Verbal Description

The C Augmented Alt Drone tuning, originally known as "alt emo tuning," offers a unique and evocative sound palette. As its original creator noted, it's a "neat" tuning that facilitates both easy chording and expressive single-note riffs. The open strings immediately present a dark, yet resonant quality, ideal for styles that benefit from sustained, droning notes and slightly unconventional harmonies. It leans into a sound that can be both melancholic and powerful, fitting well within alternative, emo, or experimental rock genres. The distinct augmented intervals give it a sense of tension and release, perfect for creating dynamic sonic landscapes.

Technical Analysis

This tuning sets the guitar's open strings to C2-G#3-C3-G#4-A#4-C4 (from the lowest to the highest string). At its core, the tuning is strongly rooted in C, with the 6th, 4th, and 1st strings all tuned to C, providing a robust and resonant foundation for droning. The presence of G# (an augmented 5th relative to C, or a minor 6th) on the 5th and 3rd strings is a defining characteristic, creating a unique harmonic tension that moves away from standard major/minor tonalities. The A# (which is enharmonically Bb, a minor 7th relative to C) on the 2nd string introduces a bluesy or dominant quality, enriching the harmonic possibilities.

When strummed open, this tuning produces a voicing that can be interpreted as a C augmented 7th chord without a major third (C - G# - A#). This creates a wide, open sound with a strong, slightly dissonant character.

Open Chords & Reachable Shapes

• Drone Power Chords: The repeated C's and G#'s make it incredibly easy to create powerful, resonant drones. For instance, just playing the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings (C-G#-C) forms a strong, ambiguous power chord with an augmented feel.
• Barre Chords: Barring all strings at any fret will immediately produce the same augmented 7th (no 3rd) structure, transposed to the new root. This makes it very intuitive to move chord shapes up and down the neck, allowing for quick melodic and harmonic shifts.
• C Minor 7th (partial): While not a standard minor tuning, the A# (Bb) makes it easier to imply C minor 7th harmonies. By fretting a G on the 4th string (3rd fret relative to open C) and an Eb on the 5th string (4th fret relative to open G#), you can construct a C minor 7th with the open C's and A#.
• Lead and Riff Playing: The consistent C's provide excellent anchors for melodic lines. The G# and A# (Bb) offer unique intervals for creating distinctive riffs and arpeggios that stand out from standard tuning, encouraging exploration of scales like C Harmonic Minor or C Phrygian Dominant, which feature these altered notes.
• Unique Voicings: Experiment with two or three-string voicings, especially across the lower strings, to emphasize the C-G# relationship for a heavy, open sound.

Tuning Notes

String 6 (Low E String): C2
String 5 (A String): G#3
String 4 (D String): C3
String 3 (G String): G#4
String 2 (B String): A#4
String 1 (High E String): C4

How to Tune

Here's how to adjust your guitar from standard EADGBe tuning to the C Augmented Alt Drone:

• To tune String 6 (the thickest string) to C2: Tune down 4 semitones. (Note: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change; a heavier gauge string is advised for optimal tension and tone stability.)
• To tune String 5 to G#3: Tune down 1 semitones.
• To tune String 4 to C3: Tune down 2 semitones.
• To tune String 3 to G#4: Tune up 1 semitones.
• To tune String 2 to A#4: Tune down 1 semitones.
• To tune String 1 (the thinnest string) to C4: Tune down 4 semitones. (Note: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change; a heavier gauge string is advised for optimal tension and tone stability.)