The Alesund tuning for Guitar, as used by Sun Kil Moon in their song "Alesund," is a distinctive and complex tuning that departs significantly from standard EADGBe. This tuning creates a unique sonic landscape, characterized by its deep, resonant bass and somewhat dissonant or melancholic upper register, which is typical of Mark Kozelek's intricate fingerstyle arrangements.

Technically, the open strings are tuned to C#3, G#3, C#4, D#4, A#4, C4 (low to high). This intervallic structure is notable for several reasons. The lowest three strings (C#-G#-C#) form a C#5 power chord, providing a strong, foundational drone. However, the upper strings introduce more complex harmonies. The presence of both C# and C natural in the tuning (C# on the 6th and 4th strings, and C natural on the 1st string) creates a unique tension and color that is not typically found in conventional open major or minor tunings. The D# and A# further extend this, suggesting a modal or suspended quality rather than a straightforward triadic harmony.

Due to its specific intervallic arrangement, this tuning isn't designed for immediate open major/minor chords. Instead, it encourages exploration of drone-based melodies, specific arpeggios, and shapes that leverage the unique relationships between the strings. Players might find themselves gravitating towards suspended sounds, open fifths, and the intriguing interplay between the C# and C natural. Chords will likely be constructed using specific fingerings that respond to the tuning's inherent tensions and releases, creating the characteristic introspective and atmospheric sound associated with Sun Kil Moon.