Tuning Analysis: shoot

This unique Guitar tuning, aptly named "shoot", is famously associated with Sonic Youth and their track "shoot". As expected from a band renowned for its experimental approach, this tuning deviates significantly from standard conventions, offering a landscape for unconventional sounds and textures.

Technical Breakdown:

• Open Notes: The tuning presents the open strings as A2 F#3 E3 F#4 E3 B3 (low to high).
• Interval Relationships: Analyzing the open notes reveals a highly unconventional set of intervals. There's a striking minor 6th up (A2 to F#3), followed by a tight minor 2nd down (F#3 to E3). The jump from the 4th string E3 to the 3rd string F#4 is an expansive major 9th up, creating a very wide gap between adjacent strings. This is immediately followed by another tight minor 2nd down (F#4 to E3) and finally a standard perfect 5th up (E3 to B3). The presence of two E3 notes and two F# notes (F#3, F#4) at different octaves adds a distinctive resonance and density to the open sound.
• Chordal Implications: The open strings A, F#, E, B (across octaves) do not form a readily identifiable common chord like a major, minor, or dominant seventh. Instead, they lean towards a suspended, open, and potentially dissonant quality. This configuration suggests an approach focused on drones, melodic fragments, and harmonic ambiguity rather than traditional chord voicings. Players might find themselves exploring unique arpeggios, single-note lines, or abstract soundscapes rather than conventional strumming patterns. Barre chords in this tuning would likely produce complex and often dissonant harmonies, characteristic of Sonic Youth's sound.

Verbal Interpretation:

This "shoot" tuning is a prime example of an experimental setup designed to break away from tonal expectations. The extreme shifts in pitch between strings, particularly the large drop of the 2nd and 1st strings and the significant rise of the 6th string, create an inherent tension and unpredictability. It's likely intended to facilitate a raw, textural, and possibly noisy sound, encouraging players to explore feedback, sympathetic vibrations, and unique voicings that are difficult or impossible to achieve in standard tuning. The open strings themselves offer a rich, resonant, yet non-harmonically straightforward foundation for improvisation and sonic exploration, characteristic of the band's innovative guitar work.

How to Tune:

To achieve the "shoot" tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these precise string adjustments. Please exercise caution, especially with significant pitch changes, as this can affect string tension and potentially damage your instrument. For changes exceeding 4 semitones up or down, considering a different string gauge is highly recommended to maintain playability and string integrity.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 5 semitones to A2. Caution: This is a substantial upward adjustment. A lighter gauge string for this position might be advisable.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 3 semitones to F#3.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 2 semitones to E3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 1 semitone to F#4.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 7 semitones to E3. Caution: This is a very significant drop. A heavier gauge string here would likely improve tension and playability.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 5 semitones to B3. Caution: This is also a significant drop. A heavier gauge string would be beneficial for better tension.

The open notes for this tuning are:

• 6th String (Low A): A2
• 5th String (F#): F#3
• 4th String (E): E3
• 3rd String (F#): F#4
• 2nd String (E): E3
• 1st String (High B): B3