Armenian Mystic Tuning: A Deep Dive

This unique guitar tuning, aptly named "Armenian Mystic Tuning," is designed to evoke the atmospheric and resonant sound often heard from an Armenian tar. It transforms your standard guitar into an instrument capable of producing rich, droning textures perfect for folk, world music, or experimental compositions. The tuning's structure emphasizes a deep, modal resonance, providing a canvas for evocative soundscapes.

Technical Analysis

The tuning sets your guitar's open strings to C2-C3-C3-G3-C4-C4. This configuration is essentially an Open C Major tuning, heavily emphasizing the root (C) and the perfect fifth (G).

• Low C Drone: The 6th, 5th, 4th, 2nd, and 1st strings are all tuned to C across various octaves, creating a powerful, resonant foundation. The lowest C (C2) provides a deep, almost orchestral bass.
• Perfect Fifth: The 3rd string is tuned to G3, providing the essential perfect fifth that completes the C Major triad. With only C and G present, this gives the tuning a strong, slightly ambiguous character, leaning towards a powerful C5 chord sound when played open, yet capable of resolving into a full C major.
• Unisons and Octaves: Multiple strings are tuned to the same pitch across different octaves (C2, C3, C4) or in unison (String 5 & 4, String 2 & 1). This creates a very full, chime-like sustain and harmonic richness, ideal for drone-based music.

Open Chords and Possibilities

• Open C Major/C5: Played open, the tuning immediately yields a powerful C Major chord (C-G-C) with a dense array of roots and fifths. It sounds incredibly full and resonant.
• Bar Chords: By simply barring all strings at any fret, you can easily play major chords. For instance, barring at the 1st fret gives you C# Major, at the 3rd fret D# Major/Eb Major, and at the 5th fret F Major. This makes transposing ideas straightforward.
• Drone & Slide: The drone-like quality and the ease of forming major chords with a single finger make this tuning exceptionally well-suited for slide guitar. Melodies can soar over the resonant open strings, much like on a tar.
• Modal Play: The open intervals of C and G are perfect for exploring modal scales and melodies, especially in C Lydian or C Mixolydian, by adding specific fretted notes.

How to Tune Your Guitar

Achieving the Armenian Mystic Tuning from standard E standard (EADGBe) involves significant changes to most strings. Please proceed with caution and use a reliable tuner.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2. (Original E2 → C2)
• String 5 (A): Tune up 3 semitones to C3. (Original A2 → C3) Care should be taken when tuning up 3 semitones. If you experience undue tension or difficulty, a heavier gauge string may be advisable.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3. (Original D3 → C3)
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to G3. (Original G3 → G3)
• String 2 (B): Tune up 1 semitones to C4. (Original B3 → C4)
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 4 semitones to C4. (Original E4 → C4) As this is a 4 semitone drop, this string may become quite slack. A lighter gauge string may be preferred to maintain optimal playability and intonation.

As a general guideline, string movements exceeding 4 semitones (either up or down) often benefit from a change in string gauge to maintain optimal playability and intonation. Consult your guitar's string manufacturer for suitable alternatives if necessary.

For inspiration and to hear the sound this tuning aims to capture, you can visit: Armenian Tar Example

String 6 (Low E string): Tuned to C2

String 5 (A string): Tuned to C3

String 4 (D string): Tuned to C3

String 3 (G string): Tuned to G3

String 2 (B string): Tuned to C4

String 1 (High E string): Tuned to C4