The Divergent A# Tuning for Guitar presents a distinctive and complex harmonic landscape. This tuning deviates significantly from standard, creating a sound world rich with drones and interesting harmonic possibilities. Its name reflects both the prominent presence of the A# note and the substantial 'divergence' of several strings from their standard pitch.

Technically, the open string notes are G3#, A3#, A3#, F3, A4#, D5#. A key characteristic is the strong emphasis on A#, appearing as a unison on strings 5 and 4 (A3#), and an octave higher on string 2 (A4#). This creates a powerful, resonant drone on A# (B-flat), which can form a stable sonic foundation for improvisation and composition. The lowest string, G3#, adds a strong, somewhat dissonant bass note, creating an open voicing that implies complex chords rather than simple triads.

When played open, the tuning suggests a D# minor triad (D#, F, A#) prominently across strings 1, 3, 4, and 5. With the lowest G#, it could be interpreted as a D#m/G# or an Abmaj7#5 chord, offering a dark and resonant harmonic texture. Musicians will find this tuning particularly inspiring for ambient, progressive, or experimental genres, where its unique intervals can lead to fresh melodic and harmonic ideas. The strong A# drone also makes it suitable for music requiring a sustained, hypnotic quality. Due to the perfect fifth interval between G# (string 6) and D# (string 1), and the prominent A# notes, power chords and open voicings utilizing these intervals should be readily accessible.

The open strings for The Divergent A# Tuning are:

• String 6 (Low E): G3#
• String 5 (A): A3#
• String 4 (D): A3#
• String 3 (G): F3
• String 2 (B): A4#
• String 1 (High E): D5#

How to Tune

To achieve The Divergent A# Tuning, start from standard tuning (EADGBe) and adjust each string as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 4 semitones from E to G3#. Take care, as tuning up 3 or 4 semitones can increase string tension significantly. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different gauge string is often advised.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 1 semitone from A to A3#.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 4 semitones from D to A3#. Take care, as tuning down 3 or 4 semitones can affect string tension and intonation. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different gauge string is often advised.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 2 semitones from G to F3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 1 semitone from B to A4#.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 1 semitone from E to D5#.