The Toronto Sky tuning offers a unique and expansive soundscape, rich with open resonance and a distinct harmonic character. It's an excellent choice for players looking to explore ambient, folk, cinematic, or even progressive rock styles, where a droning and sustained feel is desired. This tuning creates a sense of openness and suspension, providing a fresh canvas for songwriting and improvisation.

Technical Analysis

The open strings of the Toronto Sky tuning are: B1, F#3, C#4, F#4, B3, F#5 (low to high).

• The fundamental harmonic structure of this tuning revolves around the notes B, F#, and C#. This forms a Bsus2 chord (B - C# - F#), giving the tuning a bright, open, and slightly unresolved quality.
• The presence of multiple B notes (B1, B3) and F# notes (F#3, F#4, F#5) across different octaves creates a powerful drone effect, particularly between the lowest B and the high F#. This allows for rich, sustained sounds without fretting.
• A notable feature is the relationship between the 3rd and 2nd strings: F#4 and B3. The 2nd string (B3) is tuned lower than the 3rd string (F#4), creating an unexpected interval and unique voicing possibilities. This makes for interesting melodic and harmonic interplay when moving across these strings.
• The low B1 on the 6th string provides a deep, resonant foundation, while the high F#5 adds sparkling upper harmonics. This wide tonal range contributes to the expansive 'sky' feel of the tuning.

Open Chords & Harmonic Potential

With the open strings ringing, you immediately get a rich Bsus2 chord (B - C# - F#) which can serve as a home base. The prevalence of B and F# makes open B5 (power chord) shapes incredibly easy and resonant across the fretboard. By simply adding a D# on an appropriate string, you can resolve the sus2 to a full B Major chord, or a D for a B Minor. The unique string relationships encourage creative fingerings and offer novel voicings for common chord shapes. Sliding chords up and down the neck will reveal various suspended and open-voiced harmonies based on the B root, with the C# adding a beautiful shimmer or tension.

How to Tune

To achieve the Toronto Sky tuning, carefully adjust each string as follows:

• 6th String: Tune down 5 semitones to B1. This is a significant drop (exceeding 4 semitones). For prolonged use, a heavier gauge string may be advisable to maintain optimal tension.
• 5th String: Tune down 3 semitones to F#3.
• 4th String: Tune down 1 semitone to C#4.
• 3rd String: Tune down 1 semitone to F#4.
• 2nd String: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
• 1st String: Tune up 2 semitones to F#5.

The notes for the Toronto Sky tuning, from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st) string, are:

• String 6: B1
• String 5: F#3
• String 4: C#4
• String 3: F#4
• String 2: B3
• String 1: F#5

How to Tune

To correctly set your guitar to the Toronto Sky tuning, follow these precise string adjustments:

• 6th String: Tune down 5 semitones to reach B1. This is a substantial change; consider a heavier gauge string to maintain optimal tension and tone.
• 5th String: Tune down 3 semitones to reach F#3.
• 4th String: Tune down 1 semitone to reach C#4.
• 3rd String: Tune down 1 semitone to reach F#4.
• 2nd String: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
• 1st String: Tune up 2 semitones to reach F#5.