All fourths tuning
All fourths | |
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The consecutive open notes of all-fourths tuning are spaced apart by five semitones on the chromatic circle, which lists the twelve notes of the octave.
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Basic information | |
Aliases | Perfect-fourths tuning |
Interval | Perfect fourth |
Semitones | 5 |
Example(s) | E-A-D-G-C-F |
Advanced information | |
Other instruments | Bass guitar |
Repetition | No |
Advantages | Closely approximates standard tuning |
Disadvantages | Difficult to play conventional music |
Left-handed tuning | All-fifths tuning |
Associated musician | |
Guitarist | Stanley Jordan Alex Hutchings Tom Quayle |
Jazz musician Stanley Jordan stated that all-fourths tuning "simplifies the fingerboard, making it logical". | |
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 |
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
Among regular tunings, this all-fourths tuning best approximates the standard tuning.[5]
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. An advantage of standard tuning is that it has many six-string chords, unlike all-fourths tuning.[5] All-fourths tuning is traditionally used for the bass guitar;[5] it is also used for the bajo sexto.[8]
Contents
Relation with all-fifths tuning
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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). These perfect-fourth and perfect-fifth intervals are termed "inverse" intervals in music theory, 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.[9]
See also
- Scordatura, alternative tunings of stringed instruments
- commons:Category:Perfect fourths tuning charts and diagrams for P4 tuning
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sethares (2001, p. 52):
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- ↑ Denyer (, pp. 158–159)
- ↑ Weissman (2006, p. 68)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Sethares (2001, p. 58)
- ↑ Sethares (2001, p. 9)
- ↑ Ferguson (1986, p. 76):
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- ↑ Sethares (2001, p. 53)
References
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Further reading
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External links
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- Zhille's guitar blog: Perfect fourths (P4) tuning–Basics and examples
- Yahoo group for all-fourths tuning
- Lessons and articles on fourths tuning using Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-B-E