Tuning Analysis: CAEGCE

The CAEGCE tuning transforms your standard guitar into an incredibly resonant instrument, particularly suited for open, folk, and acoustic styles. This specific tuning is known to be used for songs like Coldplay's 'Til Kingdom Come, as referenced here.

Verbal Analysis

With its open strings ringing out as C2-A2-E3-G3-C4-E4, this tuning immediately forms a rich and full C6 chord. This creates an expansive, bright, and harmonically rich sound ideal for strumming and fingerpicking. The arrangement allows for a powerful C drone, with the low C string (C2) and the second string (C4) reinforcing the root, while the two E strings (E3 and E4) provide a bright major third. The inclusion of the A2 and G3 adds the characteristic 6th and 5th tones, giving the open chord a sophisticated yet accessible quality.

Players will find this tuning very intuitive for creating lush soundscapes with minimal effort. Barring across any fret will instantly produce a beautiful 6th chord (e.g., barre at the 2nd fret yields a D6 chord), making transposing incredibly easy. This encourages melodic playing over the open C6, and drone-based approaches. It's particularly effective for rhythmic playing and creating full-bodied accompanying parts without complex fingerings.

Technical Analysis

• Open String Notes: C2 A2 E3 G3 C4 E4
• Resultant Open Chord: The open strings spell out the notes C, E, G, A. This forms a C6 chord (C-E-G-A), providing a full, rich harmonic foundation.
• Intervals (Low to High):
  • 6th String (C2) to 5th String (A2): Major 6th (9 semitones)
  • 5th String (A2) to 4th String (E3): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
  • 4th String (E3) to 3rd String (G3): Minor 3rd (3 semitones)
  • 3rd String (G3) to 2nd String (C4): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
  • 2nd String (C4) to 1st String (E4): Major 3rd (4 semitones)
• Chordal Opportunities:
  • The open tuning is a C6 chord, making it an excellent base for C major key songs.
  • Barring all strings at any fret will produce an X6 chord, where X is the root note on the 6th string at that fret. This allows for easy transposition and chord progressions built on 6th chords.
  • Due to the C-E-G structure within the higher strings, traditional C major and G major shapes might be accessible with slight modifications. The repeated C and E notes provide natural drones for melodic exploration.

How to Tune Your Guitar to CAEGCE

To achieve the CAEGCE tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-E, follow these specific adjustments for each string:

• 6th String (Low E): From E2, Tune down 4 semitones to C2. Please note that a 4-semitone drop is significant; consider using a lighter gauge string if you frequently use this tuning to maintain optimal tension and tone.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2.
• 4th String (D): From D3, Tune up 2 semitones to E3.
• 3rd String (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at G3.
• 2nd String (B): From B3, Tune up 1 semitones to C4.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at E4.

Always tune carefully, especially when increasing string tension.

String 6: C2

String 5: A2

String 4: E3

String 3: G3

String 2: C4

String 1: E4