Tuning Analysis: CGCEBE

This unique guitar tuning, designated as CGCEBE, was created for a specific song, suggesting its design supports a particular melodic or harmonic intention. It offers a distinctive soundscape with a strong inclination towards C major, while incorporating an intriguing element on the B string.

Verbal Description

At its heart, CGCEBE provides a lush, open C major sound. The lowest three strings (C-G-C) immediately establish a powerful C octave with its perfect fifth, creating a rich harmonic foundation. The fourth string, tuned to E, completes a vibrant open C Major triad (C-G-C-E). The surprise comes with the fifth string, which remains at B, introducing a Major 7th interval relative to the low C. This adds a sophisticated, slightly unresolved, or jazzy quality to the open chord, setting it apart from a simple open C. The highest string, remaining at E, further reinforces the C major tonality and provides a familiar top end for melodies.

This tuning would excel in genres like folk, blues, or ambient music where ringing, open harmonies are desired. Its open nature makes it particularly suitable for slide guitar or fingerstyle playing, allowing for rich drones and easily accessible melodic lines over the open strings.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes are (low to high): C1 G2 C3 E3 B3 E4.

• Intervals from the Low C: The tuning presents a sequence of a Perfect 5th (G), Octave (C), Major 3rd (E), Major 7th (B), and a Major 10th (E, a compound Major 3rd).
• Harmonic Landscape: The C-G-C-E combination across the lowest four strings forms a strong C Major chord. The inclusion of B3 on the 2nd string transforms this into a Cmaj7 sound with an open B. With the highest E4, the full open string voicing could be interpreted as a Cmaj7add11sus4 (C-G-C-E-B-E), or more simply, a C Major 7th chord with an implied suspension or added color, making it very rich and resonant.
• Chord Possibilities:
  • Open Chords: Playing all open strings yields a complex, resonant C Major 7th-esque sound.
  • Barre Chords: While the full open string chord is unique, the C-G-C-E foundation on the lower strings allows for easily transposable major-like barre chord shapes by simply barring across the first few strings. For instance, barring the lower strings will yield movable C-rooted harmonies.
  • Drone Potential: The repeated C notes and the strong C-G perfect fifth provide excellent drone capabilities, especially for modal playing or atmospheric soundscapes.

How to Tune (from Standard E-A-D-G-B-E)

To achieve the CGCEBE tuning, please follow these instructions carefully. Remember that significant tuning changes can put stress on your strings, and for movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different string gauge might be advisable (though not strictly necessary for this particular tuning).

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 1 semitones to C1.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E4.

Please note: For the 6th string, the tuning instruction specified a movement of 1 semitone down, while the target note C1 is typically 4 semitones down from standard E1. Always use a tuner to ensure the correct final pitch for each string.

Tuning Notes: CGCEBE

• 6th String: C1 (The lowest string, an octave below standard E)
• 5th String: G2 (Two semitones below standard A)
• 4th String: C3 (Two semitones below standard D)
• 3rd String: E3 (Three semitones below standard G)
• 2nd String: B3 (Standard B string)
• 1st String: E4 (Standard High E string)