Tuning Overview

This unique open tuning, famously utilized by Lindsey Buckingham during his live performance of 'Shut Us Down' at the Bass Performance Hall, creates a rich and resonant soundscape. It's an adventurous tuning that significantly drops the pitch of most strings, allowing for deep, sonorous voicings and a wide dynamic range, characteristic of Buckingham's intricate fingerstyle arrangements. The deep re-tuning suggests a deliberate shift in the guitar's sonic canvas, moving into a lower register that can produce full, piano-like textures, perfectly suiting the atmospheric quality of the track.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to C2, D3# (Eb3), A3# (Bb3), D4# (Eb4), G3, and A4# (Bb4). Analyzing these notes reveals a clear C minor 7 (Cm7) chord (C-Eb-G-Bb) spread across several octaves. Despite the song's common association or a 'Cmaj7' label from its original context, the actual open notes produce a powerful minor seventh harmony. The tuning features a low C root on the 6th string, followed by a minor third (Eb) on the 5th, a minor seventh (Bb) on the 4th, another minor third (Eb) an octave higher on the 3rd, a perfect fifth (G) on the 2nd, and a final minor seventh (Bb) on the 1st string. This arrangement provides a full-bodied Cm7 chord without fretting, offering a harmonically complex foundation.

Open Chords & Possibilities

• With the open strings forming a Cm7, players can easily achieve a rich minor sound by simply strumming, making it highly accessible for creating immediate atmosphere.
• Barre chords across any fret will naturally produce minor seventh chords higher up the neck. For instance, a barre at the 3rd fret would yield an Eb Minor 7, expanding your harmonic palette.
• The unique intervals also open up possibilities for interesting inversions and suspended chords with minimal finger movement, encouraging creative exploration.
• The proximity of the Eb (D#) and G notes across multiple strings allows for easy access to variations of the minor chord, while the low C and resonant Bb notes contribute to a deeply atmospheric sound. Experimenting with two or three-finger voicings around the open Cm7 will uncover a plethora of rich, complex harmonies ideal for melancholic or contemplative pieces.

How to Tune

Given the significant adjustments required for this tuning, especially the large drops in pitch, it is crucial to proceed with caution. Generally, tuning up or down by more than 4 semitones can put considerable stress on your strings and guitar neck. For strings that are dropped by 6 semitones, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised to maintain optimal tension, prevent string damage, and ensure better intonation and playability.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones from E to C2. (Requires care, at the limit of recommended string tension for standard gauges.)
• String 5 (A): Tune down 6 semitones from A to D3#. (A different gauge string is advised due to the substantial drop.)
• String 4 (D): Tune down 4 semitones from D to A3#. (Requires care, at the limit of recommended string tension for standard gauges.)
• String 3 (G): Tune down 4 semitones from G to D4#. (Requires care, at the limit of recommended string tension for standard gauges.)
• String 2 (B): Tune down 4 semitones from B to G3. (Requires care, at the limit of recommended string tension for standard gauges.)
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 6 semitones from E to A4#. (A different gauge string is advised due to the substantial drop.)

String 6 (Low E): C2

String 5 (A): D3#

String 4 (D): A3#

String 3 (G): D4#

String 2 (B): G3

String 1 (High E): A4#