Tuning Overview: C Augmented Drone

This is a highly experimental and extremely dissonant tuning designed for genres demanding a thick, dark, and often unsettling sonic landscape. Rooted in a deep C, it features a complex interplay of intervals, particularly tritones and augmented harmonies, as highlighted in its original description: "A heavy, dissonant tuning featuring a low C root with tritone and minor third intervals that creates thick, dark power chords perfect for doom metal, sludge, and atmospheric music." The open strings create a vast harmonic spread, ranging from a rumbling C2 to a bright E4, offering unique sonic textures.

Technical Analysis

• Open Notes: The open strings are tuned to C2 - G3# - C4# - F4# - A4# - E4. This creates a remarkably wide range, particularly the massive 20-semitone jump between the 6th (C2) and 5th (G#3) strings.
• Harmonic Structure: When played open, the notes C, G#, C#, F#, A#, E are present. This collection includes a C augmented triad (C, E, G#) alongside highly dissonant extensions (C#, F#, A#). The prevalence of tritones (e.g., C to F#, C to G#, A# to E) contributes significantly to the tuning's inherent tension and dark character, making it less conventionally melodic and more about atmosphere and impact.
• Intervals Between Adjacent Strings:
  • 6th String (C2) to 5th String (G#3): A monumental leap of 20 semitones (Major 13th, or an augmented fifth plus an octave). This creates a vast sonic space at the lower end, ideal for deep drones and ringing overtones.
  • 5th String (G#3) to 4th String (C#4): Perfect Fourth (+5 semitones).
  • 4th String (C#4) to 3rd String (F#4): Perfect Fourth (+5 semitones).
  • 3rd String (F#4) to 2nd String (A#4): Major Third (+4 semitones).
  • 2nd String (A#4) to 1st String (E4): Diminished Fifth/Tritone (+6 semitones).

Verbal Analysis & Playability

The "C Augmented Drone" tuning immediately conjures a sense of foreboding and immense weight. The low C2 root provides a foundational rumble, while the high G#3 on the adjacent string creates an unusual open augmented 5th interval (C to G#), contributing to the "thick, dark power chords" mentioned. This isn't a tuning for conventional major/minor chord shapes. Instead, it encourages open-string droning, two-note power chords, and dissonant clusters.

• Open Chords/Shapes:
  • C Augmented Drone: Striking all open strings yields C, G#, C#, F#, A#, E. This is a highly dissonant, almost atonal sound, perfect for atmospheric textures, experimental soundscapes, or extreme metal intros/outros where conventional harmony is intentionally avoided.
  • Low Augmented "Power Chord": Playing just the 6th (C2) and 5th (G#3) strings creates a powerful C augmented 5th interval. This shape can be easily moved up the neck to create various augmented "power chords" for a uniquely heavy, unstable sound.
  • Perfect Fourths Segment: Strings 5-4-3 (G#3-C#4-F#4) are tuned in perfect fourths. This allows for easy access to three-string power chords or melodic passages within this segment using familiar shapes from standard tuning, but transposed.
  • Dissonant Chord Voicings: The unique intervals, especially the tritone between A#4 and E4, offer opportunities for creating highly tension-filled voicings with minimal finger movement. Experimenting with two or three adjacent strings will reveal many dark and unconventional harmonies.
• Genre Suitability: As stated, this tuning is perfectly suited for doom metal, sludge, and atmospheric music, where heavy riffs, slow tempos, and a pervasive sense of dread are paramount. Its inherent dissonance makes it less suitable for traditional melodic genres but exceptional for sonic experimentation and creating a truly unique guitar voice.

How to Tune (From Standard EADGBe)

Please note that tuning certain strings significantly down or up by more than 4 semitones may require a different string gauge to maintain proper tension and intonation, and to prevent string breakage.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones. The final note for this string will be C2. Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant drop; consider a heavier gauge string for optimal performance and to maintain proper string tension.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 1 semitone. The final note for this string will be G3#.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitone. The final note for this string will be C4#.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 1 semitone. The final note for this string will be F4#.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 1 semitone. The final note for this string will be A4#.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The final note for this string will be E4.

6th String: C2 (Low C)

5th String: G3# (G Sharp in the third octave)

4th String: C4# (C Sharp in the fourth octave)

3rd String: F4# (F Sharp in the fourth octave)

2nd String: A4# (A Sharp in the fourth octave)

1st String: E4 (High E in the fourth octave)