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For many months, I've been playing my guitar tuned G-D-d-f-g#-b:

|    G  (+3 above standard)
|    D  (-5 below standard)
|    d  (standard pitch)
|    f  (-2 below standard)
|    g# (-3 below standard)
|    b  (-5 below standard)

I've fallen in love with this tuning, which I call 12-key flat-finger tuning, since it allows all 36 major, minor, and seventh chords (and many others as well) to be played as full-sounding 5-or-6-string chords, with the root strummed first, using "flat" fingers assigned to consecutive frets, without having to go above the ninth fret. While the tuning works best in key signatures around D major or B minor, it can (unlike standard tuning) easily be used to play chords in any key.

Here is a simple chord diagram [it shows one way to play each chord, but alternatives are available for each chord]

Chord diagram

Has anyone else ever encountered a tuning like this before? If so, what's it called? If not, what would be the best forum for me to describe it in more detail?

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It's some form of re-entrant tuning, but I don't think I've ever seen anything exactly like this. Interestingly, all chords in your diagram that use the first string are inverted, because the 2nd string (tuned all the way down to D) adds a lower-pitch note than the chord root. How did you come up with this tuning? I assume you've also swapped the 1st and 2nd strings, compared to standard tuning? – Indrek Jan 22 at 10:01
@IndrekL: I think normal nomenclature refers to the smallest string as "first", so I assume you're talking about 6th/5th. Tuning an A string down to "D" would leave it rather floppy, so I use a larger-gauge string there. The lowest note on the six-string chords is the 5 of the chord rather than the root, but since the root is strummed first, it comes out prominent. Also, when using a "bass/strum" pattern or playing strings individually, that low note may be omitted if desired. If there's a better place to discuss this tuning, I'd love to talk about it more there. – supercat Jan 22 at 14:20
You may be right about the nomenclature. I've always referred to the low E string as the first, though, as this way the numbers are consistent with bass guitar strings. But yes, I was talking about the low E and A strings. – Indrek Jan 22 at 14:47
@Indrek: I'm curious what people would see as the pros and cons of offering this tuning to a novice. On the one hand I'd be concerned that it might pose an impediment to learning some more advanced techniques. On the other hand, I know of one novice who in less than 48 hours went from being frustrated and unable to do much of anything on a guitar, to being able to play "Amazed" [Lonestar] and "Mermaid Song" [Lloyd Weber], including half-step key-changes. Asking that as a stand-alone "question" on the site would seem overly vain, but I really am curious. Any thoughts? – supercat Jan 22 at 23:52
I think asking that about a specific tuning, especially one that (if I understand correctly) you made up yourself, might be considered "too localised". You can always check on Musical Practice & Performance Meta, though. – Indrek Jan 23 at 0:04
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closed as not constructive by Matthew Read♦ Jan 23 at 3:07

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