Description

The "Deep C# Sus4 Drop Tuning" is an exceptionally low and resonant tuning, originally discovered and utilized by Jirkakrbe2 in his cover of "House of the Rising Sun". It plunges the guitar into a deeply atmospheric and heavy sonic territory, making it ideal for doom metal, ambient soundscapes, or any genre demanding immense low-end presence. As noted, the extreme downtuning, particularly on the 2nd string, means that standard string gauges will likely feel very loose, almost "unstringed", and a heavier gauge set is highly recommended for optimal playability and intonation.

Technical Analysis

This tuning presents a unique and powerful sonic architecture. The notes are C♯3 – A♯2 – F♯3 – C♯4 – F♯4 – C♯5 from low to high. The primary intervallic structure across the 6th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings (C♯3 – F♯3 – C♯4 – F♯4 – C♯5) forms a repeating C♯ suspended 4th chord (Root-4th-Root-4th-Root) over multiple octaves, creating a massive, foundational sound. The presence of A♯2 (enharmonically B♭2) on the 5th string, positioned below the lowest C♯3, adds an intriguing and somewhat dark or melancholic quality, extending the harmonic possibilities beyond a simple power chord. This interval (A♯2 to C♯3 is a minor third) provides a deep, unsettling resonance when played open with the other strings.

Open Chords and Accessible Voicings

• Massive C♯sus4: Playing the 6th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings open (omitting the 5th) delivers an enormous, resonant C♯ suspended 4th chord. This voicing is perfect for heavy, sustained riffs and cinematic soundscapes.
• Deep Cluster Chords: Including the A♯2 (Bb2) on the 5th string with the rest of the open strings creates a rich, complex cluster sound (A♯2 – C♯3 – F♯3 – C♯4 – F♯4 – C♯5). This can be used for dissonant textures or as a unique harmonic backdrop.
• Mobile Power Chords: Barring any fret across the 6th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings will yield a powerful sus4 voicing, easily movable up and down the neck. For instance, barring the 1st fret gives you a Dsus4 voicing.
• Minor/Suspended Flavors: The low C♯ and A♯ on the bottom strings provide a strong foundation for minor and suspended chord shapes, especially useful for dark or melancholic progressions.

How to Tune

This tuning involves significant detuning across all strings. Due to the extreme negative semitone adjustments (all strings tuned down by 3 semitones or more, with the 5th string dropping a staggering 11 semitones), a heavier gauge string set is strongly advised to maintain adequate tension, intonation, and playability. Standard light or medium gauge strings will likely be too loose, resulting in poor tone and difficulty staying in tune.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune to C♯3. This involves tuning down 3 semitones.
• String 5 (A): Tune to A♯2. This involves tuning down 11 semitones. Caution: This is an extremely large drop; ensure your string gauge can handle this tension change.
• String 4 (D): Tune to F♯3. This involves tuning down 8 semitones. Caution: This is a very large drop.
• String 3 (G): Tune to C♯4. This involves tuning down 6 semitones. Caution: This is a significant drop.
• String 2 (B): Tune to F♯4. This involves tuning down 5 semitones. Caution: This is a significant drop, contributing to the "unstringed" feel with standard gauges.
• String 1 (High E): Tune to C♯5. This involves tuning down 3 semitones.