This unique tuning for an 8-String Guitar is known as "A#G#C#F#A#D# + C#G#C#F#G#C#" and is described as "A fusion of DADGAD and BADGBE down a half-step, used on a few select Freak Kitchen songs." It offers a distinctive sonic landscape, blending deep, resonant lows with a rich, open chord structure, perfect for progressive and experimental rock styles.

Verbal Analysis

The overall feel of this tuning is incredibly weighty and atmospheric. The extremely low C# on the 8th string provides a deep foundation, almost like a bass guitar. The open strings resonate with a complex, suspended quality, creating a sense of tension and vastness. It's an ideal tuning for heavy, intricate riffs and expansive soundscapes where a standard tuning might feel restrictive. The "fusion" aspect means it draws on the open, drone-like qualities of DADGAD and the rich harmonic potential of BADGBE, resulting in a dark, yet surprisingly melodic, palette. It's a tuning that encourages exploration beyond conventional chord shapes, lending itself well to arpeggios, drones, and percussive playing.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes for this 8-string guitar tuning are: C# F# A# G# C# F# G# C# (from lowest to highest string). This configuration immediately presents a C#sus4(add6) voicing across the open strings. The prominent notes are C# (root), F# (perfect 4th), G# (perfect 5th), and A# (major 6th). The abundance of C# across three octaves (C2#, C4#, C5#) alongside F# and G# in two octaves creates a powerful, resonant drone. The A# adds a distinctive color, pushing the harmony beyond a simple power chord into a more ambiguous, yet compelling, sound.

Open Chords and Reachable Shapes:

• C# Power Chords: By simply strumming the lower strings, you get a massive C# power chord sound, particularly C#5 (C#, G#). The open F# adds a perfect 4th, creating a C#sus4.
• F# Power Chords: The F# notes on strings 7 and 3 can easily form F#5 chords with a finger on a G# or C# string.
• G# Power Chords: Similarly, the G# notes on strings 5 and 2 facilitate G#5 chords.
• C#sus4(add6): The open tuning itself is a C#sus4(add6), allowing for rich harmonic textures with minimal effort.
• Modal Exploration: The strong C# and G# (perfect 5th) presence, combined with F# (perfect 4th) and A# (major 6th), suggests a strong affinity for the C# Dorian mode (C# D# E F# G# A# B), offering intriguing melodic possibilities and a slightly melancholic, yet majestic, tonal quality.
• Single-Finger Power Chords: Similar to drop tunings, barring across certain frets can yield immediate power chords or suspended voicings, allowing for quick transitions and heavy riffing.

How to Tune

Achieving this tuning requires significant adjustments from standard. Please proceed with caution, especially with strings that require large semitone changes, and consider a different string gauge if tuning up or down more than 4 semitones.

• 8th String (C2#): Tune down 5 semitones. (Note: A string gauge adjustment may be advisable due to this significant drop.)
• 7th String (F2#): Tune down 5 semitones. (Note: A string gauge adjustment may be advisable due to this significant drop.)
• 6th String (A2#): Tune down 6 semitones. (Note: A string gauge adjustment is strongly advised due to this very large drop.)
• 5th String (G3#): Tune down 1 semitone.
• 4th String (C4#): Tune down 1 semitone.
• 3rd String (F4#): Tune down 1 semitone.
• 2nd String (G4#): Tune down 3 semitones. (Note: A string gauge adjustment may be advisable due to this drop.)
• 1st String (C5#): Tune down 3 semitones. (Note: A string gauge adjustment may be advisable due to this drop.)

The notes for this 8-string guitar tuning, from the lowest (8th) to the highest (1st) string, are as follows:

• 8th String: C2#
• 7th String: F2#
• 6th String: A2#
• 5th String: G3#
• 4th String: C4#
• 3rd String: F4#
• 2nd String: G4#
• 1st String: C5#