This is an exceptional and deeply resonant tuning specifically designed for baritone guitars, known as one of the "Mirror Tuning®" variations invented by Senchant in 2015. It stands out as the lowest among its counterparts, offering an incredibly broad sonic palette.

Verbal Analysis

The overall feel of this tuning is dark, expansive, and rich, primarily due to its low register and the significant spread of notes across the fretboard. The open strings, F#2-C#3-A2-E3-B3-F#5, present an immediate and complex harmony. The lowest F#2 grounds the sound with a powerful, resonant base, while the high F#5 provides a brilliant, almost chime-like top end, creating a three-octave span from the lowest to the highest string.

Playing all open strings simultaneously yields an F# minor 11 chord (F# A B C# E). This complex voicing creates a lush, melancholic, and sophisticated sound, perfect for ambient soundscapes, progressive rock, or jazz-infused styles. The low F# and C# provide a strong root and fifth, while the A adds the minor third, E the minor seventh, and B the eleventh, resulting in a rich harmonic density even before fretting any notes.

Chords will naturally feel expansive, with opportunities for large interval voicings. The wide jumps between certain strings (notably B3 to F#5) allow for dramatic melodic and harmonic contrasts, encouraging an open, less confined approach to playing.

Technical Analysis

The tuning F#2-C#3-A2-E3-B3-F#5 features several notable technical characteristics:

• Extremely Wide Range: With the lowest note at F#2 and the highest at F#5, this tuning boasts a massive three-octave range, maximizing the baritone guitar's capabilities.
• Root & Octave Doubling: The presence of F# as both the lowest and highest note (F#2 and F#5) establishes a strong fundamental and adds significant resonance and thickness to the open sound.
• Non-Standard Intervals: Unlike standard tunings, the intervals between strings are not consistent perfect fourths. The large jump from the 2nd string (B3) to the 1st string (F#5) — a perfect fifth plus two octaves (20 semitones) — is particularly striking and provides unique melodic and harmonic possibilities, opening up the top end dramatically. Other intervals include a perfect fifth (F#2 to C#3), a perfect fourth down (C#3 to A2), a perfect fifth (A2 to E3), and another perfect fifth (E3 to B3).
• Harmonic Potential: The open F#m11 chord provides a complex harmonic foundation, making it ideal for creating dense, atmospheric textures without extensive fingering.
• Baritone Specific: The extreme down-tuning on the lower strings (up to 10 semitones) necessitates a baritone guitar with its longer scale length and heavier string gauges to maintain proper tension and intonation.

This tuning is highly specialized, offering a distinctive voice for players looking to explore the deeper, richer end of the guitar's sonic spectrum.

Open String Notes

String 6 (Low E Equivalent): F2#
String 5 (A Equivalent): C3#
String 4 (D Equivalent): A2
String 3 (G Equivalent): E3
String 2 (B Equivalent): B3
String 1 (High E Equivalent): F5#

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBE)

Important Note on String Gauge: Generally, if you are tuning a string down more than 4 semitones or up more than 4 semitones, it is highly recommended to use a different, more appropriate gauge string to avoid intonation issues, string breakage, or damage to your instrument. For this specific tuning, several strings require significant adjustments.

• String 6 (Low E String): Tune down 10 semitones to F2#. This is a substantial drop; a much heavier gauge string is advised.
• String 5 (A String): Tune down 8 semitones to C3#. This is a significant drop; a heavier gauge string is advised.
• String 4 (D String): Tune down 5 semitones to A2. This is a considerable drop; a heavier gauge string is advised.
• String 3 (G String): Tune down 3 semitones to E3. Proceed with care.
• String 2 (B String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
• String 1 (High E String): Tune up 2 semitones to F5#. Proceed with care.