This is the distinctive "Angel's Son" tuning used by Sevendust, specifically designed for a powerful and heavy sound on a Guitar. It's characterized by a deep, resonant low end and unique melodic intervals on the higher strings, creating a signature sonic landscape.

Technical Analysis

The open tuning notes are: C#3 - G#3 - C#4 - F#4 - B3 - C#5 (low to high).

• The bottom three strings (C#3, G#3, C#4) form a solid C#5 power chord, providing a foundational heavy base often utilized in metal and hard rock for driving riffs.
• Moving up, the interval from String 4 (C#4) to String 3 (F#4) is a perfect fourth.
• A unique and prominent feature of this tuning is the significant drop between String 3 (F#4) and String 2 (B3). This represents a descending perfect fifth (7 semitones down), creating a wide and somewhat unexpected interval that breaks the typical linear progression of guitar tunings.
• Finally, String 2 (B3) to String 1 (C#5) spans a compound major second (an octave plus a major second, or 13 semitones up), resolving upwards to a high C# which doubles the root of the lowest strings at a much higher octave.

The overall open voicing presents a strong C#5 power chord on the lower strings, combined with an F#sus4-like feel on the upper strings (F# B C#). However, due to the B3 being significantly lower in pitch than the F#4 directly above it, the specific intervals create a broader, more open sound than a standard F#sus4, with a striking 'dip' in pitch towards the second string. This configuration is excellent for percussive, chugging riffs on the low strings while allowing for ringing, almost dissonant, and highly characteristic melodic lines or chord voicings on the higher strings.

While no traditional open major or minor chords are immediately apparent across all six strings due to the unique intervals, this tuning significantly facilitates:

• Power Chords: Easy one-finger C#5 power chords on the bottom three strings (C#3, G#3, C#4) and similar shapes across other dropped intervals.
• Melodic Drones: The repeated C# on strings 6, 4, and 1 provides excellent opportunities for droning notes while playing melodies on adjacent strings.
• Unique Voicings: The B3 on the second string, significantly lower than the F#4 above it, opens up very wide and distinctive chord voicings that would be impossible in standard tuning. This is ideal for atmospheric or heavy, complex harmonic textures characteristic of Sevendust's sound.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Angel's Son" tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps:

• String 6 (Lowest 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 1 semitone to F#4.
• String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
• String 1 (Highest E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#5.

Note: All string movements are within the recommended range of +/- 4 semitones, so a different string gauge is generally not explicitly required based on these movements alone, though a heavier gauge for dropped tunings is often preferred for optimal tension and tone.

String 6 (Lowest): C#3

String 5: G#3

String 4: C#4

String 3: F#4

String 2: B3

String 1 (Highest): C#5