This unique and highly expressive tuning, famously associated with the legendary Joni Mitchell, offers a distinct sonic landscape that significantly departs from standard guitar tuning. While the provided description suggests its rarity outside of Mitchell's work, its harmonic richness makes it an inspiring choice for adventurous players seeking new voicings and textures.

Verbal Analysis: Strumming the open strings immediately produces a full, resonant chord with a sophisticated, somewhat suspended, and open quality. The overall feel leans towards folk, modal, or even contemporary classical music, perfect for creating rich textures and sweeping arpeggios. It encourages exploration beyond traditional chord shapes, inspiring new melodic and harmonic ideas and offering a deeply resonant canvas for songwriting and improvisation.

Technical Analysis: The open strings of this tuning are C2 G2 D3 F3 C4 E4. This collection of notes forms a C Major 9 (add 4) chord, featuring the root (C), major third (E), perfect fourth (F), perfect fifth (G), and major ninth (D). This rich combination means a powerful C major chord is inherently present, often voiced with the added suspended 4th and 9th, providing a complex yet harmonious foundation. The intervals between strings, from lowest to highest, are: Perfect 5th (C-G), Perfect 5th (G-D), Minor 3rd (D-F), Perfect 5th (F-C), and Major 3rd (C-E). The succession of perfect fifths on the lower strings (C-G-D) gives it an expansive, drone-like quality reminiscent of Celtic or open tunings, while the inner minor third (D-F) and the higher major third (C-E) add character, brightness, and harmonic interest. The wide range from the low C2 to the high E4 offers significant harmonic depth and versatility.

Open Chords & Reachable Shapes:

• C Major 9 (add 4): Simply strumming all open strings produces this rich, complex chord (C-G-D-F-C-E), providing an instant, lush harmonic bed.
• C Major: With the root, third, and fifth present (C-E-G), a strong C Major triad is inherent within the open tuning, often enhanced by the added D and F.
• Csus4: The presence of the F note alongside C and G makes a Csus4 an immediate possibility, adding a wistful or unresolved quality.
• The stacked perfect fifths on the lower strings (C-G-D) facilitate resonant power chords and drone patterns, making it easy to create impactful rhythmic and melodic lines. The unique interval structure also invites exploration of modal scales and arpeggios, particularly in keys related to C, F, or G, offering fresh perspectives on familiar musical ideas.

How to Tune Your Guitar to CGDFCE Tuning

To achieve this unique tuning, you will need to adjust several strings from standard EADGBe tuning. Please note the significant adjustments required; always exercise caution when tuning, especially with large pitch changes, to protect your guitar and strings.

• 6th String (Low E to C2): Tune down 4 semitones. This is a considerable drop in pitch (two whole steps), which will significantly decrease string tension. While manageable with standard light to medium gauge strings, a slightly heavier gauge might be considered for better intonation and feel at this lower tension.
• 5th String (A to G2): Tune down 2 semitones. This is a whole step down.
• 4th String (D to D3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 3rd String (G to F3): Tune down 2 semitones. This is a whole step down.
• 2nd String (B to C4): Tune up 1 semitone. Exercise care when tuning up, though this is a relatively minor adjustment.
• 1st String (High E to E4): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

When performing large tuning changes, particularly down four semitones as on the 6th string, be aware that string intonation might be affected, and a neck adjustment may be necessary. For pitch changes exceeding four semitones (either up or down), it is generally recommended to consider using strings of a different gauge to ensure optimal playability, tone, and to prevent potential damage to the guitar or strings. In this specific tuning, the 6th string's movement of -4 semitones is at the threshold where a lighter gauge string could feel somewhat loose, while a slightly heavier gauge might improve sustain and intonation at the lower tension.