Verbal Analysis

The "Depressed C#" tuning for Guitar is an exceptionally deep and unconventional setup, characterized by extremely low overall pitch and a highly unusual string order. The description provided by the original creator, "Idk, just moved the c to c#, idk," hints at an experimental and perhaps intuitive approach to its creation. This tuning likely evokes a dark, heavy, and sludgy sound, making it suitable for genres such as doom metal, drone, or experimental rock, where deep resonance and unique harmonic textures are desired. The significant drops in pitch across multiple strings will give the instrument a loose, almost bass-like feel, perfect for crafting slow, crushing riffs or atmospheric soundscapes.

Technical Analysis

This tuning presents a unique arrangement of notes across the fretboard. The open strings, from thickest (6th) to thinnest (1st), are C#3, F2, G#3, F3, G#4, C#5. A striking feature is the 5th string (F2) being tuned lower in pitch than the 6th string (C#3), creating a non-linear descending pitch structure which is very rare in standard guitar tunings. When ordered by ascending pitch, the open notes are F2, C#3, F3, G#3, G#4, C#5.

Analyzing the primary open notes (C#, F, G#) reveals a strong connection to a C# minor triad (C# - E - G#), with the F note functioning as its minor third. The repeated C#, F, and G# across different octaves (F2, C#3, F3, G#3, G#4, C#5) reinforce these notes, creating a rich, albeit somewhat dissonant and dark, open chordal possibility. The presence of F and G# an octave apart (F2 and F3, G#3 and G#4) provides a strong harmonic anchor for these notes.

Chords that might be readily accessible in this tuning include:

• Open C# Minor Chord: By muting the 5th string (F2), the remaining open strings (C#3, G#3, F3, G#4, C#5) strongly outline a C# minor chord, particularly with the root (C#) and fifth (G#) being prominent.
• Power Chords: The strong presence of C# and G# across multiple octaves makes power chords centered around C# particularly resonant. For instance, fretting a single finger across strings 6, 4, 2, and 1 at specific frets (e.g., the 5th fret to get F, C#, F, C#) could yield powerful, thick sounds.
• Drone Tones: The extremely low and varied open notes lend themselves well to droning, allowing for sustained, resonant textures without much fretting. The F2 on the 5th string provides a deep, sub-octave drone that can be used effectively.

Due to the extreme pitch drops, particularly the 4th string being dropped by 6 semitones and the 5th string by 4 semitones, it is highly recommended to use heavier gauge strings to maintain tension and avoid breakage. This tuning is not for the faint of heart and encourages a creative, exploratory approach to guitar playing.

How to Tune to Depressed C#

This tuning requires significant adjustments from standard EADGBe tuning. Please note the recommended target notes from the tuning definition are provided for reference, as they may differ in octave from the direct calculation of the semitone movements from standard tuning. Using heavier gauge strings is strongly advised for this tuning, especially for strings with movements of 4 semitones or more.

• String 6 (Low E): From standard E2, tune down 3 semitones to reach C#2. (The tuning's defined target note is C#3.)
• String 5 (A): From standard A2, tune down 4 semitones to reach F2. (The tuning's defined target note is F2.) Heavier gauge string recommended due to significant drop.
• String 4 (D): From standard D3, tune down 6 semitones to reach G#2. (The tuning's defined target note is G#3.) A significantly heavier gauge string is strongly recommended for this extreme drop.
• String 3 (G): From standard G3, tune down 2 semitones to reach F3. (The tuning's defined target note is F3.)
• String 2 (B): From standard B3, tune down 3 semitones to reach G#3. (The tuning's defined target note is G#4.)
• String 1 (High e): From standard E4, tune down 3 semitones to reach C#4. (The tuning's defined target note is C#5.)