"Shroomin' Tunin'" - A Psychedelic Sonic Journey

Verbal Analysis:

Crafted by Marko Berstecher in a moment of profound inspiration, "Shroomin' Tunin'" is described as a highly personal and intuitive sonic landscape. The genesis of this tuning began by dropping the low E string to a C# hum, which Marko reported hearing all around him. From this foundational C#, all subsequent strings were tuned "by vibe," leading to a unique and deeply resonant configuration. The artist specifically tunes to 432Hz, which is often associated with a more harmonious and natural sound, aligning with the tuning's intended "emotive vibe with pleasing resolutions." Marko suggests this tuning is particularly suited for fingerstyle playing on an acoustic guitar, allowing for a full expression of its rich and unconventional harmony.

Technical Analysis:

This tuning transforms the standard E-A-D-G-B-E (low to high) into an open set of notes: C#3, F2, G#3, D#4, G#4, C4. This is a remarkably low and wide-ranging tuning, featuring significant drops in pitch across all strings.

When analyzed harmonically, with the foundational C# (string 6) in mind as suggested by the creator, the open strings collectively present a lush C# Major 9th chord (C#maj9). Breaking down the pitch classes (C#, D#, F, G#, C), we find the root (C#), major 3rd (F, enharmonically E#), perfect 5th (G#), major 7th (C, enharmonically B#), and major 9th (D#). This creates a sophisticated and full-bodied open chord that is rich in extensions and color.

The inclusion of the exceptionally low F2 on the 5th string, combined with C#3 on the 6th and G#3 on the 4th, establishes a deep and resonant bass foundation. The higher strings (D#4, G#4, C4) add brightness and harmonic complexity, providing the upper extensions of the C#maj9 chord. The wide intervallic jumps between adjacent strings contribute to a spacious and ambient quality, making it ideal for the "emotive" and "vibe-driven" playing style described.

Due to the considerable detuning on most strings, particularly the 4th (D to G#3, a drop of 6 semitones), 5th (A to F2, a drop of 4 semitones), 3rd (G to D#4, a drop of 4 semitones), and 1st (E to C4, a drop of 4 semitones), players may find that a heavier gauge string set is beneficial to maintain proper tension, intonation, and tone, especially if playing aggressively or desiring more sustain without excessive floppiness.

Open String Notes:

String 6 (Low E): Tuned to C#3
String 5 (A): Tuned to F2
String 4 (D): Tuned to G#3
String 3 (G): Tuned to D#4
String 2 (B): Tuned to G#4
String 1 (High E): Tuned to C4

How to Tune:

To achieve the "Shroomin' Tunin'" from standard E-A-D-G-B-E, follow these steps:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones from E to C#3.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 4 semitones from A to F2. (Note: Tuning down 4 semitones is significant; a heavier gauge string may be advised for optimal performance.)
• String 4 (D): Tune down 6 semitones from D to G#3. (Note: Tuning down 6 semitones is a substantial drop; a heavier gauge string is strongly advised to maintain proper tension and tone.)
• String 3 (G): Tune down 4 semitones from G to D#4. (Note: Tuning down 4 semitones is significant; a heavier gauge string may be advised for optimal performance.)
• String 2 (B): Tune down 3 semitones from B to G#4.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 4 semitones from E to C4. (Note: Tuning down 4 semitones is significant; a heavier gauge string may be advised for optimal performance.)

Remember to tune to 432Hz if you wish to match the creator's specific pitch reference.