Description

The Van der Meer Asphyxia Tuning is a uniquely low and resonant guitar tuning, famously used by Eddie Van der Meer for his cover of the Tokyo Ghoul theme, 'Asphyxia'. This tuning conjures a dark, melancholic, and deeply atmospheric sound, making it ideal for intricate fingerstyle arrangements, cinematic soundscapes, or compositions requiring a rich, brooding sonic palette. Its altered string tensions and wide intervals provide a distinctive feel under the fingers, encouraging creative exploration beyond standard voicings.

Technical Analysis & Playability

This tuning fundamentally reconfigures the guitar, setting the open strings to a deep, resonant structure:

• Lowest Pitched Note: F2 (on String 5)
• Highest Pitched Note: F4 (on String 1)

When strummed open, the tuning forms an Open Fsus4 chord (F-A#-C-F-C-F, where A# acts as the perfect 4th above F). This suspended quality creates a sense of unresolved tension and a spacious, modal character. The predominant intervals of perfect 4ths and 5ths between strings (e.g., F2-C3-F3-C4-F4) make power chords and resonant open string voicings incredibly easy and powerful across the neck.

The presence of the A#2 on the 6th string, which is actually higher in pitch than the F2 on the 5th string, adds an unexpected harmonic texture when played with other open strings, creating complex sonic layers. This allows for rich, droning textures and easy access to modal sounds. By fretting a single finger across various frets, you can quickly achieve various F-based chords (F major, F minor, F7) and related dominant chords (C major/minor) with powerful open string resonance. The deep bass notes contribute to a full, symphonic sound often found in modern acoustic and progressive genres.

How to Tune

To achieve the Van der Meer Asphyxia Tuning, adjust your guitar strings according to the following movements. For optimal performance and string integrity, consider using heavier gauge strings, especially for the dramatically lowered strings.

• String 6 (A2#): Tune down 6 semitones.
• String 5 (F2): Tune down 4 semitones.
• String 4 (C3): Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 3 (F3): Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 2 (C4): Tune up 1 semitone.
• String 1 (F4): Tune up 1 semitone.

Important Note on String Gauge: Tuning strings down 4 or more semitones (String 5 and String 6) or up 4 or more semitones may require a different, heavier gauge string to maintain proper tension, intonation, and prevent string breakage.

String 6: A2#

String 5: F2

String 4: C3

String 3: F3

String 2: C4

String 1: F4