Tuning Analysis: Chris Neal Tuning

As described in its original context, the Chris Neal tuning is designed to deliver a bright, melodic, and jazzy character. If you're searching for a tuning that provides a fresh sonic palette with a distinct touch of colour and harmonic openness, this could be an excellent choice for you. It departs significantly from standard guitar tuning, offering new avenues for songwriting, improvisation, and unique chord voicings.

Technical Breakdown: Open Fsus4 Harmony

The open strings of this tuning, from the lowest (String 6) to the highest (String 1), are F2, A#3, F3, A#4, C4, F4. This specific arrangement of notes immediately forms an Open Fsus4 chord. Let's examine the harmonic structure:

• String 6 (Low E equivalent): F2 (The fundamental Root of the chord)
• String 5 (A equivalent): A#3 (Enharmonically Bb, serving as the Suspended 4th)
• String 4 (D equivalent): F3 (Another Root, an octave higher than String 6)
• String 3 (G equivalent): A#4 (Enharmonically Bb, the Suspended 4th, an octave higher than String 5)
• String 2 (B equivalent): C4 (The Perfect 5th of the chord)
• String 1 (High e equivalent): F4 (The highest Root, two octaves above String 6)

The dominant presence of the root (F), the suspended fourth (Bb/A#), and the fifth (C) creates a rich, resonant suspended chord quality. This inherent suspended harmony lends itself to a bright, open sound that can be harmonically ambiguous in a musically pleasing way, making it versatile for various genres including jazz, ambient, folk, and experimental music.

Chords & Playability

With the open strings themselves forming an Fsus4 chord, strumming the guitar without fretting any notes will immediately produce this full, vibrant sound. This serves as a powerful and instantly accessible harmonic foundation:

• Open Fsus4: The most direct benefit is the immediate availability of a lush, suspended chord. This can be used as a primary chord, a melodic drone, or a textural element.
• Movable Suspended Chords: A significant advantage is the ability to create movable suspended fourth chords across the fretboard by simply barring across any fret. For example, barring at the 1st fret will yield an F#sus4, barring at the 2nd fret a Gsus4, and so on. This simplifies chord progressions in a suspended context.
• Exploring Major/Minor: To achieve an F Major chord, you would typically need an A natural note. This can be accomplished by fretting the 5th string (currently A#) or the 3rd string (also A#) down one semitone to A. Similarly, an F minor chord would require an Ab. The existing Bb (A#) means you'd need to fret a significant distance to find an Ab, or adapt your playing around it, creating interesting dissonances or resolutions.
• Drone & Melodic Potential: The repetition of Fs and A#s (Bb) across different octaves within the tuning makes it excellent for drone-based music. It also facilitates crafting melodies that naturally interact with and resolve from the suspended harmony, offering considerable melodic tension and release potential.

How to Tune

This tuning requires significant adjustments to every string from standard E-A-D-G-B-e tuning. It is crucial to use a reliable electronic tuner and proceed carefully, especially with strings requiring larger semitone shifts, to avoid string breakage or undue stress on your instrument's neck.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone from its standard E2 to F2.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 1 semitone from its standard A2 to A#3.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 3 semitones from its standard D3 to F3. (Note: This is a moderate tension increase; proceed with care.)
• String 3 (G): Tune up 3 semitones from its standard G3 to A#4. (Note: This is a moderate tension increase; proceed with care.)
• String 2 (B): Tune up 1 semitone from its standard B3 to C4.
• String 1 (High e): Tune up 1 semitone from its standard E4 to F4.

All string movements for this tuning are in the 'up' direction and fall within the generally safe range of 4 semitones for standard gauge strings. However, always exercise caution and listen to your guitar when tuning up multiple semitones to ensure string integrity and instrument health.