Thurston Moore Psychic Hearts Tuning: A Sonic Youth Exploration

This distinctive tuning, famously employed by Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and notably featured on his 'Psychic Hearts' album, opens up a sonic landscape rich with experimental textures, resonant drones, and an abstract approach to harmony. It's a tuning that encourages exploration beyond conventional chord shapes, inviting players to discover unique voicings and atmospheric soundscapes characteristic of Moore's iconic style.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this tuning are: C2 G2 D3 G3 B3 B3. This setup deviates significantly from standard tuning, creating a complex harmonic foundation:

• The lowest three strings (C2, G2, D3) form a strong stack of perfect fifths (C-G, G-D). This provides a deep, resonant, and almost power-chord-like foundation, offering a thick bottom end to your sound.
• The middle strings (D3, G3, B3) effectively outline a G major triad (G-B-D), adding a familiar, yet often inverted, major tonality within the tuning.
• Perhaps the most striking feature is the unison B3 on the top two strings (String 2 and String 1). This creates a unique droning quality and harmonic richness, reminiscent of a 12-string guitar or sitar-like shimmer, especially when played open or with slides.
• When strummed open, the full tuning (C-G-D-G-B-B) yields a rich, complex voicing that can be conceptualized as a Gsus4(addmaj7) with a strong C drone on the low end. It's a blend of familiar and unusual, creating a vast soundstage ideal for atmospheric and experimental music.

Due to the consistent intervals on some strings, certain chord shapes become readily accessible or take on new character:

• Barre Chords: Simple barres across the neck will often produce lush, extended major or dominant 7th voicings. For instance, a barre at the 5th fret yields F-C-G-C-E-E, a rich F major 7th chord with an added 9th (G) and 5th (C), amplified by the top two unison E notes. This encourages a chordal approach that relies on simple horizontal movements.
• Open & Droning Sounds: The stack of fifths on the low end and the unison B's on the high end are ideal for open-string drones, creating expansive, sustaining soundscapes perfect for ambient or noise-rock textures.
• Power Chords: The lower C-G-D setup makes for strong, resonant power chords using just the bottom three strings, offering a thick, driving rhythm section.

How to Tune

To achieve the Thurston Moore Psychic Hearts Tuning, follow these string adjustments from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E):

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to D3.
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to G3.
• String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 5 semitones to B3.

Important Note on String Gauge: Please exercise caution with the significant string adjustments required for String 6 (-4 semitones) and String 1 (-5 semitones). Tuning down by more than 4 semitones, particularly on the higher string, can lead to reduced string tension, potential intonation issues, or even string breakage if not done carefully. For optimal playability, tone, and longevity when regularly using this tuning, it is highly recommended to consider using heavier gauge strings for String 6 and String 1 to maintain appropriate tension and avoid potential problems.

String 6 (Low E): C2

String 5 (A): G2

String 4 (D): D3

String 3 (G): G3

String 2 (B): B3

String 1 (High E): B3