Tuning in Fourths: Are You Willing to Make that Change?

I don’t know what struck me, but after reading Matt Raines‘ suggestion to tune in perfect fourths, I started Googling and my mind started toying with the idea.  I can’t say yet, but I’m going to find out if I have to unlearn a whole lot of stuff that I’ve learned through the years.  I was thinking that it’s just the first two strings, the E and B, that have to be tuned up to F and C, hence it’s going to be E-A-D-G-C-F.

Therefore, I think I can make that shift because there are only two strings for me to worry about.  Besides, I hate playing those bar chords in standard tuning.  I know it’s going to feel weird, and I’m wary of the fact that I may have lapses in judgment anytime while I’m playing and forget that I’m tuned in fourths.  I’m not sure how fast I can tackle that learning curve, but I’m going to try.

By the way, check out Matt Raines’ videos on YouTube.  You’ll see him demo the Artec pedals and you’ll see him play bebop and other styles on various axes, including his 7-string guitars. 

Finally, here’s a Web site dedicate to the perfect fourths tuning system.

http://www.perfectfourths.com/

Oh, and I wonder how it would sound if I played typical blues licks with my guitar tuned in perfect fourths.  Without a guitar in hand, I think I’m not going to achieve the same kind of feel.  Maybe tuning in fourths is indeed more suitable for jazz.  What about chords with open strings?  Well, it looks like it’s going to be possible but with a different set of chords and keys.