Godly Minor Tuning: A Deep Dive

The 'Godly Minor' tuning, designed for an 8-string guitar, presents a truly unique and intricate sonic landscape. While its stated description points towards a 'Minor thirds regular tuning', a closer technical analysis of the actual open string notes reveals a highly unconventional, yet musically compelling, arrangement. This tuning is not for the faint of heart, demanding a careful approach to setup and an adventurous spirit in playing.

Technical Analysis & Musical Observations

The open string notes for this 8-string setup are, from the lowest (String 8) to the highest (String 1):

• String 8: C3#
• String 7: E2
• String 6: G2
• String 5: A3#
• String 4: C4#
• String 3: E3
• String 2: G3
• String 1: A4#

Despite the stated 'Minor thirds regular tuning' in its description, the intervallic relationships between adjacent strings are quite varied and non-linear across octaves. For example, while E2 to G2 (Strings 7-6), A3# to C4# (Strings 5-4), and E3 to G3 (Strings 3-2) all present perfect minor third intervals (3 semitones), the transitions between other string pairs involve much larger and sometimes descending intervals in pitch (e.g., C3# to E2, which is a major second down an octave, or C4# to E3, which is a major sixth down an octave). This creates a very idiosyncratic open voicing.

However, a remarkable musical characteristic emerges when considering all open strings together: the collective notes C#, E, G, and A# (enharmonically B-flat) form a C# Diminished 7th chord. This means that simply strumming all open strings will produce a full, rich, and naturally dissonant C#dim7 chord, albeit with widely dispersed and sometimes inverted octaves across the fretboard. This makes the tuning particularly suitable for genres that extensively utilize diminished harmony, such as jazz, progressive metal, or classical compositions with dramatic tension and instability. The presence of minor third intervals on specific string pairs also suggests that minor chords and arpeggios can be relatively easy to form by barring or fingering across these adjacent strings.

How to Tune Your 8-String Guitar for Godly Minor

Achieving the 'Godly Minor' tuning requires significant adjustments from a standard setup. Please exercise extreme caution, especially for movements exceeding 4 semitones, where a different string gauge might be advisable to prevent breakage or poor playability. Always use a reliable tuner and tune gradually.

• String 8 (Lowest): Tune up 7 semitones to C3#. Caution: This is a significant upward adjustment (+7 semitones). Consider using a lighter gauge string to prevent breakage and excessive tension.
• String 7: Tune up 5 semitones to E2. Caution: This is a significant upward adjustment (+5 semitones). Consider using a lighter gauge string to prevent breakage and excessive tension.
• String 6: Tune up 3 semitones to G2. Care should be taken with this adjustment, as it increases tension.
• String 5: Tune up 1 semitone to A3#.
• String 4: Tune down 1 semitone to C4#.
• String 3: Tune down 3 semitones to E3. Care should be taken with this adjustment, as it reduces tension.
• String 2: Tune down 4 semitones to G3. Caution: This is a significant downward adjustment (-4 semitones). The string will be much looser and may buzz excessively. Consider a heavier gauge string to maintain tension and playability.
• String 1 (Highest): Tune down 6 semitones to A4#. Caution: This is a very significant downward adjustment (-6 semitones). The string will be extremely loose and will likely buzz. A much heavier gauge string is strongly recommended to maintain playability and tension.

After making such drastic changes, it is highly recommended to check your guitar's neck relief and intonation to ensure optimal playability and sound.