 5 (A2) to String 4 (C3): Minor 3rd
• String 4 (C3) to String 3 (E3): Major 3rd
• String 3 (E3) to String 2 (G3): Minor 3rd
• String 2 (G3) to String 1 (E4): Minor 6th (or Major 3rd down)

This combination of major and minor thirds creates a very consonant, yet slightly complex, harmonic structure that is characteristic of modern alternative and indie sounds.

Chordal Opportunities

The beauty of this tuning lies in its immediate access to rich voicings:

• Open Fmaj9: Simply strumming all six open strings provides a full, resonant Fmaj9 chord.
• Fmaj7: Muting or avoiding the G string (2nd string) will yield a pure Fmaj7 chord, offering a slightly more traditional, yet still ethereal, sound.
• Movable Voicings: Barreing across all strings at any fret will instantly give you a transposed Fmaj9 chord. For example, a barre at the 1st fret produces an F#maj9, at the 2nd fret a Gmaj9, and so on. This makes it incredibly easy to access a wide range of major 9th chords with minimal effort.
• Sus2/Sus4 Opportunities: By fretting the G string (2nd string) at the 1st fret (Ab) or 3rd fret (Bb), you can explore different extensions or suspended qualities over the Fmaj7 base, creating more tension and release.
• Two-Note and Three-Note Chords: Experiment with playing just the top two strings (G3-E4) as a minor third, or the top three (E3-G3-E4) as a shimmering cluster, against the lower F-A-C base. This allows for intricate melodic and harmonic interplay.

This tuning encourages a fingerstyle approach to bring out its arpeggiated potential, but also excels with strumming for big, atmospheric washes of sound.

How to Tune to FACEGE

Follow these instructions carefully to tune your guitar to the FACEGE tuning. Pay close attention to the number of semitones each string needs to move. Standard guitar tuning is E-A-D-G-B-E (low to high).

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone to F2. (Original: E2)
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2. (Original: A2)
• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3. (Original: D3)
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3. Caution: Tuning down 3 semitones is a notable change. Take care during tuning. (Original: G3)
• String 2 (B): Tune down 4 semitones to G3. Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change. Take particular care during tuning, and be mindful of string tension. (Original: B3)
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at E4. (Original: E4)

Remember to stretch your strings after tuning to help them settle into the new pitch, especially for strings with significant pitch changes.