Neil Young's "Don't Let It Bring You Down" Tuning

This unique tuning, famously associated with Neil Young's "Don't Let It Bring You Down," offers a distinctive sonic landscape, perfect for achieving that classic folk-rock sound. It transforms the guitar into a rich, open chord instrument, making it ideal for strumming patterns and melodic fingerpicking that evoke a melancholic yet hopeful atmosphere.

Technical Analysis and Open Chords

The open strings of this tuning resonate as a C6sus4 chord (C-G-C-F-A-C). This creates a full, rich harmonic foundation without fretting any notes. The presence of the suspended fourth (F) and the major sixth (A) gives it a unique character, distinct from a simple major or minor chord.

This structure greatly facilitates playing in the key of C and related keys with remarkable ease. A single finger barre across all six strings at any fret will yield a transposed C6sus4 chord, allowing for easy key changes up the neck. For example, barring at the 5th fret will produce an F6sus4 chord. The open F note on the 3rd string provides a strong drone possibility, often characteristic of folk and blues styles. This tuning lends itself exceptionally well to open string voicings and allows for interesting melodic lines against the sustained open chord.

How to Tune

To achieve the Neil Young tuning, adjust your guitar from standard EADGBe as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2.

• String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.

• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.

• String 3 (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.

• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.

• String 1 (High E): Tune down 4 semitones to C4.

Important Note: Tuning strings down by 4 semitones, as with the low and high E strings, results in a noticeable reduction in string tension. While generally safe, extreme changes in tension can affect neck relief over time. If you plan to keep your guitar in this tuning for extended periods, or if you frequently experiment with tunings involving changes greater than 4 semitones (up or down), consider using a different string gauge to maintain optimal playability and guitar health.