Tuning experiments

A documentation post, just so that I can remember it right.

A lot of experimentation right about now, as I try to figure out a few directions.

The Ovation is now strung with the Aerial Boundaries tuning, as follows:

• C2, 059w
• C3, 036w
• D3, 032w
• G3, 022w
• A3, 020w
• D4, 013p

These are from my hodgepodge collection of acoustic bronze strings, and if this tuning turns out to be useful for further study I may look into optimizing gauges and tensions.  Of particular interest here is the octave interval on the fifth and sixth strings, which Hedges uses to dramatic effect with his percussive playing.  This actually has me thinking about a generalized tuning employing the same concept but in reverse;  that is, C3-C2-G2-D3-A3-E4, whereby the sixth string can be thought of as an octave effect for the fifth string, and the instrument in general then logically becomes a five-string guitar tuned in perfect fifths.  I'm chewing on that one at the moment.

The other experiment is currently on the SoloEtte, and is an open Bb5 as follows:

• Bb1, 059w
• F2, 047w
• Bb2, 036w
• F3, 022w
• Bb3, 016p
• F4, 011p

Again, bronze acoustic for the wound strings. I'm deliberately interested in lower tension for improved tapping, and am thinking of some modifications to the SoloEtte to make it a general-purpose instrument for several of the directions I'm contemplating.

Thus far in a few brief experiments, this is indeed an interesting tuning approach.  Since the intervals alternate between a perfect fifth and a perfect fourth, there is not the same sort of consistent general-purpose "logic" that there is for an all-fifths or all-fourths arrangement, and I think you'd have to approach improvisation as though this were its own beast.  Now...within that limitation, there are some nice aspects to it, especially for including effective drones on both ends of the fingerboard.  (I hadn't intended that, deliberately, but with a little improv, that's what I started to do.)  Harmonics are kinda cool, too, especially the straight-across root-five-octave that you have accessible to any three adjacent strings.

More experimenting.  For now, thoughts are documented.  :-)