Tuning Analysis: Ballou's Converge C# Dissonance

This unique and heavy guitar tuning is inspired by what Kurt Ballou often uses in his playing with Converge. It’s a tuning designed for massive, crushing riffs and dissonant textures, straying far from conventional open chords to create a dark and aggressive sonic landscape.

Verbal Analysis

At its core, this tuning provides a deeply resonant and powerful low end, anchored by the C# on the 6th string. However, the presence of G2 on the 5th string (a perfect 5th below the root C#3) and C3 on the 4th string (a minor 2nd below the root C#3) immediately introduces a muddy, complex, and highly dissonant character to the open strings. The upper strings (F3, G#4, C4) then build upon this foundation with intervals that create a distinctively tense and angular sound, perfect for metal subgenres that thrive on sonic brutality and intricate, non-standard harmonies.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes for this tuning are as follows:

• 6th String: C#3 (Root)
• 5th String: G2 (A perfect 5th below the root C#3, or a major 6th down. This is an unusually low note for a 5th string, creating significant depth and tension with the 6th string.)
• 4th String: C3 (A minor 2nd below the root C#3. This interval, played open, is highly dissonant and gives the tuning its characteristic 'clash'.)
• 3rd String: F3 (A major 3rd above the root C#3. This provides a sense of a C# major tonality, though quickly subverted by the lower strings.)
• 2nd String: G#4 (A perfect 5th above the root C#3, an octave higher. This establishes a strong harmonic backbone for the C#.)
• 1st String: C4 (A major 7th above the root C#3, an octave higher. This note contributes to the overall dissonant and extended harmonic feel.)

This combination results in a dense, low-mid range cluster on the bottom strings (C#3, G2, C3) that is immediately challenging to conventional harmony. While a full, unmuted open chord can sound quite dissonant, the tuning shines in its potential for:

• Heavy Riffs: The low C# provides a solid foundation for chugging and single-note riffs. The low G and C offer opportunities for complex, rumbling textures.
• Power Chords: While not a traditional drop tuning, power chords can be achieved by focusing on the 6th string and selectively muting, or by finding the root-fifth intervals across different strings (e.g., C#3 on 6th string, G#4 on 2nd string for a C#5 spanning two octaves).
• Dissonant Voicings: The close proximity of C# and C on adjacent low strings (6th and 4th) encourages unusual, biting chord voicings when fretting. Experimentation with open string drones against fretted notes will yield aggressive results.
• Melodic Lines: The wide range of notes allows for interesting melodic interplay, especially in the higher register where the F3, G#4, and C4 can be used to craft angular lead lines.

How to Tune (Starting from Standard EADGBE)

To achieve the Ballou's Converge C# Dissonance tuning, adjust your strings as follows. Please note that significant drops in tension may require a change in string gauge for optimal playability and intonation. Generally, when tuning down more than 4 semitones (or up more than 4 semitones), a different gauge string is advised.

• 6th String (Standard E2): Tune down 3 semitones to C#3.
• 5th String (Standard A2): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• 4th String (Standard D3): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• 3rd String (Standard G3): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• 2nd String (Standard B3): Tune down 3 semitones to G#4.
• 1st String (Standard E4): Tune down 4 semitones to C4.

Due to the substantial changes in string tension, especially the 4 semitone drop on the 1st string, you may find that heavier gauge strings provide better sustain and intonation for this tuning.

The notes for each string, from thickest to thinnest, are:

6th String: C#3

5th String: G2

4th String: C3

3rd String: F3

2nd String: G#4

1st String: C4