The Marilyn Moore tuning, famously utilized by Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth for their track "Marilyn Moore" from the album Evol, is an unconventional and highly resonant open tuning designed to create unique sonic textures characteristic of the band's experimental sound.

Technical Analysis

This tuning transforms the guitar into a deeply resonant instrument, centered around a complex C minor sonority with added color. The open strings are tuned to C2 C3 D♯4 G3 G3 D4.

• The foundational C (C2, C3) provides a deep, droning base across the lowest two strings, creating a powerful resonance.
• The presence of D♯ (Eb) alongside G forms a clear C minor triad (C-Eb-G), giving the tuning a distinct, often melancholic, character.
• The repeated G3 on the 3rd and 2nd strings creates a rich unison, adding density and sustain to the minor tonality, perfect for powerful strums or sustained drones.
• The D4 on the highest string acts as an added 9th, forming a C minor add9 chord (C-Eb-G-D) when all open strings are strummed. This gives the open tuning a sophisticated, expansive, and slightly suspended quality, moving beyond a simple major or minor sound.
• The wide range, from the very low C2 to the D4, offers a broad sonic palette, allowing for both deep bass drones and shimmering higher registers, ideal for textural exploration.

Open Chords and Reachable Shapes

With all strings open, the tuning immediately presents a rich C minor add9 chord. This provides an excellent starting point for atmospheric, resonant, and often dissonant textures. The unison G3s are particularly useful for creating sustained drones or for easily hitting perfect fifths and octaves with minimal finger movement.

• Open C minor add9: Strumming all open strings directly yields C-C-Eb-G-G-D, a full and dark C minor 9th chord without the 7th, which resonates with a unique complexity.
• Power Chords: Due to the C-G intervals (perfect 5th) and repeated notes, moving simple two-finger power chord shapes up and down the neck will naturally create rich, resonant power chords that fit within the C minor framework.
• Drones and Harmonics: The low C and the unison Gs are perfect for creating sustained drones, especially when combined with open string harmonics, which will resonate powerfully within the C minor harmonic field.
• Suspended Chords: The D4 (9th) is already present, making it easy to imply suspended qualities by slightly altering fingerings around the open D or by adding notes a semitone above or below the existing open strings.

This tuning encourages experimental playing, favoring open string voicings, slides, and unusual chord inversions that exploit its inherent resonances, making it ideal for noise rock, avant-garde, and ambient music styles.

How to Tune

To achieve the Marilyn Moore tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-e, follow these instructions carefully. Pay close attention to string tension, especially for larger movements, and consider a different string gauge if you frequently use this tuning.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2. This is a significant drop; ensure your string can handle the slack without buzzing. A heavier gauge string is advised if this tuning is used often.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 3 semitones to C3. Exercise caution when tuning up multiple semitones to avoid string breakage; a lighter gauge string might be beneficial for frequent use.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 1 semitone to D♯4.
• 3rd String (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones), remaining at G3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 4 semitones to G3. This is a significant drop; ensure your string can handle the slack without buzzing. A heavier gauge string is advised if this tuning is used often.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.

Remember to stretch new strings gently after tuning to help them stabilize and ensure tuning accuracy.

6th String: C2
5th String: C3
4th String: D♯4
3rd String: G3
2nd String: G3
1st String: D4