Explore the depths of your guitar's sonic landscape with Depressed C, a tuning designed to evoke profound emotions and a distinctly somber atmosphere. As its creator aptly notes, this tuning "Potentially sounds, dark, gloomy, depressing," making it an intriguing choice for musicians seeking to craft evocative and introspective pieces.

Verbal Analysis

The name "Depressed C" perfectly encapsulates the melancholic essence of this tuning. It immediately immerses the listener in a deep, resonant, and often haunting sonic world. The significant drop in string tension across most strings lends itself to a looser, almost baritone feel, allowing for expressive bends and a full-bodied, less bright attack. This tuning is ideally suited for genres that thrive on introspection, solemnity, or raw emotional power, such as doom metal, gothic rock, experimental ambient music, or deeply moving ballads. It provides a unique sonic palette to express profound sorrow or contemplative moods.

Technical Analysis

This tuning sets the guitar's open strings to the following notes, from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st): C2 - F2 - G#3 - F3 - G#4 - C4.

Relative to standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning, the string movements are quite dramatic:

• String 6 (Low E): Tuned down 4 semitones to C2.
• String 5 (A): Tuned down 4 semitones to F2.
• String 4 (D): Tuned down 6 semitones to G#3 (enharmonically Ab3).
• String 3 (G): Tuned down 2 semitones to F3.
• String 2 (B): Tuned down 3 semitones to G#4 (enharmonically Ab4).
• String 1 (High E): Tuned down 4 semitones to C4.

The open strings C-F-G#-F-G#-C, when played together, effectively form an F minor triad with C in the bass (Fm/C). The repeated Fs and G#s (or Abs) across different octaves create a remarkably dense and resonant texture. The predominant intervals in this tuning are perfect 4ths and minor 6ths, which are key contributors to its 'depressed' and melancholic feel, imparting a sense of solemnity rather than conventional tension. This tuning presents a distinct harmonic framework, moving beyond standard major/minor chord voicings to explore unique modal and chordal resonances. Barre chords will generally yield inversions of minor chords or chords with added fourths or minor sixths, offering a challenging yet highly rewarding landscape for experimental voicings.

Open Chords & Voicings

The open tuning naturally creates an F minor chord with C in the bass (Fm/C). This foundational chord sets an immediate moody and rich tone. Due to the largely consistent downward tuning relative to E standard (mostly a major third down), barre chords can be used effectively to transpose this core `Fm/C` structure across the fretboard. For example, barring at the first fret would yield `F#m/C#`, and at the third fret, `Am/E`. The strategically placed unison or octave F and G# notes on adjacent or close strings ensure a harmonically full and resonant sound, making this tuning excellent for drone-like textures and arpeggiated figures that emphasize its characteristic minor third and minor sixth intervals.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'Depressed C' tuning, start from standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning and adjust each string as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones from E2 to C2. This is a significant drop; using a heavier gauge string is strongly advisable for optimal tone, tension stability, and preventing excessive floppiness.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 4 semitones from A2 to F2. This is also a noticeable drop; considering a heavier gauge string can greatly improve playability and sound.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 6 semitones from D3 to G#3. This is a substantial drop of a tritone (half an octave). It is highly recommended to use a significantly heavier gauge string to maintain adequate tension and playability.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 2 semitones from G3 to F3. This is a moderate and manageable drop.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 3 semitones from B3 to G#4. This is a moderate drop, which should be relatively stable with standard gauges.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 4 semitones from E4 to C4. As with the lower E string, this is a considerable drop; a heavier gauge string for the high E is advisable for improved tension and tone.

Here are the specific notes for each string in 'Depressed C' tuning, from the lowest string (6th) to the highest string (1st):

String 6 (Low E): C2

String 5 (A): F2

String 4 (D): G#3

String 3 (G): F3

String 2 (B): G#4

String 1 (High E): C4