Tuning Analysis: MIW Tuning

The "MIW Tuning" is a highly distinctive and heavily altered guitar tuning, famously utilized in songs like "Hollow Points" and "Meltown." This immediately signals its application in aggressive, modern metal or rock genres, where low-end power and unique harmonic textures are paramount.

Verbal Analysis:

• This tuning descends into significantly lower registers, particularly on the bottom strings, providing an exceptionally heavy and guttural foundation for riffs and chugging. The lowest string, an A1, sits a full octave and a fifth below standard E2, creating an incredibly deep and resonant tone.
• The overall sonic character is dark, powerful, and lends itself to driving, percussive rhythm playing. While not immediately obvious for open chord strumming, its structure is likely optimized for specific voicings, power chords, and single-note melodic lines that exploit its wide intervallic shifts.
• The combination of drastic down-tuning on the bass strings and a significant up-tuning on the treble strings (D4, G4) creates a unique tension. This allows for both earth-shaking low notes and bright, cutting melodies or harmonies on the higher register, offering a broad dynamic range suitable for complex arrangements.

Technical Analysis:

This tuning deviates significantly from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-e), resulting in the following open string notes from low to high: A1-E2-C3-G3-D4-G4.

• Interval Breakdown:
  • 6th (A1) to 5th (E2): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
  • 5th (E2) to 4th (C3): Minor 6th (8 semitones)
  • 4th (C3) to 3rd (G3): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
  • 3rd (G3) to 2nd (D4): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
  • 2nd (D4) to 1st (G4): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• Chordal Implications:
  • Strummed openly, the notes A-E-C-G-D-G do not form a simple major or minor triad across all six strings. The collection of notes (A, C, D, E, G) suggests a complex extended chord, possibly an A minor 7th with an added D, or a Gsus4/A.
  • Power Chords: The prevalence of Perfect 5th intervals (A1-E2, C3-G3, G3-D4) makes playing power chords extremely intuitive and powerful across several string pairs. For example, barring a single fret on the 6th and 5th strings will yield a perfect 5th, and similarly on the 4th and 3rd, and 3rd and 2nd strings.
  • Upper Register: The top three strings (G3-D4-G4) create a familiar G power chord shape or a Drop G-like configuration, allowing for easy power chords or open ringing tones in the higher register.
  • Lower Register: The bottom three strings (A1-E2-C3) provide a thick, minor-leaning cluster (A minor triad with the C on the 4th string), offering a massive sonic foundation.
  • Unique Voicings: Players will find this tuning opens up unique chord voicings and arpeggios that are difficult or impossible in standard tuning, particularly those utilizing the wide stretches and specific intervallic relationships that this unconventional tuning provides.
• Playability: This tuning is ideal for heavy rhythm work, single-note riffing, and creating a massive wall of sound. Barre chords will require some re-learning due to the non-standard intervals, but the ease of power chords across multiple string sets compensates, making it powerful for riff-oriented music.

How to Tune to MIW Tuning:

To achieve the MIW Tuning, you will need to adjust your strings as follows from standard E-A-D-G-B-e tuning. Please be mindful of string tension, especially with large adjustments. For changes exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different string gauge is often recommended to maintain optimal tension and prevent string breakage.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 7 semitones to A1. This is a significant drop; for optimal playability and string life, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 5 semitones to E2. This is also a substantial drop; consider using a heavier gauge string.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• 3rd String (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) remaining G3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 3 semitones to D4. Exercise caution as tuning up 3 semitones increases string tension considerably. A lighter gauge string might be beneficial here.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 3 semitones to G4. Be extremely cautious; tuning up 3 semitones can be stressful on the string and potentially lead to breakage. Consider a lighter gauge string.

Tuning Notes:

• 6th String (Low E): A1
• 5th String (A): E2
• 4th String (D): C3
• 3rd String (G): G3
• 2nd String (B): D4
• 1st String (High E): G4