This tuning, famously used by Nick Drake on the song River Man, provides a distinctive and evocative sound. While many players opt for standard tuning or even CGCFCF for 'River Man', this Open Csus4 offers a unique interpretation of the piece's characteristic mood.

Verbal Analysis:

Open Csus4 creates a rich, resonant, and often melancholic sonic landscape. The 'sus4' quality avoids a definitive major or minor tonality in its open form, lending itself to an ethereal or contemplative feel. It's a tuning that encourages harmonic exploration beyond typical chord shapes, providing a lush, open drone that is both beautiful and versatile.

Technical Analysis:

This tuning sets the guitar strings to the notes C2-G2-C3-F3-C4-F4 (from low E to high E). This arrangement forms an open C suspended 4th chord (Csus4). The root (C) is powerfully present on the 6th, 4th, and 2nd strings. The 5th (G) is on the 5th string, and the 4th (F) on the 3rd and 1st strings. This structure provides a full, harmonically rich open chord that resonates beautifully across multiple octaves.

Chords and Playability:

• Open Strings: The open strings naturally form a beautiful and resonant Csus4 chord, perfect for drones and atmospheric textures.
• Barre Chords: By simply barring all strings at any fret, you can easily transpose the Csus4 chord up the neck (e.g., 1st fret for C#sus4, 2nd fret for Dsus4).
• Accessible Chords: The repeating C and F notes across different octaves facilitate unique melodic and harmonic voicings. For instance, fretting the 3rd string at the 1st fret (E) while leaving other strings open introduces an E, leaning towards a C major tonality (C-G-C-E-C-F). Fretting the 3rd string at the 2nd fret (G) would reinforce the G, moving towards a C5 or a more ambiguous C quality. The inherent harmony makes it easy to find pleasing melodic lines and fingerings that resonate powerfully with the open strings.

Target Notes for Open Csus4:

String 6 (Low E): C2

String 5 (A): G2

String 4 (D): C3

String 3 (G): F3

String 2 (B): C4

String 1 (High E): F4

How to Tune:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2. (Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change in string tension. For prolonged use, a different gauge string may be advised to maintain optimal tension and tone, and to prevent potential damage to your guitar.)
• 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 up 1 semitones to C4.
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 1 semitones to F4.