Tuning Analysis: M3 Drop F

The "M3 Drop F" tuning presents a truly unique and highly specialized sonic landscape for the guitar. Described in its name as featuring "Major thirds with bass string a fifth," this tuning primarily aims for a rich, somewhat dense harmonic structure. It deviates significantly from standard guitar tuning, offering a fresh canvas for exploration in genres like jazz, experimental music, or specific song arrangements that require its distinctive voicings and harmonic tension.

Technical Breakdown

The open strings of the M3 Drop F tuning are configured as follows: F2 C3 E3 G4# C4 E4. Let's examine the intervals between adjacent strings, which reveal some highly unusual characteristics:

• 6th String (F2) to 5th String (C3): A Perfect 5th (7 semitones). This establishes a strong, foundational bass with a classic rock/metal drop tuning feel.
• 5th String (C3) to 4th String (E3): A Major 3rd (4 semitones). This begins the "major thirds" pattern suggested by the tuning name.
• 4th String (E3) to 3rd String (G4#): A Major 10th (16 semitones). This is an exceptionally wide interval for adjacent guitar strings, equivalent to a Major 3rd plus an octave. This creates a vast leap in pitch and contributes to the tuning's unique harmonic spread.
• 3rd String (G4#) to 2nd String (C4): A Descending Minor 6th (8 semitones down). This is a crucial feature: the 3rd string is tuned *higher* in pitch than the 2nd string. This re-entrant characteristic profoundly alters chord shapes and melodic possibilities, requiring a completely different approach to playing compared to linearly tuned guitars.
• 2nd String (C4) to 1st String (E4): A Major 3rd (4 semitones). This maintains the major thirds pattern on the higher strings.

Collectively, the open strings F2-C3-E3-G4#-C4-E4 form an **F Major 7 Augmented 5th (Fmaj7#5)** chord. This is a rich, complex, and somewhat dissonant voicing that offers a unique harmonic color right from the open position. The re-entrant 3rd string and the wide Major 10th interval mean that traditional chord shapes will not translate, and players will need to explore new fingerings to utilize the tuning effectively. It lends itself well to open, ringing arpeggios and voicings that exploit its unique intervallic structure rather than conventional strumming.

How to Tune

To achieve the "M3 Drop F" tuning from standard EADGBe tuning, follow these specific string adjustments:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone from E2 to F2.
• 5th String (A String): Tune up 3 semitones from A2 to C3.
• 4th String (D String): Tune up 2 semitones from D3 to E3.
• 3rd String (G String): Tune up 1 semitone from G3 to G#3.
• 2nd String (B String): Tune up 1 semitone from B3 to C4.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change from E4 to E4 (0 semitones).

Important Note on String Tension: While all the specified movements for this tuning are within 4 semitones (up or down) from standard, generally, tuning a string more than 4 semitones higher or lower than its standard pitch can cause excessive tension or looseness, potentially requiring a different string gauge to maintain optimal playability and intonation.

Tuning Notes Description

The M3 Drop F tuning sets your guitar strings to the following pitches:

The 6th (low E) string is tuned to F2.
The 5th (A) string is tuned to C3.
The 4th (D) string is tuned to E3.
The 3rd (G) string is tuned to G4#.
The 2nd (B) string is tuned to C4.
The 1st (high E) string is tuned to E4.