Sakura: A Descent into Atmospheric Depths

The "Sakura" tuning is a formidable and deeply downtuned setup designed for the most crushing and atmospheric realms of black metal, death metal, and experimental heavy music. As described, it's crafted for 'Downtuned black metal, atmospheric, death,' and it delivers on that promise with an exceptionally low register and unique intervallic relationships.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning conjures an immediate sense of immense weight and dark atmosphere. The drastic down-tuning across all strings creates a sonic landscape that is both guttural and expansive. It's perfect for slow, crushing riffs, sustained drones, and dissonant chord voicings that evoke a sense of dread or vast emptiness. The 'Sakura' tuning encourages a playing style focused on texture and impact, rather than intricate melodic runs, though its unique intervals open doors for unexpected melodicism within its heavy framework. The overall feel is one of deep resonance and unsettling power, ideal for generating massive walls of sound characteristic of extreme metal genres.

Technical Analysis

The 'Sakura' tuning from low to high is A1-E2-A2-D3-E3-B3. This is a highly altered tuning, shifting significantly from standard E-A-D-G-B-E.

• Low End Dominance: The lowest three strings (A1-E2-A2) immediately form an incredibly deep A5 power chord (A-E-A). This provides a massive, resonant foundation, perfect for chugging riffs and earth-shattering power chords. The A1 is an entire octave below the standard low E, making this a truly subterranean tuning.
• Unique Intervals: Moving up the strings, the tuning presents distinct intervals:
  • A2 to D3: A perfect fourth (P4).
  • D3 to E3: A major second (M2).
  • E3 to B3: A perfect fifth (P5).
  These intervals, particularly the D3-E3 major second, offer possibilities for dissonant and open-sounding voicings when strumming across multiple strings. The E3-B3 perfect fifth on the higher strings allows for strong, clear power chords even in the upper register.
• Open Voicings: While not a traditional open chord, strumming all open strings (A1-E2-A2-D3-E3-B3) produces a complex, resonant sound. It can be interpreted as an A chord with added fourth (D) and ninth (B) elements, giving it an open, suspended quality. This contributes to the 'atmospheric' aspect described, allowing for rich, droning textures.
• Chord Possibilities: Due to the open A5 power chord on the bottom strings, very heavy, impactful riffs are easily accessible with minimal fretting. Barre chords using the low A-E-A foundation will be potent. The D3-E3-B3 grouping on the higher strings provides unique shapes for extended chords and lead lines. For example, a shape using the open D3, E3, B3 and fretting the A2 to a G3 (third fret) could create interesting harmony. Simple two-finger power chords (root-fifth) are readily available across the entire neck.
• Consideration for String Gauge: As all strings are tuned down by 5 or 7 semitones (exceeding the recommended +/- 4 semitones), using a heavier gauge string set is highly advisable to maintain proper tension, intonation, and tone, preventing buzzing and ensuring the guitar remains playable.

How to Tune

To achieve the deep 'Sakura' tuning, you will significantly lower the pitch of each string from standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning. Given the extreme down-tuning on all strings, a heavier gauge string set is strongly recommended to maintain playability and intonation.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 7 semitones to A1. (A different gauge string is advised for this significant drop.)
• String 5 (A): Tune down 5 semitones to E2. (A different gauge string is advised for this significant drop.)
• String 4 (D): Tune down 5 semitones to A2. (A different gauge string is advised for this significant drop.)
• String 3 (G): Tune down 5 semitones to D3. (A different gauge string is advised for this significant drop.)
• String 2 (B): Tune down 7 semitones to E3. (A different gauge string is advised for this significant drop.)
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 5 semitones to B3. (A different gauge string is advised for this significant drop.)

The 'Sakura' tuning for Guitar is as follows, from the lowest string (6th) to the highest string (1st):

• 6th String: A1
• 5th String: E2
• 4th String: A2
• 3rd String: D3
• 2nd String: E3
• 1st String: B3