The 'C Lydian Spine' tuning, as its name suggests, is built around a C root with a distinct Lydian character and significant internal tension. This tuning is designed to evoke wide, cinematic harmonies, moving away from conventional guitar voicings by utilizing a C-rooted tritone, fourths, fifths, and a Lydian #11 color.

Technical Analysis

This tuning presents a unique set of intervals between its open strings, fostering a rich and often dissonant harmonic landscape:

• 6th String (C2) to 5th String (F2): A Perfect Fourth (P4), providing a stable foundation.
• 5th String (F2) to 4th String (B2): A Tritone (Augmented Fourth), immediately introducing the described inherent tension.
• 4th String (B2) to 3rd String (F#4): An exceptionally wide interval of an Octave and a Perfect Fifth. This is highly unconventional for adjacent guitar strings and creates a dramatic leap in pitch, making standard fretting across these strings impractical.
• 3rd String (F#4) to 2nd String (A3): A descending Major Sixth. This is another very large and unusual interval between adjacent strings, where the 2nd string is significantly lower in pitch than the 3rd.
• 2nd String (A3) to 1st String (D4): A Perfect Fourth (P4), offering a familiar interval for upper register voicings.

The composite of all open strings (C2 F2 B2 F#4 A3 D4) forms a highly complex and spread voicing. When considered with C as the root, the notes C, D, F, F#, A, B are present (ignoring specific octaves). This collection strongly suggests a C Major 7 chord with an added #11 (F#), 9th (D), and 13th (A). The F# (Lydian #4) and B (Major 7th) firmly establish the Lydian character and cinematic breadth. The significant octave displacement and wide intervals, particularly between strings 4, 3, and 2, mean that traditional chord shapes are largely unplayable. This tuning strongly encourages open string drones, arpeggiated figures, and melodic lines that emphasize its unique intervallic relationships, rather than conventional chordal approaches. The 'Spine' in the tuning name likely refers to these central, unique, and tension-filled intervals.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve the 'C Lydian Spine' tuning, follow these specific adjustments from standard EADGBe tuning. Please note the warnings for significant string tension changes:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2. Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change. A heavier gauge string may be advisable for optimal tension and tone.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 4 semitones to F2. Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change. A heavier gauge string may be advisable for optimal tension and tone.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 1 semitone to F#4.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.

Pay particular attention to the 3rd string: tuning down 1 semitone from a standard G3 to reach F#4 implies a significant octave shift not usually associated with a single semitone change. This may necessitate a specific string gauge (likely lighter than standard) or playing technique to achieve the desired F#4 pitch cleanly. Always tune carefully and check string tension to avoid damage to your instrument or strings.

The open strings for the 'C Lydian Spine' tuning are:

• 6th String: C2
• 5th String: F2
• 4th String: B2
• 3rd String: F#4
• 2nd String: A3
• 1st String: D4