Verbal Analysis: The "Loco" Experience

As described by its creator, the "Loco" tuning is designed to be "very lush and exciting, open and bright." This description perfectly encapsulates the sonic landscape it offers. Imagine a rich, full-bodied sound that feels both familiar and strikingly unique. It combines the deep resonance of a dropped low string (reminiscent of Drop D, but with its own distinct character) with a bright, ringing top end, creating a broad harmonic palette. It invites exploration, promising an open canvas for expressive melodies and rich chord voicings that truly stand out.

Technical Analysis: Unveiling the Fmaj7add9

This tuning transforms your standard guitar into an open Fmaj7add9 chord when played open, with the string notes arranged as follows from low to high: F2 G2 A2 F3 C4 E4. This is a highly sophisticated voicing, providing an immediate sense of lushness and complexity. Let's break down its components:

• F2 (Low String): The lowest string is tuned to F2, a full step up from standard E2. This creates a powerful and resonant bass foundation, giving the tuning a robust, "dropped" feel, yet centering it around F.
• G2, A2 (Middle-Low Strings): The next two strings, G2 and A2, create a wide, open interval that contributes significantly to the "bright" and "open" quality. The G2 is a major second above the low F, and the A2 is a major third.
• F3 (Middle String): The third string returns to F, an octave above the lowest string. This reinforcement of the root note adds to the tuning's stability and power.
• C4, E4 (High Strings): The higher strings provide the perfect fifth (C4) and major seventh (E4) relative to the root F. The E4 is kept at standard pitch (E4), offering a familiar brightness and allowing for common melodic phrases on the top string.

The overall effect of this specific note arrangement is an incredibly rich F major 7th chord with an added 9th (G). This means that simply strumming all open strings will yield a beautiful, full, and harmonically dense sound. This tuning is particularly well-suited for:

• Ambient Soundscapes: The open and resonant nature, coupled with the complex Fmaj7add9 chord, makes it ideal for creating atmospheric and sustained textures.
• Fingerpicking: The wide intervals and specific chord voicing lend themselves to intricate fingerstyle arrangements, where individual notes can ring out and create cascading harmonies.
• Melodic Exploration: While the low F anchors the tuning, the presence of G and A on the next strings opens up possibilities for modal playing and unusual melodic lines.
• Accessible Chords: Beyond the open Fmaj7add9, simple barres across various frets will naturally yield rich chord voicings, often variations of major 7th, 9th, or 11th chords in different keys, making it surprisingly intuitive for creating complex harmony with minimal effort. Moving a simple barre shape up the neck will reveal a whole new set of harmonious voicings.

The "kinda drop D but also kinda not" aspect refers to the lowered bass string (F2). While it provides the deep rumble associated with dropped tunings, it establishes a different harmonic center (F) rather than D, offering a fresh foundation for songwriting.

Tuning Notes (Low to High)

String 6 (Low E String): F2

String 5 (A String): G2

String 4 (D String): A2

String 3 (G String): F3

String 2 (B String): C4

String 1 (High E String): E4

How to Tune Your Guitar to "Loco"

To achieve the "Loco" tuning, you'll be adjusting several strings from standard EADGBe tuning. Please tune each string carefully, checking the pitch with a reliable tuner. Pay special attention to the significant changes on Strings 4 and 5.

• String 6 (Low E String): Tune up 1 semitone from E2 to F2. (Small adjustment)
• String 5 (A String): Tune down 2 semitones from A2 to G2. (Moderate drop)
• String 4 (D String): Tune down 5 semitones from D3 to A2. Caution: This is a substantial drop. For optimal performance and to prevent string instability or breakage, consider using a heavier gauge string for this position.
• String 3 (G String): Tune down 2 semitones from G3 to F3. (Moderate drop)
• String 2 (B String): Tune up 1 semitone from B3 to C4. (Small adjustment)
• String 1 (High E String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from E4. (No adjustment needed)

For changes exceeding 4 semitones in either direction, such as the -5 semitones on String 4, a different string gauge is generally advised to maintain proper tension and tone. Always tune slowly and carefully.