This unique guitar tuning, originally named "safwane" and described by its creator as a "badd9 variant for light gauge strings," offers a fresh sonic palette for guitarists exploring new musical territories. It's crafted to inspire new melodic and harmonic ideas, moving away from traditional tunings.

Verbal Analysis

Safwane's tuning is an intriguing departure from standard, designed to inspire new songs and creativity. The creator's intent to craft a "badd9" sound is evident in the harmonic possibilities, even if the open strings present a slightly different structure. It's envisioned for light gauge strings, suggesting a preference for easier playability and potentially brighter, more articulate tones, allowing for expressive bends and vibrant overtones.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to F#3, B2, C#4, F#4, B2, F#5. Analyzing these notes reveals a strong Bsus2 (B, C#, F#) or F#sus4 (F#, B, C#) tonality. The abundance of F# and B, coupled with the high C#, creates a rich, resonant sound with distinct harmonic qualities:

• The lowest string is F#3, providing a deep root or a strong fifth to a B chord, establishing a firm bass foundation.
• The pairing of B2 and F#3/4/5 forms perfect fifths and fourths across the lower and middle strings, creating a powerful, open sound that rings out beautifully.
• The C#4 on the 4th string adds a major second (from B) or ninth (from B) interval, giving the tuning its distinctive suspended character. This aligns well with the creator's "badd9" description, as C# is indeed the 9th of B.
• The repeated B notes (B2 on 5th and 2nd strings) and F# notes (F#3 on 6th, F#4 on 3rd, F#5 on 1st) provide excellent drone possibilities and simplify chord voicings across the neck, making it easy to create lush, sustained harmonies.

This tuning is particularly conducive to:

• Open Chords: An open strum will naturally produce a powerful Bsus2 or F#sus4 chord, offering a lush, harmonically rich foundation that can be inspiring for songwriting.
• Barre Chords: Simple barre shapes will easily translate into new sus2/sus4 voicings up and down the neck, allowing for quick exploration of different keys while retaining the tuning's unique flavor.
• Melodic Play: The consistent intervals of perfect fourths and seconds between certain strings make it intuitive to develop melodic lines that weave through the open string harmony, creating interesting counterpoints.
• Drone Tones: The repeating B and F# notes are ideal for creating sustained drone effects, particularly useful in ambient, experimental, or folk-infused musical styles.

How to Tune (From Standard EADGBe)

Please note that significant string tension changes will occur when adjusting to this tuning. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different string gauge may be advised to prevent damage to your instrument or strings, and to ensure optimal playability and intonation.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 2 semitones to F#3.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 2 semitones to B2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 1 semitone to C#4.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 1 semitone to F#4.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 12 semitones to B2. Caution: This is a full octave drop from standard B3. A heavier gauge string is strongly advised for this string to maintain adequate tension, prevent floppiness, and avoid breakage, especially if its original gauge was already light.
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 2 semitones to F#5.

String 6: F#3
String 5: B2
String 4: C#4
String 3: F#4
String 2: B2
String 1: F#5