Verbal Analysis

This unique tuning, famously adopted by the experimental rock band Sonic Youth, embodies their signature blend of unconventional harmony and sonic exploration. It moves significantly from standard EADGBe, creating a soundscape that is both rich and often dissonant, perfect for pushing creative boundaries. The open strings themselves form a C major 9 chord (C-E-G-B-D), offering a sophisticated and full harmonic foundation. This allows for immediate access to complex voicings and the creation of drone-like textures. It's a tuning that invites experimentation, where traditional chord shapes may no longer apply, and new sonic possibilities emerge from simple barres or two-finger voicings that move the inherent Cmaj9 structure up and down the neck. The strong root and octave provided by the two lowest C strings give a powerful, resonant base for both melodic and rhythmic playing.

Technical Analysis

The tuning establishes the following open notes: C2-C3-E3-B3-D4-G4, from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st) string. This configuration creates a resonant C major 9 chord (C-E-G-B-D) across the open strings, with the lowest C (C2) as the root, followed by an octave C (C3), a major third (E3), a major seventh (B3), a major ninth (D4), and a perfect fifth (G4). This wide intervallic spread, spanning nearly three octaves from C2 to G4, contributes to the tuning's characteristic open and expansive sound. The radical shifts from standard tuning mean players should be prepared for altered string tension and a completely re-imagined fretboard. The absence of traditional intervals in the lower strings (e.g., perfect fourths) necessitates a departure from common chord shapes, opening doors to unique harmonic clusters and ringing overtones.

Open String Notes

• String 6: C2 (Low C)
• String 5: C3 (Mid C)
• String 4: E3 (Mid E)
• String 3: B3 (Mid B)
• String 2: D4 (High D)
• String 1: G4 (High G)

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones from E2 to C2.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 3 semitones from A2 to C3.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 2 semitones from D3 to E3.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 4 semitones from G3 to B3. Warning: This is a significant increase in pitch (a major third) and may put extra stress on a standard gauge string. Consider a lighter gauge or exercise caution.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 3 semitones from B3 to D4.
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 3 semitones from E4 to G4.