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Among alternative tunings for the 
Among regular tunings, this all-fourths tuning best approximates the standard tuning.
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. 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. Jazz musician Stanley Jordan plays guitar in all-fourths tuning; he has stated that all-fourths tuning "simplifies the fingerboard, making it logical".
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. All-fourths tuning is traditionally used for the
''A manual for playing the guitar in fourths'' (Catalona Enterprises, pp. 1–64)
*
* ttp://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/GuitarTuningIn4ths/links Yahoo group for all-fourths tuning
Lessons and articles on fourths tuning using Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-B-E
Introduction to All Fourths Tuning + Free PDF Reference Guide
r/allfourthstuning sub-reddit for all fourths tuning
{{DEFAULTSORT:All Fourths Regular guitar-tunings Jazz guitar
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
, all-fourths tuning is a regular tuning.: In contrast, the standard tuning has one irregularity—a major third
In classical music, a third is a musical interval encompassing three staff positions (see Interval number for more details), and the major third () is a third spanning four semitones. Forte, Allen (1979). ''Tonal Harmony in Concept and P ...
between the third and second strings—while having perfect fourth
A fourth is a musical interval encompassing four staff positions in the music notation of Western culture, and a perfect fourth () is the fourth spanning five semitones (half steps, or half tones). For example, the ascending interval from C to ...
s between the other successive strings. 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.
Among regular tunings, this all-fourths tuning best approximates the standard tuning.
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. 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. Jazz musician Stanley Jordan plays guitar in all-fourths tuning; he has stated that all-fourths tuning "simplifies the fingerboard, making it logical".
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. All-fourths tuning is traditionally used for the bass guitar
The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and scale l ...
; it is also used for the ''bajo sexto
Bajo sexto ( Spanish: "sixth bass") is a Mexican string instrument from the guitar family with 12 strings in six double courses. A closely related instrument is the bajo quinto (Spanish: "fifth bass") which has 10 strings in five double course ...
''.
Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth (6 August 1946 – 15 April 2017) was a British jazz fusion and progressive rock guitarist and composer.
Holdsworth was known for his esoteric and idiosyncratic usage of advanced music theory concepts, especially with respe ...
stated that if he were to learn the guitar again he would tune it in all-fourths.
Relation with all-fifths tuning
All-fourths tuning is closely related toall-fifths tuning
Among guitar tunings, all-fifths tuning refers to the set of tunings in which each interval between consecutive open strings is a perfect fifth. All-fifths tuning is also called fifths, perfect fifths, or mandoguitar. The conventional ...
.
All-fourths tuning is based on the perfect fourth
A fourth is a musical interval encompassing four staff positions in the music notation of Western culture, and a perfect fourth () is the fourth spanning five semitones (half steps, or half tones). For example, the ascending interval from C to ...
(five semitones), and all-fifths tuning is based on the perfect fifth
In music theory, a perfect fifth is the Interval (music), musical interval corresponding to a pair of pitch (music), pitches with a frequency ratio of 3:2, or very nearly so.
In classical music from Western culture, a fifth is the interval fro ...
(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 chord
In music theory, an inversion is a type of change to intervals, chords, voices (in counterpoint), and melodies. In each of these cases, "inversion" has a distinct but related meaning. The concept of inversion also plays an important role in mus ...
s. Consequently, chord charts for all-fifths tunings may be used for left-handed all-fourths tuning.
See also
*Scordatura
Scordatura (; literally, Italian for "discord", or "mistuning") is a tuning of a string instrument that is different from the normal, standard tuning. It typically attempts to allow special effects or unusual chords or timbre, or to make certain pa ...
, alternative tunings of stringed instruments
* Laúd
Laúd ( es, "lute") is a plectrum-plucked chordophone from Spain, played also in diaspora countries such as Cuba and the Philippines.
The laúd belongs to the cittern family of instruments. The Spanish and Cuban instruments have six double c ...
and bandurria
The bandurria is a plucked chordophone from Spain, similar to the mandolin and bandola, primarily used in Spanish folk music, but also found in former Spanish colonies.
Instrument development
Prior to the 18th century, the bandurria had a round ...
, Spanish six-course plucked string instruments tuned in fourths
* Puerto Rican cuatro
The Puerto Rican cuatro (Spanish: cuatro puertorriqueño) is the national instrument of Puerto Rico. It belongs to the lute family of string instruments, and is guitar-like in function, but with a shape closer to that of the violin. The word ...
, five-course plucked string instrument tuned in fourths
* :commons:Perfect fourths tuning charts and diagrams for P4 tuning
Notes
References
* * * *Further reading
* republication o''A manual for playing the guitar in fourths'' (Catalona Enterprises, pp. 1–64)
*
External links
** ttp://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/GuitarTuningIn4ths/links Yahoo group for all-fourths tuning
Lessons and articles on fourths tuning using Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-B-E
Introduction to All Fourths Tuning + Free PDF Reference Guide
r/allfourthstuning sub-reddit for all fourths tuning
{{DEFAULTSORT:All Fourths Regular guitar-tunings Jazz guitar