Description

This unique guitar tuning, which the user describes as an 'elevated' take on the Placebo tuning, offers a compelling sonic landscape. With its foundation heavily rooted in perfect fourths across the lower strings, it creates a rich, full, and often dark resonance. The combination of mostly raised strings and a lowered top string contributes to a feeling of tension and possibility, well-suited for heavy riffs, atmospheric soundscapes, and open-string melodic work in genres like alternative, post-rock, or even experimental metal. The tuning invites players to explore new chord voicings and riff patterns beyond conventional shapes, encouraging a fresh approach to the fretboard.

Technical Analysis

This tuning for a standard Guitar sets the open strings to G2-C3-F3-A#4-D4-D4 (low to high). Compared to standard EADGBe tuning, most strings are significantly raised. The interval structure is highly notable:

• The lowest three strings (G2-C3-F3) form a sequence of perfect fourths.
• The jump from F3 to A#4 (A# is enharmonically Bb) is an augmented fourth, or a perfect fourth plus an octave.
• From A#4 to D4 is a major third interval, but importantly, D4 is an octave *below* A#4.
• The top two strings (D4-D4) are a unison, creating a strong drone or octave effect when strummed open.

The overall voicing (G-C-F-A#-D-D) creates a complex, rich sound. If A# is interpreted as Bb, the open strings contain elements of a G minor 7 chord (G-Bb-D-F) and an added C, lending it a melancholic yet powerful character.

Important Note on String 3 Discrepancy: The target note for the 3rd string is specified as A#4. However, the tuning instruction for this string is to 'tune up 3 semitones' from its standard G3 position. Tuning G3 up 3 semitones results in A#3. To reach A#4, the string would need to be tuned up 15 semitones (3 semitones + 1 octave), which is an extreme tension increase. Tuning a standard gauge string up 15 semitones can be dangerous, potentially causing string breakage or even damage to the instrument. If the target note A#4 is truly desired, a significantly lighter gauge string would be highly recommended for the 3rd string to safely achieve this pitch.

Open Chords and Possibilities

Due to its unique interval structure, this tuning lends itself to:

• G Minor 7 (G-Bb-D-F): With G2, F3, and the D4 strings, and A#4 acting as Bb, a powerful G minor 7 chord can be easily voiced.
• C Sus4 (C-F-G): The open C3, F3, and G2 strings naturally form a C sus4 voicing, providing a strong sense of unresolved harmony.
• Drones and Power Chords: The run of perfect fourths on the lower strings (G-C-F-A#) makes it excellent for powerful, resonant open-string drones and easily fretted power chords by simply barring or using two-finger shapes.
• Melodic Unisons: The unison D4-D4 on the top two strings can be used for interesting melodic lines, creating a thick, harmonized sound with single-note runs.
• F Major/Minor possibilities: With F3 and A#4 (Bb4), an F chord can be constructed with relative ease.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'Ascendant Quartal Drones' tuning from standard EADGBe (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4), follow these instructions carefully. Always tune up to a note slowly to avoid snapping strings, and ensure your guitar is properly intonated after changing tuning.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 3 semitones from E2 to G2.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 3 semitones from A2 to C3.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 3 semitones from D3 to F3.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 3 semitones from G3 to A#3. (Note: The provided target note is A#4. Tuning to A#3 strictly follows the 'tune up 3 semitones' instruction. Achieving A#4 would be an octave higher and require tuning up 15 semitones, for which a different, lighter string gauge is strongly advised.)
• String 2 (B): Tune up 3 semitones from B3 to D4.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 2 semitones from E4 to D4.