The tuning "Perfect A, full steps" is a vibrant and resonant guitar tuning, perfectly suited for the lush soundscapes of shoegaze and the intricate progressions often found in midwest emo. It's designed to provide a rich harmonic foundation with an inherent open chord voicing that invites creative exploration.

Verbal Analysis

At its heart, this tuning centers around the note A, creating a powerful and open A-centric sound. With multiple A notes (A2, A3, A3) and prominent F# notes (F#3, F#5), the open strings form a distinct A6(no 3rd) chord (A, E, F#). This means you get the strong foundation of A and E (the root and perfect fifth), complemented by the F# (the major sixth), which adds a sophisticated, slightly melancholic, or jazzy flavor without needing to fret any notes. The absence of a C# means it's not a pure A major triad, offering a more ambiguous and versatile tonality that can lean towards A major, F# minor, or even a suspended sound depending on context.

The duplication of A notes on strings 5, 3, and 2, and F# notes on strings 6 and 1, creates a beautiful, shimmering resonance when strummed open. The wide interval between the high A3 (string 2) and the very high F#5 (string 1) allows for sparkling, chime-like arpeggios and leads. This tuning encourages drone playing and allows for complex harmonic textures with minimal effort, making it ideal for layering effects. Simple one-finger barres can yield powerful major or minor chords, while open string combinations can lead to expansive and atmospheric sounds.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes, from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st), are:

• String 6: F#3
• String 5: A2
• String 4: E3
• String 3: A3
• String 2: A3
• String 1: F#5

Analyzing the intervals between adjacent open strings:

• String 6 (F#3) to String 5 (A2): Down a minor third.
• String 5 (A2) to String 4 (E3): Up a perfect fifth.
• String 4 (E3) to String 3 (A3): Up a perfect fourth.
• String 3 (A3) to String 2 (A3): Unison.
• String 2 (A3) to String 1 (F#5): Up a major sixth plus an octave (21 semitones). This is a very significant jump in pitch.

This interval structure provides a rich sonic landscape. The unison A3s on strings 3 and 2 create a powerful, resonant core for the tuning. The F#3 bass note (string 6) anchors the sound, while the A2 (string 5) and E3 (string 4) solidify an A major feel. The extremely high F#5 on the first string adds a sparkling, almost bell-like quality, perfect for melodic leads or adding shimmer to open chords. The open tuning itself naturally evokes an A6(no 3rd) chord (A, E, F#). This allows for easy access to open string drones and rich, full voicings. Basic barres will produce strong major chords across strings 5-2 (A-E-A-A), with the F# notes on the outer strings adding depth and character.

Tuning Notes

• String 6 (Low E string): F#3
• String 5 (A string): A2
• String 4 (D string): E3
• String 3 (G string): A3
• String 2 (B string): A3
• String 1 (High E string): F#5

How to Tune

To achieve "Perfect A, full steps" from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), follow these instructions carefully. Important Note: Significant changes in string tension can affect intonation and string life. Tuning up more than 4 semitones or down more than 4 semitones from standard tuning may require a different string gauge to prevent breakage or excessive looseness.

• String 6 (Low E string): Tune up 2 semitones to F#3.
• String 5 (A string): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to A2.
• String 4 (D string): Tune up 2 semitones to E3.
• String 3 (G string): Tune up 2 semitones to A3.
• String 2 (B string): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• String 1 (High E string): Tune up 2 semitones to F#5.