Tuning Overview: "Pain"

The "Pain" tuning for Guitar, as described by its discoverer, is designed for crafting sad and deeply emotional songs. Its unique character evokes a somber and reflective mood, making it a powerful choice for compositions requiring depth and feeling.

Technical Analysis

This tuning transforms the standard guitar into an open F6 chord: F2-A2-D3-F3-D4-F4 (from the lowest to highest string). This means that a simple strum of the open strings immediately produces a rich, melancholic F6 sound, providing an instant harmonic foundation for your music.

The intervals between the strings are:

• 6th String (F2) to 5th String (A2): Major 3rd (4 semitones)
• 5th String (A2) to 4th String (D3): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• 4th String (D3) to 3rd String (F3): Minor 3rd (3 semitones)
• 3rd String (F3) to 2nd String (D4): Major 6th (9 semitones) - This wide interval offers interesting possibilities for arpeggios and unique voicings, though it may challenge standard chord shapes.
• 2nd String (D4) to 1st String (F4): Minor 3rd (3 semitones)

Chordal Opportunities

• Open F6 Chord: The most prominent feature is the effortless open F6, providing a full and resonant base for sad compositions.
• Barre Chords: By simply barring across all strings at any fret, you can easily transpose the F6 chord shape up the neck. For instance, a barre at the 5th fret yields an A6 chord, and at the 7th fret, a B6 chord, and so on.
• Inner Voicings & Arpeggios: The repeated D and F notes on the higher strings (D3-F3-D4-F4) are excellent for crafting intricate fingerstyle patterns and arpeggios, further enhancing the melancholic character of the tuning.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Pain" tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-e), follow these specific adjustments:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone to F2.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to A2.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to D3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 3 semitones to D4. Please exercise caution when tuning this string up significantly (3 semitones). If you plan to use this tuning frequently, consider using a lighter gauge string to prevent undue tension.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 1 semitone to F4.