Verbal Description

The GADADA tuning is an incredibly resonant and open tuning, creating a rich sonic landscape with its layered A and D notes. It has a bright and expansive feel, ideal for creating drone-like textures and shimmering chord voicings. The low G provides a solid, grounding bass, while the repetitive A-D-A pattern on the higher strings allows for very open, harmonically rich sounds. This tuning is particularly well-suited for worship music, ambient soundscapes, or folk styles where a full, sustained resonance is desired, as it lends itself well to the keys of C, D, G, F, and even Bb, as suggested by its common usage.

Technical Analysis

This tuning transforms your guitar into an instrument with a strong A minor 7 flavor in its open position. The notes G2-A2-D3-A3-D4-A4 create an open chord that can be interpreted as an Am7 (add9/11) due to the layering of A, D, and G. Specifically:

• Open Chord: Strumming all open strings yields a beautiful, full-bodied A minor 7 chord (G-A-D-A-D-A). The prominent A and D notes create a sus2/sus4 ambiguity, which the G in the bass resolves into a richer Am7.
• Movable Shapes: The consistent interval pattern on the higher strings (A-D-A-D-A) makes this tuning highly amenable to simple bar chords. By barring all strings at any fret, you can easily transpose the open Am7 shape. For example:
  • Barring at the 2nd fret will produce a Bm7 chord (A-B-E-B-E-B).
  • Barring at the 3rd fret will produce a Cm7 chord (Bb-C-F-C-F-C).
  • Barring at the 5th fret will produce a Dm7 chord.
• Drone Opportunities: The multiple open A and D strings facilitate droning, allowing lead lines and melodies to sing over a continuous harmonic bed. This is excellent for creating a sense of space and sustain.
• Interval Relationships (Low to High):
  • 6th String (G2): The root or bass foundation.
  • 5th String (A2): Major 2nd above G2.
  • 4th String (D3): Perfect 4th above G2, Perfect 4th above A2.
  • 3rd String (A3): Octave above A2, Perfect 5th above D3.
  • 2nd String (D4): Octave above D3, Perfect 4th above A3.
  • 1st String (A4): Octave above A3, Perfect 5th above D4.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 3 semitones from E2 to G2. Caution: Tuning up 3 semitones is a moderate increase in tension; ensure your string gauge can handle it.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains A2.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains D3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 2 semitones from G3 to A3. Caution: Tuning up 2 semitones is a moderate increase in tension.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 3 semitones from B3 to D4. Caution: Tuning up 3 semitones is a moderate increase in tension; ensure your string gauge can handle it.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 5 semitones from E4 to A4. Warning: Tuning up 5 semitones is a significant increase in tension. A lighter gauge string is strongly advised for the 1st string to prevent breakage and excessive stress on your guitar neck.

6th String: G2 (Low G)

5th String: A2 (A)

4th String: D3 (D)

3rd String: A3 (A)

2nd String: D4 (High D)

1st String: A4 (Highest A)