The 'Admiral' tuning for guitar presents a deep and resonant open voicing, characterized by its prominent C and G notes. It transforms the standard EADGBe into C G D G B C, creating a rich harmonic landscape. This tuning gives the open strings a sound that strongly evokes a C major tonality with added extensions. Specifically, the open strings sound like a Cmaj9 (without the 3rd) or a Cmaj7sus2, offering an open, airy, and somewhat ethereal quality. The presence of the D on the 4th string adds a beautiful 9th to the C-based chord, while the B on the 2nd string provides a major 7th. The central strings (G D G B) also clearly outline a G major triad, suggesting versatility in exploring both C and G dominant voicings.

This tuning is particularly well-suited for fingerstyle playing, ambient music, or compositions that benefit from rich, sustained chords and drones. Its structure can make barre chords feel intuitive for certain voicings, while others may require re-thinking. The significant drops in pitch on the low E and high e strings contribute to a deeper, more resonant instrument overall.

Technical Analysis

• Compared to standard EADGBe tuning, the 6th and 1st strings are tuned down significantly by 4 semitones, moving from E to C and e to c respectively. This creates a powerful, deep fundamental and a lower, mellow high end.
• The 5th string is lowered by 2 semitones from A to G, reinforcing the G presence in the tuning.
• The 4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings remain at their standard D, G, and B pitches.
• The open string notes are C2-G2-D3-G3-B3-C4.
• This unique interval structure (P5, P5, P4, M3, m2) creates a C-based harmony where the low C, open D, and high C frame a G major triad (G-D-G-B) in the middle.
• The open tuning strongly suggests a Cmaj9 (no 3rd) or Cmaj7sus2 chord, providing a rich, extended harmonic palette without needing to fret.
• The large pitch drops on the outer strings (4 semitones) mean that heavier gauge strings may be advisable to maintain proper tension and intonation, and to prevent the strings from feeling too loose.

How to Tune

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones from E to C.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones from A to G.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (High e): Tune down 4 semitones from e to C.
• Note: Tuning down the 6th and 1st strings by 4 semitones is a significant change. For optimal playability and tone, especially if you plan to use this tuning frequently, consider using a slightly heavier gauge set of strings.

String 6: C2

String 5: G2

String 4: D3

String 3: G3

String 2: B3

String 1: C4