FACGBD Guitar Tuner
FACGBD FACGBD - G11 - Guitar tuning, chords & scales
The "FACGBD - G11" tuning for guitar is a truly distinctive and harmonically rich setup, designed to evoke complex, ambient soundscapes. As described, it features a foundation of "Major Arpeggio bass notes" complemented by "G major top strings." This unique combination creates a versatile canvas, perfect for genres ranging from modern jazz and fusion to progressive rock, experimental music, and cinematic scoring.
Technical Analysis:
- The open strings are tuned to F2-A2-C3-G3-B3-D4.
- The lowest three strings (F2, A2, C3) form an F Major triad (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th), providing a strong and resonant bass foundation.
- The upper three strings (G3, B3, D4) form a G Major triad (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th), adding brightness and melodic potential.
- When all six strings are strummed open, the resulting sound is a full G11 chord (G-B-D-F-A-C). This makes the tuning an open G11 voicing, which is both complex and incredibly lush. The F natural acts as the minor seventh of G, the A as the ninth, and the C as the eleventh, creating a sophisticated extended chord.
- The presence of both F major and G major elements within the same open tuning offers intriguing harmonic possibilities, allowing for exploration between these two tonalities and their related modes.
Chords and Playability:
- Open G11: Strumming all open strings immediately gives you a rich G11 chord, perfect for sustained, ambient textures.
- Movable Chords: By barring across all six strings at any fret, you can effortlessly transpose the G11 chord across the fretboard. For instance, barring at the first fret yields a G#11, at the second fret an A11, and so on. This makes playing complex extended chords remarkably simple.
- F Major Family: The F-A-C bass notes provide easy access to F major, F minor, and related chords and arpeggios on the lower strings. This allows for clear root movement and bass lines.
- G Major Family: The G-B-D top strings facilitate G major, G minor, and related voicings, making melodic playing and higher harmony easy to achieve.
- Unique Voicings: The distinct intervallic relationships between strings, such as the Major 3rd (F-A) and Minor 3rd (A-C) in the bass, and the Perfect 4th (C-G) between the middle strings, encourage the discovery of unique fingerings and fresh harmonic voicings not typically found in standard tuning. This tuning naturally lends itself to a less rigid, more exploratory playing style.
This tuning is an excellent choice for guitarists looking to break away from traditional voicings and explore a more harmonically dense and resonant sound. It's particularly effective for creating lush soundscapes and modern compositions.
Open String Notes:
- 6th String (Low E): F2 - The foundational bass note, a half step up from standard E.
- 5th String (A): A2 - This string remains at its standard pitch.
- 4th String (D): C3 - Tuned down a whole step from standard D.
- 3rd String (G): G3 - This string remains at its standard pitch.
- 2nd String (B): B3 - This string remains at its standard pitch.
- 1st String (High E): D4 - Tuned down a whole step from standard E.
How to Tune:
To achieve the FACGBD - G11 tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these precise string adjustments:
- 6th String (Low E to F2): Tune up 1 semitone.
- 5th String (A to A2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
- 4th String (D to C3): Tune down 2 semitones.
- 3rd String (G to G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
- 2nd String (B to B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
- 1st String (High E to D4): Tune down 2 semitones.
Important Note on String Tension: While the adjustments for this particular tuning are generally mild (within -2 to +1 semitones), it's always good practice to be mindful of string tension. For tunings requiring movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down (e.g., tuning up 5 semitones or down 6 semitones), it is strongly advised to consider using a different gauge of strings to avoid excessive stress on your instrument or potential string breakage, and to maintain optimal playability and intonation. Always tune carefully and gradually.
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Capos for FACGBD
Capo | Tuning | Name |
---|---|---|
0 | FACGBD | FACGBD - G11 |
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Tuning Map
- Fret
- S6
- S5
- S4
- S3
- S2
- S1
- -13
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F#
- A#
- D#
- -12
- E
- A
- D
- G
- B
- E
- -11
- F
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C
- F
- -10
- F#
- B
- E
- A
- C#
- F#
- -9
- G
- C
- F
- A#
- D
- G
- -8
- G#
- C#
- F#
- B
- D#
- G#
- -7
- A
- D
- G
- C
- E
- A
- -6
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F
- A#
- -5
- B
- E
- A
- D
- F#
- B
- -4
- C
- F
- A#
- D#
- G
- C
- -3
- C#
- F#
- B
- E
- G#
- C#
- -2
- D
- G
- C
- F
- A
- D
- -1
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F#
- A#
- D#
- 0
- E
- A
- D
- G
- B
- E
- 1
- F
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C
- F
- 2
- F#
- B
- E
- A
- C#
- F#
- 3
- G
- C
- F
- A#
- D
- G
- 4
- G#
- C#
- F#
- B
- D#
- G#
- 5
- A
- D
- G
- C
- E
- A
- 6
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F
- A#
- 7
- B
- E
- A
- D
- F#
- B
- 1
- 0
- -2
- 0
- 0
- -2