Tuning: Buck Smelter

This unique guitar tuning, aptly named "Buck Smelter," lives up to its description of being "on that accordion shit you already know." It offers a rich, resonant, and somewhat dissonant sonic landscape, perfect for players looking to explore unconventional harmonies and drone-like textures on their Guitar.

Verbal Analysis

The "Buck Smelter" tuning immediately suggests a sound that is both powerful and complex, much like the process of smelting – refining raw material into something new and potent. The phrase "on that accordion shit" hints at a tuning designed for sustained notes, lush chords, and perhaps an expansive, organ-like quality. This tuning is not about simple major or minor chords; it's about creating a sonic foundation that is harmonically ambiguous and rich with potential for melodic interplay over a drone. Expect a wide, open sound with inherent tension, capable of evoking a sense of grandeur or subtle unease.

Technical Analysis

The "Buck Smelter" tuning for Guitar sets the open strings to G2 A2 D3 G3 C4 D4. Let's break down its harmonic structure:

• String 6: G2 - Provides a strong, low root.
• String 5: A2 - A major second above the root G, adding a suspended quality.
• String 4: D3 - The perfect fifth, grounding the sound.
• String 3: G3 - An octave above the low G, reinforcing the root.
• String 2: C4 - A perfect fourth above the root G, contributing to the suspended nature.
• String 1: D4 - Another perfect fifth, harmonizing with string 4.

When strummed open, these notes collectively form a Gsus2/4 chord (G-A-C-D). This means the tuning is inherently full of tension and color, rather than a straightforward major or minor tonality. This suspended nature creates a massive, resonant drone, which perfectly aligns with the "accordion" description, allowing for rich textures and evolving harmonic landscapes.

Chords and Playability:

• Open Chords: The open Gsus2/4 is the signature sound. Sliding a single finger bar across any fret will yield parallel suspended chords up the neck, maintaining the open, dissonant character.
• Arpeggiation: The wide intervals and suspended notes are ideal for arpeggiated patterns, creating shimmering, expansive sounds.
• Melodic Opportunities: The G-A-C-D structure provides a strong base for melodies within the G major or G Mixolydian scales, with the A and C offering natural tension and release points. Experimenting with resolving the suspended notes to major/minor thirds will open up new harmonic pathways.
• Drone Textures: The multiple Gs and Ds combined with the A and C allow for powerful, sustained drone playing, where single notes or small clusters can be played over the ringing open strings, creating vast sonic environments.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Buck Smelter" tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these precise adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 3 semitones to G2. (E to G)
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at A2.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at D3.
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at G3.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 1 semitone to C4. (B to C)
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 2 semitones to D4. (E to D)

Important Note on String Tension: When tuning, especially when moving strings up in pitch, exercise caution. Tuning a string up by 3 semitones (like the 6th string here) increases tension. While 3 semitones is generally manageable on standard gauges, always proceed slowly and ensure your guitar is set up to handle the increased tension. For string movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, it is generally recommended to consider a different string gauge to avoid breakage and ensure optimal playability.

String 6: G2

String 5: A2

String 4: D3

String 3: G3

String 2: C4

String 1: D4