The FGEFCD Tuning is an unconventional and highly experimental guitar tuning that deviates significantly from standard EADGBe. As described by its creator, the tuning was developed by "alternating going up and down on the strings," resulting in a unique and intriguing sonic landscape.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning offers a rich, often dissonant, and highly open character, encouraging exploration beyond conventional chord shapes. It doesn't present an obvious major or minor chord when strummed open, instead offering a complex cluster of notes that invites fingerstyle playing, arpeggios, and melodic improvisation. The unusual interval relationships create tension and release, making it suitable for modern compositions, experimental music, or genres that thrive on unique sonic textures. The phrase "easy extensions" suggests that while the open strings themselves are not a simple chord, adding a single finger or two can lead to surprisingly accessible and harmonically interesting voicings.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to F2 G2 E3 F3 C4 D4 (low to high). Let's break down the intervals between adjacent strings:

• String 6 (F2) to String 5 (G2): Major 2nd (whole step)
• String 5 (G2) to String 4 (E3): Minor 6th
• String 4 (E3) to String 3 (F3): Minor 2nd (half step)
• String 3 (F3) to String 2 (C4): Perfect 5th
• String 2 (C4) to String 1 (D4): Major 2nd (whole step)

The most striking features are the tight intervals, particularly the Minor 2nd between E3 and F3 (Strings 4 and 3), which creates an inherent tension, and the two F notes across the tuning (F2 on String 6 and F3 on String 3), providing a strong foundational F. While strumming all strings together creates a dense and dissonant sound (F-G-E-F-C-D), the tuning offers interesting harmonic possibilities when playing partial chords or specific voicings:

• An open C Major triad in 2nd inversion (G-C-E) can be found across Strings 5, 2, and 4 (G2, C4, E3).
• The top three strings (F3-C4-D4) resemble an Fsus2/C or F6sus2 chord, offering a bright and suspended sound.
• The presence of two Fs (F2, F3) and a C (C4) provides a foundational F power chord sound, which can be easily extended.

This tuning is highly conducive to modal playing and exploring harmonies that lean towards a C major or F Lydian scale (C-D-E-F-G are all present as open notes, with a duplicate F). Players can leverage the unique string relationships for open string drones, complex arpeggios, and creating rich, layered soundscapes.

Open String Notes

Here are the notes for each string when tuned:

• String 6 (Low E): F2
• String 5 (A): G2
• String 4 (D): E3
• String 3 (G): F3
• String 2 (B): C4
• String 1 (High E): D4

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve the FGEFCD tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps. Please use a reliable tuner and tune carefully, especially with string tension changes.

• String 6 (Low E to F2): Tune up 1 semitones.
• String 5 (A to G2): Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 4 (D to E3): Tune up 2 semitones.
• String 3 (G to F3): Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 2 (B to C4): Tune up 1 semitones.
• String 1 (High E to D4): Tune down 2 semitones.