Tuning Overview: Open C# Augmented

This intriguing tuning, aptly named "Open C# Augmented," transforms your guitar into a resonant soundboard for the vibrant and often ethereal C# augmented triad. As the provided tuning description alludes to, it's perfect for exploring "enigmatic" soundscapes and adds a unique flavor to your playing, moving beyond standard diatonic harmony. The open C# augmented chord created by this tuning is a powerful tool for harmonic exploration.

Verbal Analysis

Strumming all open strings in this tuning immediately yields a C# augmented chord. This chord is characterized by its symmetrical structure of stacked major third intervals (C# to F, F to A, and A to C# an octave higher). This inherent symmetry gives the chord a floating, suspended, and often captivating quality. It avoids traditional tonal resolution, making it excellent for creating a sense of wonder, tension, or even a dreamy, unresolved feeling. It's a favorite in jazz, film scores, and progressive music, offering a sonic palette far removed from standard major or minor harmonies. The wide spacing of the notes across the strings provides a full, expansive sound that rings out beautifully.

Technical Analysis

• Open Chord: The open strings produce a C# Augmented triad (C#, F, A). The specific voicing from low to high is C#3 - A2 - C#4 - F3 - A3 - C#5.
• Intervalic Structure (from low to high strings):
  • 6th String (C#3) to 5th String (A2): A minor 6th interval below the root C# (or a Major 6th from A2 to C#3).
  • 5th String (A2) to 4th String (C#4): A Major 3rd.
  • 4th String (C#4) to 3rd String (F3): A Major 3rd.
  • 3rd String (F3) to 2nd String (A3): A Major 3rd.
  • 2nd String (A3) to 1st String (C#5): A Major 3rd.
• Voicing: This tuning provides a rich, spread voicing of the C# augmented triad, with three C# notes, two A notes, and one F note spanning three octaves.

Accessible Chords & Shapes

• Open C# Augmented: As noted, a simple strum across all open strings delivers a full C#aug chord.
• Barre Chords for Augmented Triads: A key feature of augmented tunings is the ease of transposition. A simple barre across any fret will instantly produce another augmented chord (e.g., barre at the 1st fret yields Daug, 2nd fret D#aug, and so on). This makes exploring different augmented harmonies straightforward.
• Slide Guitar: This tuning is exceptionally well-suited for slide guitar. The open augmented sound lends itself perfectly to glissandos and sustained, shimmering textures that can evoke a wide range of emotions.
• Creative Voicings and Alterations: While primarily focused on augmented harmony, subtle fretwork can introduce other qualities. For instance, by fretting the 3rd string (F) down to an E, you could explore variations that lean towards a C# minor (C# A C# E A C#) or even an A major (A C# E). Experimentation is encouraged to discover unique sonic possibilities.

Open String Notes:

When tuned, your guitar's open strings will sound the following notes, from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st):

• 6th String: C#3
• 5th String: A2
• 4th String: C#4
• 3rd String: F3
• 2nd String: A3
• 1st String: C#5

How to Tune Your Guitar:

To achieve the "Open C# Augmented" tuning, follow these steps. Please exercise caution when adjusting string tension. For pitch changes exceeding 4 semitones (up or down), consider using a string gauge optimized for the new tension to prevent string breakage or excessive floppiness.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#3.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitones to C#4.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#5.