Overview

This unique guitar tuning, famously used by Ichika Nito for his track "Branching Paths," dramatically reconfigures the standard guitar, transforming it into a canvas for complex harmonies and intricate melodic lines. It moves far away from standard EADGBe tuning, creating a deep, resonant sound with a wide range of available notes. The tuning involves significant detuning across almost all strings, lending itself to a distinct, often melancholic or ethereal sonic palette that is characteristic of modern fingerstyle guitar.

Technical Analysis

From the lowest C2 to the highest C#5, this tuning spans an impressive 3.5 octaves. Each string is tuned down considerably from standard EADGBe, creating a rich, darker foundation. The open strings are C2, D#3, G#3, A#3, F#4, C#5. Let's look at the intervals between adjacent strings:

• String 6 (C2) to String 5 (D#3): A compound minor third (15 semitones), creating a broad and expansive leap.
• String 5 (D#3) to String 4 (G#3): A perfect fourth (5 semitones), providing a stable harmonic interval.
• String 4 (G#3) to String 3 (A#3): A major second (2 semitones), a relatively close and bright interval.
• String 3 (A#3) to String 2 (F#4): A diminished fifth (tritone, 6 semitones), a highly dissonant interval often used to create tension or a 'jazzy' quality.
• String 2 (F#4) to String 1 (C#5): A perfect fifth (7 semitones), another strong, resonant interval.

The overall intervallic structure is highly irregular and complex, making it challenging for conventional chord shapes but opening up unique possibilities for arpeggios, clusters, and unconventional voicings. The presence of C, D# (Eb), G# (Ab), A# (Bb), F# (Gb), C# (Db) suggests a rich and perhaps modal or chromatic framework, allowing for intricate harmonic exploration.

Open Chords and Harmonic Potential

While standard major or minor chords are not immediately apparent across all open strings, this tuning offers some intriguing harmonic possibilities:

• Ab Major Triad: By playing strings 4 (G#), 6 (C), and 5 (D#), you can form an Ab major chord (G# is enharmonically Ab, C is C, D# is enharmonically Eb). This provides a foundational and relatively consonant harmony within the tuning.
• Complex Voicings: The full open string set (C2 D#3 G#3 A#3 F#4 C#5) creates a rich, dissonant cluster. Interpreted enharmonically as C, Eb, Ab, Bb, Gb, Db, this voicing can be seen as a heavily altered C minor 7 flat 5 chord (C Eb Gb Bb) with additional extensions like the minor sixth (Ab) and minor ninth (Db). This intricate voicing is characteristic of modern fingerstyle and progressive guitar work, offering a dark and expansive sound palette for melodic and harmonic exploration.
• Melodic Focus: Given the extreme detuning and specific note choices, this tuning is likely designed for precise melodic lines and intricate fingerpicking patterns where individual notes and their relationships are paramount, rather than broad strummed chords. It encourages an exploration of unique voicings and extended harmonies.

How to Tune Your Guitar

This tuning requires significant adjustments from standard EADGBe. Please proceed carefully and ensure your guitar's setup can handle the altered string tension. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different gauge string is often advised to prevent damage or maintain optimal playability.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 6 semitones to D#3. Caution: This is a significant drop; consider a heavier gauge string.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 6 semitones to G#3. Caution: This is a significant drop; consider a heavier gauge string.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 9 semitones to A#3. Caution: This is a very substantial drop; a much heavier gauge string is strongly advised.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 5 semitones to F#4. Caution: This is a significant drop; consider a heavier gauge string.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#5.