Tuning Analysis: CGCECE

The "CGCECE" tuning is a rich and resonant open tuning for guitar, building upon the familiar foundation of Open C. As described by its creator, this tuning originated from the idea of "dropping the G in Open C tuning down to an E." This specific modification creates a bright, full, and harmonically complete C Major chord when all strings are strummed open.

Verbal Description

Imagine a guitar that sings with the clarity and fullness of a piano's C Major chord, but with the unique sustain and warmth of strings. This tuning delivers exactly that. With its low C bass note and repeated C and E notes across the middle and high strings, it creates an immersive sonic landscape. It has a bright, almost jangling quality due to the high E and C, balanced by the deep C and G in the bass. This makes it particularly well-suited for blues, folk, rock, and ambient styles where a strong harmonic foundation is desired. The open, ringing nature of the strings makes it incredibly expressive for slide guitar, drone-based music, and creating expansive soundscapes.

Technical Analysis

This tuning, CGCECE, presents an Open C Major chord across all six strings. From the 6th (low) string to the 1st (high) string, the notes are: C2 - G2 - C3 - E3 - C4 - E4.

• The intervals from the root (C) are: Perfect 1st (C), Perfect 5th (G), Perfect 1st (C), Major 3rd (E), Perfect 1st (C), Major 3rd (E).
• The abundance of root notes (C) and major thirds (E) provides a strong and unambiguous C Major tonality. The single G (perfect fifth) supports the chord without making it sound too dominant.
• This structure makes it exceptionally easy to play major chords by simply barring across any fret. For example, barring the 2nd fret will produce a D Major chord (D-A-D-F#-D-F#). This ease of transposition makes it a favorite for slide guitarists.
• While primarily a major tuning, minor chords can be achieved with specific fingerings. For instance, to achieve a C minor chord, you would need to flatten the E notes (on the 3rd and 1st strings) to Eb, requiring careful fretting or a partial capo.
• Power chords (root and fifth) are readily available by strumming the lower strings (C-G-C) or finding specific root-fifth combinations across the neck.
• The wide range of the C notes (C2, C3, C4) offers great versatility for melodic lines and bass movement within the same key.

How to Tune

To achieve the CGCECE tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps. Please note the semitone movements for each string. Tuning down means loosening the string, and tuning up means tightening.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones from E2 to C2.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones from A2 to G2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 2 semitones from D3 to C3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 3 semitones from G3 to E3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 1 semitone from B3 to C4.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from E4 to E4.

Important Note on String Gauge: For string movements that are less than -4 semitones (e.g., -5, -6) or 4 semitones and above (e.g., +4, +5), it is often advisable to consider a different gauge string to maintain optimal tension, intonation, and string longevity. In this CGCECE tuning, the maximum downward movement is 4 semitones (on the 6th string) and the maximum upward movement is 1 semitone (on the 2nd string). These movements are generally manageable with standard string gauges, but if you find the low C string (6th string) too slack, a heavier gauge could improve its feel and tone.

6th String: Tuned to C2 (a deep bass C).

5th String: Tuned to G2 (the perfect fifth of C).

4th String: Tuned to C3 (an octave above the 6th string C).

3rd String: Tuned to E3 (the major third of C).

2nd String: Tuned to C4 (an octave above the 4th string C).

1st String: Tuned to E4 (the major third of C, an octave above the 3rd string E).