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Augmented-fourths tuning

Augmented fourths
For every augmented-fourths tuning, the interval between successive open-strings is six semitones, half the circumference of the chromatic circle.
Basic information
AliasesAll-tritone tuning, Diminished-fifth tuning
IntervalAugmented fourth
Semitones6
Example(s)C-F-c-f-c'-f '
B-F-b-f-b'-f'
Advanced information
RepetitionAfter 2 strings
AdvantagesSimplified fretboard
DisadvantagesOnly two open-string notes
Left-handed tuningAugmented-fourths tuning
Associated musician
GuitaristShawn Lane
Shawn Lane used the B-F-B-F-B-F augmented-fourths tuning for "Tri 7/5" on his The Tri-Tone Fascination.
Regular tunings (semitones)
Trivial (0)
Minor thirds (3)
Major thirds (4)
All fourths (5)
Augmented fourths (6)
New standard (7, 3)
All fifths (7)
Minor sixths (8)
Guitar tunings
A guitar fretboard with line-segments connecting the successive open-string notes of the standard tuning
In the standard guitar-tuning, one major-third interval is interjected amid four perfect-fourth intervals.
Standard tuning (listen)

Among alternative tunings for guitar, each augmented-fourths tuning is a regular tuning in which the musical intervals between successive open-string notes are each augmented fourths.[1] Because augmented fourths are alternatively called "tritones" ("tri-tones") or "diminished fifths", augmented-fourths tuning is also called tritone tuning or diminished-fifths tuning.

The standard guitar-tuning

E-A-d-g-b'-e'

interjects exactly one major third amid four perfect fourths for the intervals between its successive open strings. In contrast, the augmented fourths tunings

C-F-c-f-c'-f ' and
B-F-b-f-b'-f'

have only augmented-fourths intervals.

The set of augmented-fourths tunings has three properties that simplify learning by beginners and improvisation by experts: Regular intervals, string repetition, and lefty-righty symmetry. These properties characterize augmented-fourths tunings among non-trivial tunings.

  1. ^ Sethares (2001, p. 56)

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