The Open A#-Major Tuning: A Rich, Harmonically Layered Sound

This unique tuning, aptly named "Open A#-Major," was crafted with the intention of creating a pleasing and resonant open sound. While the name suggests a direct A# Major chord, the full open strum offers a more complex and expansive harmonic palette, rich with possibilities for creative expression.

Verbal Analysis:

When strummed open, this tuning produces a full, almost drone-like quality with a sense of sustained harmony. The presence of two A# notes across different octaves (String 5 and String 2) provides a strong anchor, while the low F (String 6) gives it a deep, resonant foundation. The combination of notes creates an intriguing sound that isn't a simple major or minor chord, offering a unique texture for both melodic lines and harmonic accompaniment.

It lends itself well to slide guitar playing, allowing for fluid melodic exploration over its rich open drone. Fingerstyle players will also find opportunities to highlight individual voices within the dense harmonic structure. The overall feel is one of spaciousness and complexity, moving beyond typical open tunings.

Technical Analysis:

The open strings are tuned to F2, A#3, C3, G3, A#4, D4 (from lowest to highest string). Let's break down the harmonic content:

• The notes present are F, G, A#, C, D. Arranged, this forms an Fsus4(add6, add9) chord (F - Root, A# - suspended 4th, C - perfect 5th, G - added 9th, D - added 6th). This gives the tuning its signature rich, extended sound.
• Despite the complex open voicing, the notes required for an A# Major triad (A#, D, F) are all present within the tuning (String 5, String 1, and String 6 respectively). This means that by carefully selecting which strings to play, an A# Major chord can be formed in an open position.
• The pairing of A# on String 5 and D on String 1 creates a major third interval, which can be a melodic or harmonic anchor.
• The presence of a perfect fifth between G (String 3) and D (String 1) offers a solid interval for quick power chords or melodic voicings.

This tuning provides a flexible foundation, allowing players to explore voicings rooted in F or A#. Its unique intervals suggest easy access to bluesy or modal sounds, and its open character makes it excellent for experimentation with drone music or atmospheric textures.

Detailed String Notes and Tuning Instructions

Open String Notes:

Here are the target notes for each string in this "Open A#-Major" tuning (from lowest to highest string):

• String 6 (Low E equivalent): F2
• String 5 (A equivalent): A#3
• String 4 (D equivalent): C3
• String 3 (G equivalent): G3
• String 2 (B equivalent): A#4
• String 1 (High E equivalent): D4

Note on octaves: Strings 5 (A#3) and 2 (A#4) are tuned to higher octave versions of their typical standard tuning counterparts.

How to Tune:

To achieve the "Open A#-Major" tuning from standard guitar tuning, please follow these precise instructions for each string:

• String 6 (Low E equivalent, target F2): Tune up 1 semitones.
• String 5 (A equivalent, target A#3): Tune up 1 semitones.
• String 4 (D equivalent, target C3): Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 3 (G equivalent, target G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2 (B equivalent, target A#4): Tune down 1 semitones.
• String 1 (High E equivalent, target D4): Tune down 2 semitones.

Important Tuning Advice: All string movements, as per the provided instructions, are within the safe range (below +/- 4 semitones from their standard tuning position). However, always tune carefully and gradually.