G#AEG#BC# Guitar Tuner

G#AEG#BC# | A♭AEA♭BD♭ Light Fall - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Light Fall

moved the notes around till they sounded interesting

Verbal Description

The "Fallen Light Tuning," as its original description suggests, was born from a creative exploration, where notes were "moved around till they sounded interesting." This experimental approach has yielded a truly unique and resonant soundscape. On the surface, the tuning feels bright and ethereal, characterized by the prominent sharp notes (G#, C#) that interweave with a solid natural foundation (A, E, B). The unique arrangement, particularly with the 5th string (A2) being the lowest actual pitch, gives it a distinct character that encourages new chord voicings and melodic ideas, moving beyond conventional guitar playing. It's a tuning that evokes a sense of expansive, open harmonies, perfect for ambient soundscapes, expressive fingerstyle, or creating shimmering, reflective textures.

Technical Analysis

This tuning presents a fascinating array of pitches across the strings:

6th String: G3#
5th String: A2
4th String: E3
3rd String: G4#
2nd String: B3
1st String: C5#

A key technical observation is the highly unconventional order of pitch relative to the physical strings. While the 6th string is typically the lowest in standard tunings, here the 5th string (A2) actually holds the lowest overall pitch of the open strings. When played open, the combined notes of A2, E3, G#3, B3, G#4, and C#5 remarkably form a full and luscious A Major 9th (Amaj9) chord. This means the open tuning itself is an incredibly rich, extended voicing, containing the root (A), major third (C#), perfect fifth (E), major seventh (G#), and major ninth (B). The doubling of the G# at different octaves (on the 6th and 3rd strings) adds to its harmonic richness and sustain.

The inherent Amaj9 chord provides an immediate, lush foundation for songwriting and improvisation. Simple barre chords will directly yield other Major 9th chords; for instance, a barre at the 1st fret will produce an A#maj9. Due to the perfect fifth (A-E) on the 5th and 4th strings, power chords and open-string drones around the A and E notes will sound particularly strong and resonant. The presence of the G# and C# on the higher strings lends itself beautifully to melodic playing that naturally harmonizes with A major or C# minor scales. The unique arrangement encourages exploration of new fingerings and chord shapes that would be inaccessible in standard tuning, inviting fresh harmonic possibilities and voicings that can sound both familiar and strikingly new.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve the "Fallen Light Tuning" from standard EADGBe, adjust your guitar strings as follows. Please exercise caution, especially with significant upward tuning changes, as this increases string tension on the instrument neck and strings themselves. For movements of 4 semitones or more (up or down), a different gauge string may be advised for optimal tension and playability.

6th String (Low E): Tune up 4 semitones from E to G3#. (This is a significant upward change; proceed carefully. Consider a heavier gauge string if you find the tension excessive or plan to use this tuning frequently.)
5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones), remaining at A2.
4th String (D): Tune up 2 semitones from D to E3.
3rd String (G): Tune up 1 semitone from G to G4#.
2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones), remaining at B3.
1st String (High E): Tune down 3 semitones from E to C5#.