A Unique "Fearless" Open G Tuning Variant

This distinctive tuning, named "Open G" by its creator and inspired by Pink Floyd's "Fearless," presents a fascinating adaptation of traditional Open G tunings. It's not the standard D-G-D-G-B-D, but rather a deeply resonant and intriguing configuration that offers a unique sonic palette.

Verbal Analysis:

The most striking feature of this tuning is the powerful low end created by having both the 6th and 5th strings tuned to G2, resulting in a rich, droning foundation. The open strings resolve beautifully to a G Major chord (G-B-D), making it incredibly intuitive for strumming open G Major. The inclusion of B2 on the 2nd string, an octave lower than the B3 on the 1st string, adds a profound depth and unique voicing to the chord, giving it a darker, more expansive character than a typical open tuning. This setup lends itself wonderfully to blues, folk, or psychedelic rock, providing a canvas for rich sustained chords and melodic exploration, particularly with slide guitar due to its open chord nature.

Technical Analysis:

The open notes for this tuning are: G2 - G2 - D3 - G3 - B2 - B3 (low to high).

• String 6 (G2): Provides the fundamental root.
• String 5 (G2): A unison octave with the 6th string, reinforcing the root and adding immense low-end power.
• String 4 (D3): The perfect fifth, providing harmonic stability.
• String 3 (G3): Another root, an octave higher, adding brightness and projection.
• String 2 (B2): The major third, positioned an octave lower than typically found in high-B strings, contributing to the tuning's unique deep voicing.
• String 1 (B3): Another major third, providing a higher, shimmering component to the G Major chord.

The tuning consists entirely of G, B, and D notes, forming a complete G Major triad across all six strings with interesting octave displacements and doublings. This setup naturally encourages barre chords, where simply fretting all strings at any given fret will produce a major chord (e.g., 1st fret for G# Major, 2nd fret for A Major). The availability of both B2 and B3 makes for versatile voicing options when playing melodic lines or partial chords. For example, by fretting the B strings down to B-flat (1st fret), one can easily achieve a G minor tonality, or by fretting the 4th string (D) to C (5th fret) and the B strings to B-flat, a G7 chord can be implied. This tuning is particularly resonant for open strumming and slide guitar due to its inherent open G Major quality.

How to Tune: "Fearless" Open G Variant

To achieve this unique "Open G" tuning, follow these precise string movements from standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning. Please pay close attention to the semitone changes, especially the significant drops on the higher strings.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 3 semitones from E2 to G2.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones from A2 to G2.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains D3.
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains G3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 12 semitones from B3 to B2. This is a full octave drop.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 5 semitones from E4 to B3.

Important Note on String Gauge: When tuning strings more than 4 semitones up or down, the string tension can be significantly altered. For this tuning, String 2 (-12 semitones) and String 1 (-5 semitones) involve substantial drops. Using a lighter gauge string for these two strings is highly recommended to prevent them from becoming too slack and difficult to play, ensuring better tone and intonation.