Augmented tuning

An augmented tuning is a musical tuning system for musical instruments that is associated with augmented triads, that is a root note, a major third, and an augmented fifth. The augmented fifth is constructed by stacking the major third with another major third. Consequently, all of the intervals are major thirds.

Augmented tunings are used for stringed instruments, especially guitars, and for wind instruments. For guitars, augmented tunings are called major thirds tunings.

Instruments

Guitar

Main article: Major thirds tuning

Major-thirds (M3) tunings are unconventional open tunings, in which the open strings form an augmented triad; in M3 tunings, the augmented fifth replaces the perfect fifth of the major triad of conventional open-tunings. Consequently M3 tunings are also called (open) augmented-fifth tunings (in French "La guitare #5, majeure quinte augmentée"). Unfortunately, the open augmented-chord sounds dissonant to audiences who are accustomed to standard tuning.

Wind

For a diatonic wind instrument (such as a harmonica or accordion), the blow notes repeat a sequence of

C E G♯

(perhaps shifted to begin with E♭ or with G) and draw notes follow a repeating sequence of

E♭ G B

though perhaps with a different initial sequence.

For example:

hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
blow note	C	E	G♯	C	E	G♯	C	E	G♯	C	E	G♯
draw note	E♭	G	B	E♭	G	B	E♭	G	B	E♭	G	B

See also

• Diminished tuning
• Richter tuning
• Solo tuning

References

• Griewank, Andreas (1 January 2010), Tuning guitars and reading music in major thirds, Matheon preprints, vol. 695, Berlin: DFG research center "MATHEON, Mathematics for key technologies" Berlin, MSC-Classification 97M80 Arts. Music. Language. Architecture. urn:nbn:de:0296-matheon-6755. Postscript file and Pdf file
• Kirkeby, Ole (1 March 2012). "Major thirds tuning". m3guitar.com. cited by Sethares (2012) and Griewank (2010, p. 1). Archived from the original on 2013-02-06. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
• Patt, Ralph (14 April 2008). "The major 3rd tuning". Ralph Patt's jazz web page. ralphpatt.com. cited by Sethares (2012) and Griewank (2010, p. 1). Retrieved 10 June 2012.
• Peterson, Jonathon (2002). "Tuning in thirds: A new approach to playing leads to a new kind of guitar". American Lutherie: The Quarterly Journal of the Guild of American Luthiers. Number 72 (Winter). Tacoma WA: The Guild of American Luthiers: 36–43. ISSN 1041-7176. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
• Sethares, Bill (2001). "Regular tunings". Alternate tuning guide (PDF). Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin; Department of Electrical Engineering. pp. 52–67. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
• Sethares, William A. (18 May 2012). "Alternate tuning guide". Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin; Department of Electrical Engineering. Retrieved 8 December 2012.