Verbal Analysis

This unique tuning, known as CFDGGC, is notably employed by Alexander Misko in his cover of George Michael's 'Careless Whisper.' It presents a very broad and unconventional sonic landscape, ranging from deep, resonant lows to extremely high, bright pitches. The tuning appears designed for highly specialized techniques such as tapping, intricate fingerstyle, or percussive playing, rather than conventional strumming. The extreme interval spread between certain strings suggests an approach focused on individual string voicings and a wide harmonic palette, capable of creating piano-like textures or sharp, piercing melodies on the higher registers, contrasted by a strong, dark bass foundation. It is a demanding tuning that would require careful control and a specific musical vision to utilize effectively, particularly given the extreme pitches specified for some strings.

Technical Analysis

The CFDGGC tuning, as specified in the provided data, features the following open notes from low to high: C2 F2 D4# G3 G4# C4. This creates a highly unusual and wide-ranging sonic profile:

• Base Notes (C2, F2): The lowest two strings are tuned to C2 and F2, forming a perfect fourth. This provides a deep, resonant foundation.
• Extreme High Pitches (D4#, G4#): Strings 4 and 2 are specified as D4# and G4# respectively. These are exceptionally high pitches for standard guitar strings in these positions. D4# is an astonishing 27 semitones above the lowest C2, and G4# is 32 semitones above C2. Achieving these pitches would almost certainly necessitate custom, significantly lighter gauge strings (e.g., harp strings or banjo strings) to prevent breakage and ensure proper intonation, as attempting to tune standard guitar strings from their EADGBe positions to these octaves is physically impossible and would damage the instrument or string.
• Mid-Range (G3, C4): String 3 is G3, a perfect fifth above C2 (an octave higher), and String 1 is C4, a perfect octave above C2 (two octaves higher).

The open strings present the notes C, F, D#, G, G#, C. This collection of notes (C, F, Eb, G, Ab) creates a complex harmonic landscape. While a simple open strum might sound dissonant due to the combination of major and minor elements (C-Eb-G forms a C minor triad, F adds a perfect fourth, and Ab/G# adds a minor sixth), it offers unique opportunities for arpeggiated figures and chord voicings that leverage these broad intervals. For example, a C minor triad (C-Eb-G) is present, with the F and a higher C acting as extensions, and the G# (Ab) adding further color. This tuning's extreme nature means it leans heavily into specific melodic and harmonic movements rather than conventional open chord shapes, likely for percussive or highly melodic fingerstyle compositions.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

Please be aware that some of the requested string movements are significant. For movements exceeding 4 semitones (up or down), a different string gauge is generally advised to ensure the integrity of your instrument and strings. Please follow these instructions carefully, tuning from the standard EADGBe tuning:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2. (Consider a heavier gauge string for optimal tension.)
• String 5 (A): Tune down 4 semitones to F2. (Consider a heavier gauge string for optimal tension.)
• String 4 (D): Tune up 1 semitones. This will result in D#3. (Note: The specified target note D4# in the tuning definition implies an extremely high pitch (13 semitones up from D3), which is generally not feasible for standard guitar strings in this position. The tuning instruction here reflects the direct semitone movement from standard D3 to D#3.)
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at G3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 3 semitones. This will result in G3. (Note: The specified target note G4# in the tuning definition implies an extremely high pitch (10 semitones up from B3), which is generally not feasible for standard guitar strings in this position. The tuning instruction here reflects the direct semitone movement from standard B3 to G3.)
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 4 semitones to C4. (Consider a heavier gauge string for optimal tension.)