Sonic Youth's CGDACD: An Exploration of Texture and Drone

This unique guitar tuning, famously employed by Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth in tracks like "What We Know" and "Thunderclap For Bobby Pyn," is a testament to the band's innovative approach to sound. Far from conventional, CGDACD abandons standard guitar intervals to forge a landscape rich with open drones, striking dissonances, and resonant harmonies. It's a tuning designed for sonic experimentation, favoring texture and mood over traditional chord voicings.

Technical Analysis: C G D A C D

The open strings are tuned to C2-G2-D3-A3-C4-D4, from lowest to highest. Let's break down the intervals and potential sonic implications:

• String 6 (C2) to String 5 (G2): A perfect 5th, providing a strong, foundational power chord base (C5).
• String 5 (G2) to String 4 (D3): Another perfect 5th, further reinforcing power chord voicings and adding to the open, resonant character.
• String 4 (D3) to String 3 (A3): Yet another perfect 5th. The lower three string pairs form a cascade of perfect fifths (C-G, G-D, D-A), creating a very open and powerful sound that can be easily droned.
• String 3 (A3) to String 2 (C4): A minor 3rd. This interval introduces a minor tonality into the tuning, hinting at C minor or A minor possibilities and providing a melodic contrast to the perfect fifths below.
• String 2 (C4) to String 1 (D4): A major 2nd. This close interval in the upper register creates tension and shimmer, characteristic of many Sonic Youth textures.

The open tuning, C-G-D-A-C-D, does not immediately present a simple major or minor triad. Instead, it suggests a more complex, modal harmony – a C(add9, add13) or G(add2, add11) with a C in the bass. The presence of two C's and two D's across different octaves (C2, C4 and D3, D4) provides a natural resonance and opportunities for octave doubling, while the A3 introduces a touch of minor flavour or Lydian/Dorian possibilities over C or G respectively. The overall effect is one of immense openness, where individual notes can ring out, creating rich overtones and a vast soundscape.

Open Chords and Sonic Possibilities

• Open C Drone: Strumming all strings produces a rich, complex C-based sound. The C-G-D-A-C-D notes resonate, creating a powerful, sustained drone that avoids a clear major or minor resolution, instead offering an ambiguous, compelling harmony.
• Power Chords and Fifths: The abundance of perfect fifths (C-G, G-D, D-A) in the lower and middle strings makes this tuning ideal for powerful, resonant power chords. Simply muting the highest strings and strumming the lower ones will yield huge, open sounds.
• Minor Voicings: The A3-C4 minor third on strings 3 and 2 is a key feature. Barring just these two strings at various frets, or combining them with open lower strings, can easily generate minor-tinged chords and melodies. For example, a barre at the 5th fret on strings 3 and 2 would give D-F, combining with open C-G-D-A for interesting possibilities.
• Droning Melodies: The open intervals encourage playing single-note melodies on one or two strings while allowing others to ring out as drones, creating expansive and atmospheric sound textures.
• Two-Note Voicings: Exploring two-note intervals across the strings (e.g., C2-D3, G2-A3, D3-C4) can reveal unique harmonies not easily found in standard tuning, perfect for experimental arpeggios or dissonant stabs.

How to Tune to CGDACD

To achieve the CGDACD tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2. Caution: This is a significant drop in tension. If you plan to use this tuning frequently, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised to maintain optimal playability and avoid floppiness.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to D3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 2 semitones to A3. Caution: Tuning up 2 semitones increases string tension. Always tune slowly and carefully to prevent string breakage.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 1 semitone to C4.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.

General advice when tuning: always approach the target note from below (slackening slightly then tuning up) to ensure the string settles properly and maintains pitch stability. For any string movement exceeding 4 semitones up or down, especially for the lower strings, consider adjusting your string gauge for improved tone, feel, and string longevity.

Here are the notes for each string in CGDACD tuning, from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st):

• 6th String: C2 (Low C)
• 5th String: G2
• 4th String: D3
• 3rd String: A3
• 2nd String: C4
• 1st String: D4 (High D)