About the CGCFAD Tuning

The CGCFAD tuning is notably an original creation by Jake Edward Lee, a setup designed to unlock unique sonic textures and powerful voicings. This deep drop tuning fundamentally alters the guitar's sonic landscape, making it ideal for heavy riffing, intricate melodic lines, and exploring dissonant harmonies.

Technical Analysis

Compared to standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning, CGCFAD involves significant detuning across all strings, with the lowest string dropping a full four semitones to C2. The overall intervallic structure from low to high is: Perfect 5th (C-G), Perfect 4th (G-C), Perfect 4th (C-F), Augmented 4th (F-A#), and Perfect 4th (A#-D#).

The most striking feature is the low C-G-C triad on the bottom three strings, forming a powerful C5 (C power chord) that provides a solid, resonant foundation for heavy riffs and open-string drones. This allows for easy one-finger power chords across these strings. The subsequent intervals introduce interesting harmonic tension:

• The C-F interval (4th string to 3rd string) maintains a common guitar tuning interval, providing familiarity.
• The F-A# (3rd to 2nd string) creates an Augmented 4th (or tritone), a highly dissonant interval that can add a bluesy, jazzy, or even unsettling quality to chords and melodies. For example, an open C chord played across all six strings would yield C-G-C-F-A#-D#, creating a complex and somewhat dissonant voicing that could be interpreted as a C(add4, #9, b7) or a C Sus4 with an added b7 and augmented 9 (D# enharmonically Eb, A# enharmonically Bb).
• The A#-D# interval (2nd to 1st string) returns to a Perfect 4th, which offers a familiar intervallic relationship for lead playing and upper-register chord voicings.

This tuning is particularly well-suited for genres that benefit from a deep, guttural low end and the ability to create complex harmonic clusters. It encourages a different approach to chord shapes, often leveraging open strings for drones and utilizing the unique intervals to craft distinctive riffs and melodic phrases.

How to Tune to CGCFAD

To achieve the CGCFAD tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-E, follow these steps:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2. Caution: A drop of 4 semitones is significant. While generally manageable on standard gauge strings, consider a heavier gauge for optimal tension and tone.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 1 semitones to A#4.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 1 semitones to D#5.

Always tune carefully, especially when making large adjustments, to avoid string breakage.

The notes for the CGCFAD tuning are as follows, from the lowest string (6th) to the highest string (1st):

• 6th String: C2
• 5th String: G2
• 4th String: C3
• 3rd String: F3
• 2nd String: A#4
• 1st String: D#5