The Coma Cluster Void 9-String Tuning

This 9-string tuning, named after the band Coma Cluster Void, is a truly formidable and unconventional setup designed for extreme sonic exploration. Known for their intricate and dissonant soundscapes, this tuning embodies that philosophy by pushing the boundaries of what a guitar can achieve. It's a tuning that defies traditional harmony, offering a vast palette for intricate, heavy, and often unsettling compositions. Its design suggests a focus on creating complex textures and crushing low-end impact rather than conventional chordal work.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes, listed from the thickest (String 9) to the thinnest (String 1), are: C1, F#2, G1, E2, F2, B2, C3, G#4, C#5. This tuning spans an immense range of over four octaves, from the sub-bass of C1 to the piercing highs of C#5.

• Non-Linear Pitch Progression: A defining characteristic of this tuning is its highly unconventional, non-linear progression of pitches. Notably, String 7 (G1) is tuned *lower* in pitch than its physically adjacent String 8 (F#2), creating a dissonant intervallic relationship (a descent of 11 semitones). Similarly, the interval from String 9 (C1) to String 8 (F#2) is a massive 18 semitones, almost 1.5 octaves.
• Extreme Intervals: Further adding to its complexity are extraordinarily wide intervals, such as the 20-semitone jump from String 3 (C3) to String 2 (G#4). This creates a highly fractured harmonic landscape, challenging conventional melodic and harmonic approaches.
• Tight Dissonances: Despite the wide jumps, there are also very tight, dissonant minor 2nd intervals between adjacent strings, specifically between E2-F2 (String 6 to String 5) and B2-C3 (String 4 to String 3). These allow for immediate, jarring clusters with minimal finger movement, perfect for industrial or experimental textures.
• Chordal Implications: Due to the extreme intervallic structure and non-linear pitch relationships, traditional open chords are effectively impossible to form. This tuning is optimized for single-note riffs, complex dissonant voicings, and power chords utilizing select strings, encouraging a unique and experimental approach to composition rather than conventional harmony.

Open String Notes (from thickest to thinnest)

• String 9: C1
• String 8: F#2
• String 7: G1
• String 6: E2
• String 5: F2
• String 4: B2
• String 3: C3
• String 2: G#4
• String 1: C#5

How to Tune

To achieve the Coma Cluster Void 9-string tuning, carefully make the following adjustments to each string. Please pay close attention to the semitone changes. For any adjustment exceeding 4 semitones (up or down), consider using a different string gauge to ensure proper tension, intonation, and to prevent string breakage.

• String 9 (C1): Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 8 (F#2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 7 (G1): Tune down 4 semitones.
• String 6 (E2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 5 (F2): Tune down 4 semitones.
• String 4 (B2): Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 3 (C3): Tune down 7 semitones. (Warning: This is a very significant change. Tuning down 7 semitones is beyond the recommended limit for standard string gauges. A much heavier gauge string is strongly advised for this position to maintain playability and avoid breakage.)
• String 2 (G#4): Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 1 (C#5): Tune down 3 semitones.