Tuning Overview

The "Terry Vs Tori" tuning, with its unconventional note arrangement, offers a truly unique sonic landscape. Departing significantly from standard EADGBe, this tuning creates a rich, full-bodied sound that immediately evokes a sense of depth and atmosphere. The given description, "You blew it!", might humorously suggest a tuning that emerged from experimentation or even a happy accident, leading to a surprisingly effective and distinct voice for the guitar.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning feels expansive and resonant, providing a natural drone quality with its multiple C# and G# notes. It leans towards a bright, yet melancholic, sound, likely suitable for atmospheric soundscapes, fingerstyle pieces, or even heavy, low-tuned riffs that want to maintain clarity. The wide intervals between certain strings suggest opportunities for interesting melodic interplay and chord voicings that are difficult to achieve in standard tuning. It has a slightly ethereal or dreamy quality, perfect for genres like progressive folk, ambient rock, or alternative music where unique textures are desired. The open strings themselves form a rich harmonic foundation, encouraging exploration beyond typical chord shapes.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this tuning are C#3 G#3 C#4 F3 G#4 D#5. This arrangement of unique notes (C#, G#, F, D#) forms an Open C#add9 chord, which includes the root, perfect 5th, major 3rd (enharmonically E#), and major 9th of a C# chord, respectively.

The sequence of intervals between adjacent strings is particularly interesting:

• String 6 (C#3) to String 5 (G#3): A Perfect 5th.
• String 5 (G#3) to String 4 (C#4): A Perfect 4th.
• String 4 (C#4) to String 3 (F3): A Diminished 5th (or Augmented 4th ascending from F3). This creates a somewhat dissonant or "bluesy" tension that can be exploited for unique voicings.
• String 3 (F3) to String 2 (G#4): A very wide interval of an Octave and a Minor 3rd. This significant gap allows for distinct melodic lines or arpeggios to be played on higher strings over a sustained bass note from the lower strings, almost like two instruments playing simultaneously.
• String 2 (G#4) to String 1 (D#5): A Perfect 5th.

This tuning naturally lends itself to open chords based around C# Major and its extensions. Chords such as C#add9 (all open strings), and C#sus4 (by simply muting the F string), are easily accessible without much fretting. The repeating C# and G# notes across different octaves provide excellent drone capabilities and make it forgiving for strumming, while the unique F and D# notes offer opportunities for rich harmonic extensions. Playing melodies on the top two strings (G#4, D#5) over the C# root and 5th (C#3, G#3, C#4) on the lower strings will yield a full, harmonically complete sound.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Terry Vs Tori" tuning from standard EADGBe, carefully adjust each string as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#3.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 1 semitone to G#3.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 1 semitone to C#4.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 3 semitones to G#4.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 1 semitone to D#5.

All string movements in this tuning are downwards. As none of the individual string adjustments exceed 4 semitones (up or down), a change in string gauge is generally not strictly necessary based on these movements alone. However, always exercise caution when adjusting string tension and ensure your instrument is properly set up for alternative tunings.

String 6: C#3

String 5: G#3

String 4: C#4

String 3: F3

String 2: G#4

String 1: D#5