Tuning Analysis: Karnivool - Aeons 1

This distinctive guitar tuning, famously utilized by Drew Goddard of the progressive rock band Karnivool for their song 'Aeons', sculpts a deeply resonant and incredibly heavy soundscape. It exemplifies how alternative tunings can fundamentally transform a guitar's character, pushing beyond conventional harmonic and melodic boundaries to create something truly unique.

Verbal Description

The 'Aeons' tuning plunges the guitar into an exceptionally low range, most notably with its 6th (lowest) string tuned to a booming A#2. This provides an immediate sense of weight, darkness, and immense power, forming an ideal foundation for heavy, intricate riffs and atmospheric sound design. When strummed open, the combination of notes does not form a simple, conventional chord. Instead, it creates a rich, complex, and slightly dissonant cluster, hinting at an A# minor 7th chord with suspended and extended elements. This unique voicing allows for expansive, textural chords and thick, percussive single-note lines with minimal left-hand effort.

The non-standard intervals between strings necessitate a fresh approach to fretboard navigation, encouraging players to discover new chord shapes and melodic patterns. The close proximity of the higher strings (C#5 to D#5 is just a major 2nd) offers intriguing possibilities for tight, melodic phrases, clustered voicings, and searing lead lines, contrasting sharply with the wide, open intervals found in the lower register. This tuning is perfectly suited for intricate, heavy compositions, providing a canvas for sustained, multi-layered chords and driving, percussive rhythms that are characteristic of Karnivool's sound.

Technical Analysis

The 'Karnivool - Aeons 1' tuning configuration is as follows, from the lowest (6th) string to the highest (1st) string:

• 6th String: A#2
• 5th String: G#3
• 4th String: C#4
• 3rd String: F#4
• 2nd String: C#5
• 1st String: D#5

Analyzing the open string intervals relative to the lowest A# (6th string):

• A#2 (Root)
• G#3 (Minor 7th)
• C#4 (Minor 3rd)
• F#4 (Minor 6th)
• C#5 (Minor 3rd, an octave higher than C#4)
• D#5 (Perfect 4th)

When all open strings are sounded together, they form a complex extended chord. This can be interpreted as an A# minor 7th (A#-C#-E#-G#) with the addition of an F# (minor 6th) and a D# (perfect 4th). This combination results in a characteristic dark, unresolved, and harmonically dense sound, offering both tension and richness.

Chordal and Riff Potential

The extremely low A# on the 6th string provides an unparalleled foundation for heavy, driving single-note riffs and drop-tuned power chords. Barring across the lower strings (6th, 5th, 4th, and 3rd) at various frets allows for easy construction of massive power chords and drone effects. While traditional chord shapes will not translate directly, the unique open string intervals encourage experimentation. For instance, the A# (6th string) and C# (4th string) immediately offer a minor third interval, allowing for powerful two-string minor voicings with minimal effort. The close spacing of the 2nd (C#5) and 1st (D#5) strings is perfect for creating tight, dissonant, or suspended melodic and harmonic figures, ideal for adding colour and complexity to lead sections. This tuning is particularly conducive to progressive metal and rock styles, where unconventional harmonies and powerful low-end articulation are key.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'Karnivool - Aeons 1' tuning, carefully adjust each string to its target note:

• String 6 (Lowest String): Tune this string to A#2. This requires you to tune down 6 semitones. (Note: A drop of 6 semitones is a significant alteration in string tension. For optimal tone, intonation, and to prevent string damage or looseness, using a heavier gauge string is strongly advised for this string.)
• String 5: Tune this string to G#3. This requires you to tune down 1 semitones.
• String 4: Tune this string to C#4. This requires you to tune down 1 semitones.
• String 3: Tune this string to F#4. This requires you to tune down 1 semitones.
• String 2: Tune this string to C#5. This requires you to tune up 2 semitones.
• String 1 (Highest String): Tune this string to D#5. This requires you to tune down 1 semitones.

Always use a reliable tuner and make adjustments slowly to avoid over-tightening or breaking strings, especially when tuning up significantly.