CGCDAB Guitar Tuner
CGCDAB Alesund - Guitar tuning, chords & scales
Verbal Analysis:
The Alesund Mystic C Tuning is a profoundly unique and resonant open tuning that immediately conjures an atmosphere of mystery and vastness. With its lowest three strings forming a solid C Power Chord (C-G-C), it lays a heavy, drone-like foundation. The higher strings, D-A-B, introduce an open, suspended quality, creating a rich harmonic landscape that skillfully avoids a definitive major or minor third in the open position. This harmonic ambiguity makes it incredibly versatile for evoking a wide range of emotions, from dark and introspective to expansive and ethereal. It's an excellent choice for ambient soundscapes, progressive rock, or folk music that seeks a distinctive and non-traditional voice. The significant detuning across several strings contributes to a slacker string feel, potentially allowing for expressive bends and vibrato, while also offering a deep, throaty resonance and enhanced sustain.
Technical Analysis:
This tuning establishes an open voicing of C2-G2-C3-D3-A3-B3 from the lowest to highest string. The foundational C2-G2-C3 on strings 6, 5, and 4 forms a strong C5 power chord. This interval structure of a Perfect Fifth (C-G) and Perfect Fourth (G-C) provides immense power and sustain. Moving up the fretboard, string 3 is tuned to D3, creating a Major Second interval with the preceding C3. String 2 is A3, a Perfect Fourth above D3, forming an open D5 power chord with string 3 (D-A). Finally, string 1 is tuned to B3, a Major Second above A3. Collectively, the open strings contain the root (C), fifth (G), major second (D), major sixth (A), and major seventh (B). The deliberate absence of a natural or flat third (E or Eb) means the tuning is harmonically ambiguous, allowing for both major and minor tonalities to be easily implied by fretting a single note, offering a vast canvas for creative expression.
Chordal Opportunities & Musical Applications:
- C5 Power Chord: Strumming strings 6, 5, and 4 together yields a powerful C5, ideal for heavy riffs, drone effects, and percussive playing.
- D5 Power Chord: Strings 3 and 2 openly present a D5 power chord, providing a clear secondary harmonic center.
- Open Cmaj7sus2 (no 3rd): The full open strum creates a dense, extended chord with a C root, incorporating the 2nd (D), 5th (G), 6th (A), and 7th (B). This invites modal explorations, particularly Lydian or Mixolydian flavors over a C drone, offering a bright yet suspended character.
- Implied Major/Minor: The lack of a third (E or Eb) on the open strings allows for easy harmonic manipulation. By simply fretting the 3rd string (D) up two frets to E, you can immediately imply a C Major tonality. Similarly, fretting it to Eb (down one fret from D, or three frets up from C) would lean towards a C minor sound.
- Inversions and Voicings: The wide intervals and lower string power chord make it excellent for creating unique chord inversions and voicings with minimal finger movement, especially using barred shapes on the lower strings, leading to expansive and unconventional harmonies.
To achieve the Alesund Mystic C Tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these string adjustments:
- String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones from E2 to the open note of C2. Note: This is a significant drop. For optimal tension and intonation, consider using a heavier gauge string.
- String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones from A2 to the open note of G2.
- String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones from D3 to the open note of C3.
- String 3 (G): Tune down 5 semitones from G3 to the open note of D3. Note: This is a significant drop. For optimal tension and intonation, consider using a heavier gauge string.
- String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones from B3 to the open note of A3.
- String 1 (High E): Tune down 5 semitones from E4 to the open note of B3. Note: This is a significant drop. For optimal tension and intonation, consider using a heavier gauge string.
The resulting open string notes for Alesund Mystic C Tuning will be C2-G2-C3-D3-A3-B3 from the lowest (6th) string to the highest (1st) string.
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Capos for CGCDAB
| Capo | Tuning | Name |
|---|---|---|
| -1 | BF#BC#G#A# | Asd |
| 0 | CGCDAB | Alesund |
| 1 | C#G#C#D#A#C | Alesund |
| 2 | DADEBC# | Mark Kozelek |
| 3 | D#A#D#FCD | D#A#D#FCD |
| 4 | EBEF#C#D# | EBEF#C#D# |
| 5 | FCFGDE | FAFGDE |
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Tuning Map
- Fret
- S6
- S5
- S4
- S3
- S2
- S1
- -13
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F#
- A#
- D#
- -12
- E
- A
- D
- G
- B
- E
- -11
- F
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C
- F
- -10
- F#
- B
- E
- A
- C#
- F#
- -9
- G
- C
- F
- A#
- D
- G
- -8
- G#
- C#
- F#
- B
- D#
- G#
- -7
- A
- D
- G
- C
- E
- A
- -6
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F
- A#
- -5
- B
- E
- A
- D
- F#
- B
- -4
- C
- F
- A#
- D#
- G
- C
- -3
- C#
- F#
- B
- E
- G#
- C#
- -2
- D
- G
- C
- F
- A
- D
- -1
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F#
- A#
- D#
- 0
- E
- A
- D
- G
- B
- E
- 1
- F
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C
- F
- 2
- F#
- B
- E
- A
- C#
- F#
- 3
- G
- C
- F
- A#
- D
- G
- 4
- G#
- C#
- F#
- B
- D#
- G#
- 5
- A
- D
- G
- C
- E
- A
- 6
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F
- A#
- 7
- B
- E
- A
- D
- F#
- B
- -4
- -2
- -2
- -5
- -2
- -5
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