The Vysotsky C F A F A Tuning: A Deep, Resonant Sound

The C F A F A tuning, often associated with the legendary Russian singer-songwriter Vladimir Vysotsky, is a captivating and unique open tuning for the guitar. It creates a deep, resonant soundscape, moving far beyond standard guitar voicings to evoke a melancholic and powerful atmosphere. This tuning is particularly well-suited for fingerstyle playing, allowing the open strings to ring out and blend into rich, complex harmonies.

Technical Analysis

This 5-string tuning sets the guitar's open strings to C2 - F2 - A2 - F3 - A3 (from lowest to highest, corresponding to standard guitar strings 5 through 1).

• The lowest three strings (C2, F2, A2) form an F major triad with a C in the bass (Fmaj/C), providing a strong tonal foundation.
• The overall intervallic structure, C-F-A-F-A, strongly hints at an F major tonality, allowing for expressive melodies and chords within this key.
• The repeated F and A notes across octaves (F2, F3 and A2, A3) create a natural drone effect and offer interesting harmonic possibilities, making it easy to form rich, sustained chords.

While not a single open chord in the conventional sense, the C F A F A tuning naturally facilitates certain voicings:

• Open F Major: By simply strumming the lower four or five strings, you get a beautiful, full F major voicing, often with the low C adding depth.
• Accessible Chords: Basic shapes for C major, A minor, and even D minor become surprisingly accessible with minimal fretting, often leveraging the open strings for added resonance. Barre chords can be particularly effective, sliding across the neck to transpose the open string relationships.
• Drone & Melody: The repeated F and A allow for melodic lines to be played on the higher strings while the lower strings provide a consistent harmonic drone, characteristic of folk and classical guitar styles.

How to Tune Your Guitar to Vysotsky C F A F A

This tuning requires significant adjustments from standard E-A-D-G-B tuning for a 5-string guitar setup (corresponding to the low E, A, D, G, and B strings of a 6-string guitar). Please tune carefully, especially with the larger semitone drops. If you plan to use this tuning frequently, consider a different string gauge to ensure optimal tension and tone.

• String 5 (Low E to C): Tune down 4 semitones from E2 to C2. Take care when adjusting the tension.
• String 4 (A to F): Tune down 4 semitones from A2 to F2. Take care when adjusting the tension.
• String 3 (D to A): Tune down 5 semitones from D3 to A2. This is a significant drop; a heavier gauge string is advised for sustained use to maintain good string tension and intonation.
• String 2 (G to F): Tune down 2 semitones from G3 to F3.
• String 1 (B to A): Tune down 2 semitones from B3 to A3.

General Tuning Advice: When tuning strings down by 4 or more semitones, it's generally advisable to use a heavier gauge string to prevent the string from becoming too slack and to ensure stable tuning and good tone. Always tune slowly and carefully.

The 5th string (lowest) is tuned to C2.

The 4th string is tuned to F2.

The 3rd string is tuned to A2.

The 2nd string is tuned to F3.

The 1st string (highest) is tuned to A3.