Verbal Analysis

This tuning, which could be enharmonically considered a Gb tuning, offers a uniquely rich and resonant sonic landscape. The original description hints at a "lovely" and potentially "romantic" feel, and the open string voicings certainly deliver on that promise. With a foundational F# Major chord enriched by a 9th (G#) and 6th (D#), strumming the open strings produces a lush, complex sound that is both full and melodically intriguing. It's a tuning that invites exploration of harmonic textures, perfect for ambient soundscapes, expressive ballads, or modern fingerstyle pieces where rich open chords can truly shine. The predominantly perfect fourths interval structure across the higher strings also suggests an ease of consistent chord shapes and scales across the fretboard, encouraging a more fluid playing experience.

Technical Analysis

Open String Notes:

• String 6 (Low E Equivalent): F#3
• String 5 (A Equivalent): A#3
• String 4 (D Equivalent): D#4
• String 3 (G Equivalent): G#4
• String 2 (B Equivalent): C#5
• String 1 (High E Equivalent): F#5

Interval Structure:

From lowest to highest string, the intervals are:

• String 6 (F#3) to String 5 (A#3): Major 3rd (4 semitones)
• String 5 (A#3) to String 4 (D#4): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• String 4 (D#4) to String 3 (G#4): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• String 3 (G#4) to String 2 (C#5): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• String 2 (C#5) to String 1 (F#5): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)

This unique structure combines a Major 3rd at the lowest interval with a consistent sequence of Perfect Fourths across the upper five strings. This 'hybrid' approach offers both harmonic richness and practical fretboard consistency.

Chordal Characteristics:

When strummed open, this tuning produces an F# Major 9(add6) chord (F# - A# - C# - D# - G# - F#). This is a full and consonant voicing, providing a broad harmonic palette without requiring fretting. The presence of the Major 3rd at the lowest interval, combined with the Perfect Fourths above, allows for interesting open voicings and facilitates easy transpositions of chord shapes across the neck, especially for the top five strings. Common chord shapes from Standard tuning will feel different, but the consistent fourths offer new, logical patterns for improvisation and composition.

How to Tune:

To achieve F# Hybrid Fourths Tuning from standard E A D G B E tuning, adjust each string as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 2 semitones to F#3.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 1 semitones to A#3.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 1 semitones to D#4.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 1 semitones to G#4.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 2 semitones to C#5.
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 2 semitones to F#5.

Note: The semitone movements for this tuning (+2, +1, +1, +1, +2, +2) are all within the recommended range of -4 to +4 semitones. Therefore, a change in string gauge is generally not explicitly advised based on these movements alone, though tuning up does increase string tension. Always consider your guitar's setup and personal string tension preferences for optimal playability and instrument health.

String 6: F#3

String 5: A#3

String 4: D#4

String 3: G#4

String 2: C#5

String 1: F#5