Q: I’ve began enjoying with alternate tunings on my guitar however they don’t at all times sound nice—they’re usually buzzy and I can’t get them to remain in tune. What can I do to make this work higher?
—Jennifer Smith

A: This can be a nice instance of a easy query with a multifaceted reply. A very well-done guitar setup usually entails splitting some tremendous hairs of motion, neck aid, intonation, and extra—and alternate tunings actually can throw a few of these tremendous changes out of stability. Nonetheless, normally, a contented medium is feasible. When organising a guitar for a participant who makes use of many alternate tunings, I take a barely totally different strategy from the same old setup job.

To start, we wish to contemplate how a lot variation there will likely be between the best and lowest tunings. I seldom encounter alternate tunings with greater pitches or stress than E commonplace; many of the fashionable alternates contain tuning down to a point. Since one of many nice satisfactions of decrease tunings is the wealthy, deep bass register, I at all times wish to skew the setup to favor these low notes once I can. This begins with string choice—if a participant will frequently be tuning the low E right down to a C, for instance, I’d suggest a thicker string gauge that can give that low C some readability and depth however will nonetheless tolerate tuning to E commonplace. D’Addario’s very useful on-line string gauge/stress calculator has been an actual asset for me on this course of.

A fast interjection: when altering string gauges, particularly to bigger ones, it’s necessary to verify the nut slots are lower appropriately. Just a few thousandths of distinction in diameter could make the distinction between a nut that tunes easily and one which binds and pinches—annoying in any context, however particularly problematic if you find yourself attempting to change regularly between tunings. That is routine work for any competent instrument tech and can at all times be cash properly spent. Additionally, I’ve observed that gamers who retune regularly can put on down the nut slots extra rapidly, because the windings within the strings act as an abrasive, chewing away the bone. Composite nut supplies with self-lubricating qualities (such because the Graph Tech Tusq merchandise) are typically advisable in these conditions.

As soon as we’ve chosen the string gauges, different problems start to come up. Placing thicker strings on a guitar signifies that the truss rod will possible want adjustment, and that is the place the hairsplitting begins. There’s a important distinction—almost 20 %—within the total stress of ordinary tuning versus one thing like the favored C G D G A D, and the best setup for these two tunings would require totally different truss rod positions. Moreover, appropriate setup for the low tuning would most likely contain barely extra aid, because the lower-tension bass strings have a wider oscillation. Actuality works in opposition to you on this case: with out adjusting the truss rod between tunings, the upper tuning would have essentially the most aid and the decrease tuning would have the least—the alternative of what you need. 

In these instances, I typically attempt to compromise between the bottom and highest tuning tensions and arrange the truss rod for that center stress. For instance, utilizing the above tunings, I’d set the truss rod ideally with the guitar tuned to D Ab D G Bb Eb, so the variation from supreme place can be minimized in every course. 

Wherever potential, I additionally suggest that gamers hunt down guitars with inflexible necks for enjoying with alternate tunings. Not solely does this reduce neck aid variations, however I and lots of different builders have discovered that stiff necks can enhance the response of lower-frequency notes. The sensible Adrian Legg, who has been on the forefront of alternate tunings for many years, has chosen Adamas and different guitars with multipiece laminated necks. Trendy guitars with carbon-fiber neck reinforcements are additionally a good selection.

The identical problems with stress come up with the highest itself. On a evenly constructed guitar, there could also be noticeably extra prime deflection with the upper tunings than with decrease ones. As a result of there are usually not many choices obtainable right here, I exploit the identical strategy of setting the bridge saddle peak utilizing a median tuning, in hopes that the uppermost and lowermost ranges will keep shut sufficient to the best setup to be passable.

The ultimate battle is with intonation. It’s completely cheap to anticipate {that a} .052″ string tuned to E can have a unique intonation level than a .058″ or .062″ tuned to low C. Decrease stress strings are additionally usually much less forgiving on this regard, since it’s significantly simpler to bend them sharp whereas enjoying. In a couple of instances, I’ve had gamers convey me low-tuned guitars complaining of intonation points, and the instrument checked out tremendous with the digital tuner—however the calls for of precise chordal enjoying are very totally different from the managed workbench atmosphere. 

Thicker strings are usually much less versatile, and thus require extra intonation compensation. Since these changes on an acoustic guitar are often each time consuming and restricted (you’ll be able to solely squeeze a lot out of a 1/8″ saddle, in any case!), that is the place string gauge choice can go a good distance. It’s usually a query of discovering a stability between the string that sounds greatest at low C, and the string that performs in tune in higher positions. Attempting totally different string compositions (hex core versus spherical core, and totally different core to wrap ratios) will also be useful in dialing in your best option—alongside an acceptance that good intonation is sort of unattainable on any equal-tempered instrument, and guitars are not any exception.

Alternate tunings are an interesting and thrilling option to escape of standard patterns and ruts in follow and composition. I can’t let this query go by with out mentioning some necessary gamers who’ve paved the best way for this strategy—Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Pierre Bensusan, Will Ackerman, Andy McKee, Antoine Dufour, and lots of extra have confirmed the artistic potential of alternate tunings. Extra lately, some adventurous gamers have built-in retuning into the music itself; Jon Gomm and Alexandr Misko are nice examples of the musical worth of this system. 

With a couple of cautious changes, most guitars may be set as much as enhance the sound and really feel of decrease tunings, and the outcomes may make the distinction you’ll want to proceed exploring.