About the 'Another Suspect' Tuning

The 'Another Suspect' tuning is a captivating open tuning, perfectly suited for the nuanced world of fingerstyle guitar and evocative folk music, as suggested by its description. It offers a unique sonic landscape, characterized by its resonant, drone-like qualities and rich harmonic possibilities. This tuning invites exploration, allowing for intricate melodic lines to weave seamlessly over a sustained harmonic bed. Its distinct character provides a fresh palette for composers and players looking to create atmospheric and emotionally resonant pieces.

Technical Breakdown

This tuning sets your guitar's open strings to G2-D3-G3-A3-D4-D4, from the lowest (6th) to highest (1st) string. Technically, it functions as an open Gsus2 or a Dsus4 tuning with a G in the bass. The low G-D-G provides a robust bass foundation reminiscent of traditional open G tunings, but the introduction of A3 on the third string adds a distinctive modal flavor, moving away from a simple major or minor tonality. The unison D4 on both the 1st and 2nd strings is a prominent feature, creating a bright, sustained drone that enhances the overall resonance and clarity of the open chords. This unison also facilitates easy melodic playing on the treble strings, as the two strings can be struck simultaneously for a fuller sound or used for harmonized lines. The overall intervallic structure provides a balance of open fifths and suspended seconds/fourths, creating a harmonically rich, yet open, sound.

Chords and Playability

With the open strings ringing out G-D-G-A-D-D, the tuning naturally presents a beautiful, shimmering Gsus2 chord (comprising G, A, and D notes). It can also be perceived as a Dsus4 chord (D, G, A) with a G bass. This inherent suspended quality lends itself to fluid chord progressions and minimizes harsh dissonances, creating a dreamy or contemplative sound. Simple barre chords can be employed to move these suspended voicings up and down the neck; for instance, a barre at the 2nd fret would yield an Asus2. The identical high D strings make it particularly easy to create rich, ringing textures with open strings or by barring across the neck, making it ideal for creating full, sustained chords and melodic drones without complex fingerings. The unique string spacing also opens up opportunities for distinctive arpeggios and interwoven melodic lines that are challenging to achieve in standard tuning, promoting a more fluid and less rigid playing style.

Important Note on String Tension

Please be advised that the 5th and 4th strings are tuned up by 5 semitones each from their standard tuning position. This is a significant increase in tension. For optimal playability, to prevent string breakage, and to ensure the longevity of your instrument, it is highly recommended to use a lighter gauge set of strings when tuning to 'Another Suspect', especially for the 4th and 5th strings where the tension is most drastically increased.

How to Tune

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 3 semitones from E2 to G2.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 5 semitones from A2 to D3.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 5 semitones from D3 to G3.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 2 semitones from G3 to A3.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 3 semitones from B3 to D4.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 2 semitones from E4 to D4.

String 6: G2

String 5: D3

String 4: G3

String 3: A3

String 2: D4

String 1: D4