Tuning Overview: FAEACE

This unique tuning, FAEACE, transforms your guitar into a deeply resonant and harmonically rich instrument, primarily voicing an F Major 7th chord in its open state. It's a fantastic choice for musicians exploring ambient soundscapes, intricate fingerstyle arrangements, or any genre that benefits from lush, sophisticated harmonic textures. The relatively minor adjustments from standard tuning make it accessible while offering a fresh sonic palette.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to F2-A2-E3-A3-C4-E4 (low to high). These notes collectively form an F Major 7th chord (F, A, C, E), providing an instant, full-bodied harmonic foundation without fretting any notes. The internal intervals create interesting relationships:

• F2 (6th string) to A2 (5th string): Major 3rd (4 semitones)
• A2 (5th string) to E3 (4th string): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
• E3 (4th string) to A3 (3rd string): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• A3 (3rd string) to C4 (2nd string): Minor 3rd (3 semitones)
• C4 (2nd string) to E4 (1st string): Major 3rd (4 semitones)

This specific arrangement of intervals not only offers the open Fmaj7 but also allows for easy transposition of this chord by barring across any single fret (e.g., barring at the 1st fret yields Gmaj7). The recurring A and E notes across different octaves provide excellent opportunities for drone notes and open string harmonies, expanding the harmonic possibilities beyond simple triads. Shapes related to A minor and C major will also be quite accessible due to the note relationships within the tuning.

How to Tune to FAEACE

To achieve the FAEACE tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these precise string movements:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone from E2 to F2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 4 (D): Tune up 2 semitones from D3 to E3.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 2 semitones from G3 to A3.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 1 semitone from B3 to C4.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Note: All specified string movements are relatively small (within +2 semitones) and well within the safe range for standard guitar string gauges. For tunings requiring movements beyond 4 semitones up or down, it is generally recommended to consider a different string gauge to ensure optimal playability and string longevity.

The individual notes for each string in FAEACE tuning are:

• String 6: F2 (Low F)
• String 5: A2 (A below Middle C)
• String 4: E3 (E below Middle C)
• String 3: A3 (A above Middle C)
• String 2: C4 (Middle C)
• String 1: E4 (High E)