This unique guitar tuning, which we've named Open Amaj7sus / F# (Macrotah Alternate), offers a rich and evocative sound palette. As described by its creator, it's designed for a "melancholy chord progression" and is perfect for crafting "chill tunes." The intention is to create a dynamic texture by alternating between muting the low F# and A strings, allowing the higher strings to ring out and define the harmony. This approach highlights the tuning's inherent complexity and emotional depth, making it suitable for ambient soundscapes or introspective compositions.

Technical Analysis

This is an open tuning for a Guitar. The open notes from low to high are: F#3, A2, E3, G#4, B2, E4. Let's break down the harmonic structure:

• 6th String (F#3): Serves as a deep, foundational bass note, giving the overall harmony a solid anchor.
• 5th String (A2): This note functions as the root of the implied A major 7 chord.
• 4th String (E3): Provides the perfect 5th of the A chord, adding stability.
• 3rd String (G#4): The major 7th of the A chord, contributing to the chord's sophisticated character.
• 2nd String (B2): Acts as a sus2 or 9th, creating an open, suspended quality by replacing the traditional major 3rd (C#) of an A major chord.
• 1st String (E4): An octave higher perfect 5th, which adds brightness and sustain to the overall chord.

When strummed open, this tuning produces a complex harmony best described as an A Major 7 suspended 2nd with a 9th and 13th, voiced over an F# bass (Amaj7sus2add9/F#). The interplay of the F# bass with the A major 7 (lacking C#) and its extensions (B, E) creates a rich, spacious, and slightly melancholic sound. The specific intervals between adjacent strings—a minor 3rd (F# to A), perfect 5th (A to E), major 3rd (E to G#), minor 3rd (G# to B), and perfect 4th (B to E)—are non-symmetrical, encouraging unique melodic and harmonic exploration.

Open Chords and Reachable Shapes

The design of this tuning facilitates immediate access to full, textured chords with minimal effort:

• Open Strum: Simply strumming all open strings yields the full Amaj7sus2add9/F# chord, a rich and resonant sound ideal for atmospheric music.
• Muting the 6th String (F#): If the F# string is muted or not played, the remaining strings (A E G# B E) form an open A Major 7 suspended 2nd chord, which has a brighter, more contemplative quality without the deep bass foundation.
• Two and Three-Finger Shapes: Experimenting with simple two or three-finger chord shapes across the fretboard will reveal a surprising array of fresh voicings that are characteristic of this non-standard tuning. These can include intriguing cluster chords or extended harmonies that are difficult to achieve in standard tuning.
• Barring at Higher Frets: While complex, barring across certain frets will transpose the fundamental harmonic structure of the open Amaj7sus2add9/F# chord, allowing for exploration of similar textures in different keys or positions up the neck.

How to Tune

To achieve the Open Amaj7sus / F# (Macrotah Alternate) tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), follow these steps carefully:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 2 semitones from E to F#3.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 2 semitones from D to E3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 1 semitone from G to G#4.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 12 semitones from B to B2. This is a significant drop of a full octave. Caution: Tuning down 12 semitones is a substantial adjustment. For optimal playability and to prevent potential issues like string breakage or poor intonation, a lighter gauge string is strongly advised for this particular string.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at E4.

Always use a reliable tuner and proceed with care, especially when making larger pitch adjustments.

Here are the target notes for each string in the Open Amaj7sus / F# (Macrotah Alternate) tuning, from the lowest (6th) string to the highest (1st) string:

• 6th String: F#3
• 5th String: A2
• 4th String: E3
• 3rd String: G#4
• 2nd String: B2
• 1st String: E4