All-fourths_tuning

All fourths tuning

All fourths tuning

Guitar Tuning

Among alternative tunings for the guitar, all-fourths tuning is a regular tuning.[1] In contrast, the standard tuning has one irregularity—a major third between the third and second strings—while having perfect fourths between the other successive strings.[2][3] The standard tuning's irregular major-third is replaced by a perfect fourth in all-fourths tuning, which has the open notes E2-A2-D3-G3-C4-F4.[1][4]

The note layouts on the fretboard of a guitar tuned in perfect 4ths, with arrows that show where the same note continues on a higher-pitched string. All adjacent strings have the same interval and repeat at the 5th fret, unlike standard guitar tuning which has an inconsistency between the 2nd and 3rd strings.

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Among regular tunings, this all-fourths tuning best approximates the standard tuning.[5]

Open chords for beginners.
These chord shapes can be moved across the fretboard, unlike the chord shapes of standard tuning.
More movable chord-shapes.

In all guitar tunings, the higher-octave version of a chord can be found by translating a chord by twelve frets higher along the fretboard.[6] In every regular tuning, for example in all-fourths tuning, chords and intervals can be moved also diagonally. For all-fourths tuning, all twelve major chords (in the first or open positions) are generated by two chords, the open F major chord and the D major chord. The regularity of chord-patterns reduces the number of finger positions that need to be memorized.[1] Jazz musician Stanley Jordan plays guitar in all-fourths tuning; he has stated that all-fourths tuning "simplifies the fingerboard, making it logical".[7]

Among all regular tunings, all-fourths tuning E-A-D-G-C-F is the best approximation of standard tuning, which is more popular. All-fourths tuning is traditionally used for the bass guitar;[5] it is also used for the bajo sexto.[8]

Allan Holdsworth stated that if he were to learn the guitar again he would tune it in all-fourths.[9][10]

Relation with all-fifths tuning

Main article: Regular tunings § Left-handed involution

All-fourths tuning is closely related to all-fifths tuning. All-fourths tuning is based on the perfect fourth (five semitones), and all-fifths tuning is based on the perfect fifth (seven semitones). The perfect-fifth and perfect-fourth intervals are inversions of one another, and the chords of all-fourth and all-fifths are paired as inverted chords. Consequently, chord charts for all-fifths tunings may be used for left-handed all-fourths tuning.[11]

See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    Sethares (2001, p. 52):

    Sethares, Bill (2001). "Regular tunings". Alternate tuning guide (PDF). Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin; Department of Electrical Engineering. pp. 52–67. 2010 Alternate tuning guide, including a revised chapter on regular tunings. Retrieved 19 May 2012.

  2. [2]
    Nash (1997)
  3. [3]
    Denyer (1992, pp. 158–159)
  4. [4]
    Weissman (2006, p. 68)
  5. [5]
    Sethares (2001, p. 58)
  6. [6]
    Sethares (2001, p. 9)
  7. [7]
    Ferguson (1986, p. 76):
    Ferguson, Jim (1986). "Stanley Jordan". In Casabona, Helen; Belew, Adrian (eds.). New directions in modern guitar. Guitar Player basic library. Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. pp. 68–76. ISBN 0881884235.
  8. [8]
    "The Stringed Instrument Database: Index". stringedinstrumentdatabase.aornis.com. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  9. [9]
    Allan Holdsworth on All-Fourths Tuning – Streamable, retrieved 16 February 2018
  10. [10]
    "The Unreachable Star (Guitar World 1989) – Allan Holdsworth Information Center". fingerprintsweb.net. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  11. [11]
    Sethares (2001, p. 53)

References

Further reading
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