C6 Open Tuning Analysis

This unique tuning, aptly named "C6 Open Tuning," transforms your guitar into a resonant soundscape, perfect for creating rich, full chords with minimal effort. Inspired by efforts to capture the distinctive sound of tracks like Tamino's "Smile," this setup offers a deep, somewhat melancholic, and highly atmospheric quality. It's particularly well-suited for slide guitar, fingerstyle, or ambient sound design, allowing for lush harmonies to ring out with exceptional sustain and clarity.

Technical Breakdown:

The open strings of this tuning form a complete C6 chord (C-E-G-A). Specifically, the notes are ordered as follows from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st) string: C2, E2, A2, E3, G3, C4. This arrangement results in a rich C6 voicing where the A (major sixth) is present in the lower register (A2), providing a unique harmonic foundation. The presence of doubled E notes (E2 and E3) and C notes (C2 and C4) across the tuning adds significant fullness, resonance, and sustain to the open chord.

Analyzing the intervals from the lowest C string (C2), we find a broad harmonic spread:

• 6th String (C2): The Root of the C6 chord.
• 5th String (E2): A Major 3rd above the root.
• 4th String (A2): A Major 6th above the root.
• 3rd String (E3): A Major 3rd an octave higher (a Major 10th) above the root, adding to the chord's brightness.
• 2nd String (G3): A Perfect 5th an octave higher (a Perfect 12th) above the root, reinforcing the harmonic core.
• 1st String (C4): Two Octaves above the root, providing a clear and high-end sparkle.

This carefully chosen combination of notes creates a powerful, wide-ranging C6 chord that rings freely, making the guitar feel incredibly open and responsive.

Chordal Possibilities:

The most immediate and obvious benefit of this open tuning is the ability to strum all open strings to achieve a full and vibrant C6 chord. The true power, however, lies in its versatility across the fretboard and its suitability for various playing styles:

• Effortless Barre Chords: By simply barring all strings at any given fret, you can effortlessly create other major 6th chords. For example, barring at the 1st fret yields a C#6 chord, the 2nd fret a D6 chord, and so on. This makes transposing major 6th harmony incredibly straightforward and intuitive across the entire neck.
• Slide Guitar Mastery: This tuning is a dream for slide guitarists. The open 6th chord allows for smooth, resonant glides and sustained notes up and down the neck, maintaining the harmonic integrity of the 6th chord throughout your melodic lines. The inherent resonance of the low tunings further enhances the slide experience.
• Expressive Fingerstyle: The wide intervals and open sonorities provide an excellent canvas for intricate fingerstyle arrangements. Individual notes can ring out and overlap, creating lush textures and complex harmonies with relative ease, making it ideal for ambient or introspective pieces.
• Exploring Related Chords: With minor adjustments from the open C6 shape, you can often reach related chords. For instance, by adjusting one or two notes, you might discover dominant 7th voicings or minor 6th chords with minimal finger movement, significantly expanding your harmonic palette beyond simple 6th chords. This tuning encourages exploration and creative chord discovery.

Open String Notes:

Here are the target notes for each string in this C6 Open Tuning, listed from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st) string:

• 6th String: C2
• 5th String: E2
• 4th String: A2
• 3rd String: E3
• 2nd String: G3
• 1st String: C4

How to Tune:

This tuning involves significant string tension changes, as most strings are tuned down considerably from standard EADGBe tuning. Please proceed with caution. For changes exceeding 4 semitones (either tuning up or down), a different string gauge (typically heavier for tuning down) is highly recommended to ensure string integrity, prevent potential damage, and achieve optimal tone and playability.

• 6th String (Low E to C2): Tune your 6th (low E) string to C2. This requires you to tune down 4 semitones. Consider a heavier gauge string for optimal performance and safety due to this significant drop in tension.
• 5th String (A to E2): Tune your 5th (A) string to E2. This requires you to tune down 5 semitones. A heavier gauge string is strongly advised for this string due to the large drop in tension.
• 4th String (D to A2): Tune your 4th (D) string to A2. This requires you to tune down 5 semitones. A heavier gauge string is strongly advised for this string due to the large drop in tension.
• 3rd String (G to E3): Tune your 3rd (G) string to E3. This requires you to tune down 3 semitones.
• 2nd String (B to G3): Tune your 2nd (B) string to G3. This requires you to tune down 4 semitones. Consider a heavier gauge string for optimal performance and safety due to this significant drop in tension.
• 1st String (High E to C4): Tune your 1st (high E) string to C4. This requires you to tune down 4 semitones. Consider a heavier gauge string for optimal performance and safety due to this significant drop in tension.