Tuning Overview: F# D E A B D

The "f#deabd" tuning is an imaginative and expansive open tuning for the guitar, designed to offer a rich harmonic landscape. As described in the original notes, it's considered "pretty cool," and indeed, it opens up a unique sonic palette. This tuning moves significantly away from standard guitar voicings, creating a sound that is both resonant and harmonically complex, making it suitable for experimental music, drone pieces, or as a creative springboard for songwriting.

Verbal Analysis

At first glance, the "f#deabd" tuning presents a fascinating array of intervals. With its open notes of F#3 D3 E3 A3 B2 D4 (from low to high), it immediately strikes you with its breadth. The repetition of the D note (D3 on the 5th string and D4 on the 1st string) provides a strong fundamental and an octave drone, which can be incredibly useful for creating sustained textures. The lowest two strings, F#3 and D3, create an intriguing minor third interval (D3 is a minor third below F#3), setting a somewhat dark or contemplative mood from the foundation.

This tuning is particularly well-suited for fingerstyle playing, allowing the guitarist to articulate the various resonant harmonics. Strumming the open strings together produces a full, extended chord that hints at a D major tonality with significant color notes. The wide range and specific intervals encourage exploration beyond conventional chord shapes, leading to unexpected melodic and harmonic possibilities.

Technical Analysis & Chord Possibilities

The open notes of this tuning are F#3, D3, E3, A3, B2, D4. When arranged in ascending order (B2, D3, E3, F#3, A3, D4), the pitch classes present are B, D, E, F#, A. This collection of notes strongly suggests a D major or B minor tonality, extended with additional color notes.

• D5 Power Chord: The combination of the 5th string (D3), 3rd string (A3), and 1st string (D4) forms a robust D5 power chord (D-A-D) across the open strings. This provides a solid harmonic anchor.
• Dsus2 Voicing: By adding the 4th string (E3) to the D-A-D, you easily achieve a Dsus2 voicing (D-E-A-D), offering a dreamy, unresolved quality.
• Dmaj6/9 Potential: Considering the full open string set (F# D E A B D), this can be interpreted as a Dmaj6/9 chord (D, E, F#, A, B) with F# in the bass. This creates a very rich and complex harmony, full of brightness and extension (F#/Dmaj6/9).
• Esus2 Voicings: The E3 (4th string) and B2 (2nd string) with the A3 (3rd string) form an Esus2 shape (E-A-B), which can be easily leveraged with minimal fretting.
• Unique Intervals: The B2 on the second string provides a surprising drop in pitch compared to the surrounding strings, creating very wide intervals and potential for interesting drone or pedal tone effects.

Players will find that standard barre chords are largely unusable in this tuning without significant mental remapping. Instead, the tuning encourages finding new chord shapes that exploit the open string relationships, particularly across the D-A-D core and the extensions provided by the E, B, and F# strings. This tuning fosters a highly creative approach to the fretboard.

How to Tune Your Guitar to F# D E A B D

This section details the precise adjustments needed to transform your guitar from standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning to the "f#deabd" tuning. Please proceed with caution, especially for strings requiring significant tension changes.

• String 6 (Low E to F#3): Your 6th string, normally E3, needs to be tuned up 2 semitones to F3#. This adjustment is moderate and generally safe for standard string gauges.
• String 5 (A to D3): Your 5th string, normally A3, needs to be tuned up 5 semitones to D3. Caution: This is a significant increase in tension. For string movements exceeding 4 semitones up, it is strongly advised to consider using a different, lighter gauge string to prevent breakage or neck damage.
• String 4 (D to E3): Your 4th string, normally D3, needs to be tuned up 2 semitones to E3. This adjustment is moderate and generally safe for standard string gauges.
• String 3 (G to A3): Your 3rd string, normally G3, needs to be tuned up 2 semitones to A3. This adjustment is moderate and generally safe for standard string gauges.
• String 2 (B to B2): Your 2nd string, normally B3, needs to be tuned down 12 semitones to B2. Caution: This is a substantial drop, lowering the string by a full octave. The string will become very slack. For string movements exceeding 4 semitones down (or up), it is strongly advised to consider using a different, heavier gauge string to maintain playability and tone.
• String 1 (High E to D4): Your 1st string, normally E4, needs to be tuned down 2 semitones to D4. This adjustment is moderate and generally safe for standard string gauges.

Always use a reliable tuner and tune gradually. Pay attention to the feel and sound of your guitar as you make these significant changes.