This unique guitar tuning, officially named FCFGCF, creates a rich and resonant F sus 2 drone across its open strings. It's elegantly described as an F sus 2 tuning and holds a fascinating relationship with the popular DADEAD (Open Dsus2) tuning: it is precisely the sound you would achieve by placing a capo on the third fret while tuned to DADEAD. This means if you're already familiar with Open Dsus2, you'll find many familiar chord shapes and melodic possibilities, simply transposed up a minor third.

From a technical perspective, the open strings are tuned to F2-C3-F3-G3-C4-F4. This sequence forms an Fsus2 chord, with the notes representing the Root (F), 5th (C), Root (F), 2nd/9th (G), 5th (C), and Root (F) respectively. The multiple Fs and Cs create a powerful, enveloping drone, while the G provides a suspended harmony, adding a melodic twist that differentiates it from a straightforward major or minor chord. This open structure lends itself beautifully to a wide array of musical styles.

The FCFGCF tuning is incredibly versatile for genres such as folk, acoustic fingerpicking, slide guitar, and ambient music, where its open, ringing quality can truly shine. Its inherent droning characteristics are perfect for crafting expansive soundscapes and sustained, rich chords. Because of its direct correlation to DADEAD, many standard barre chord shapes used in Open D will translate seamlessly, but now pitched to F. For example, a simple barre across all six strings at the first fret will give you an Fsus2, at the third fret a Gsus2, and so forth. Experimenting with open string voicings and simple two or three-finger shapes will quickly unlock the vast melodic and harmonic potential within this compelling tuning.

How to Tune F Sus2 Drone (DADEAD Capo 3)

• String 6 (Low E to F2): Tune up 1 semitone.
• String 5 (A to C3): Tune up 3 semitones. Please exercise caution when tuning this string, as a significant increase in tension may occur.
• String 4 (D to F3): Tune up 3 semitones. Similar to the 5th string, proceed with care due to increased tension.
• String 3 (G to G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2 (B to C4): Tune up 1 semitone.
• String 1 (High E to F4): Tune up 1 semitone.

Note on String Gauge: The maximum tuning adjustment for this setup is +3 semitones. While generally manageable for standard light to medium gauge strings, it is always recommended to proceed slowly and ensure your guitar's neck relief remains stable, especially with any significant increase in string tension.