Tuning Analysis: C#G#C#F#C#E

This distinctive tuning, often associated with the influential folk artist Nick Drake, crafts a deeply resonant and atmospheric sound. It is fundamentally built around a C# minor tonality, offering a unique blend of drone capabilities and melodic potential, characteristic of Drake's intricate and melancholic compositions.

Verbal Observations

When strummed open, the C#G#C#F#C#E tuning immediately evokes a rich, somewhat somber, yet full-bodied sound. The repeated C# and G# notes (root and perfect fifth) across the lower and middle strings establish a strong, droning foundation, lending itself beautifully to fingerpicking styles where sustained notes are key. The inclusion of F# (a perfect 4th above C#) adds a suspended quality, which can create tension and release, while the E (a minor 3rd above C#) on the highest string firmly establishes the minor character of the tuning.

The open strings collectively form a C# minor chord with an added 4th (C#m(add4)), providing a complex and harmonically dense backdrop for melodic improvisation. The specific intervallic relationships make it intuitive to discover movable chord shapes; for instance, a single finger barred across the 2nd fret would transform the open voicing into a D# minor chord, and across the 4th fret, an F minor chord, while retaining the tuning's unique feel. This design encourages creative chord voicings and arpeggiated patterns, enabling players to explore a broad spectrum of textures.

Technical Analysis

• Open Notes: C#3, G#3, C#4, F#4, C#5, E4 (from the lowest to the highest string).
• Intervalic Structure (relative to the lowest C#): Root, Perfect 5th, Octave, Perfect 4th, Octave, Minor 3rd.
• This tuning strategically places the root (C#) and its perfect fifth (G#) in multiple octaves, creating a powerful and sustained harmonic resonance.
• The F# (perfect 4th) introduces a characteristic suspended sound, which is a hallmark of many atmospheric and folk tunings, offering both consonance and subtle dissonance.
• The E on the highest string provides the minor third, completing the C# minor triad and offering a bright, yet melancholic, top voice over the droning lower strings.

How to Tune Your Guitar (from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve the C#G#C#F#C#E tuning from standard EADGBe, several specific adjustments are required. Always use a reliable tuner and tune carefully, especially when increasing string tension.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#3.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 1 semitone to G#3.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitone to C#4.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 1 semitone to F#4.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 2 semitones to C#5.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains E4.

Important Note on String Tension: Most strings are tuned down, which reduces tension. The 2nd string is tuned up by 2 semitones, which is generally within safe limits for standard gauge guitar strings. For tuning adjustments exceeding 4 semitones (up or down), it is often recommended to consider a different string gauge to optimize playability and string longevity. This tuning, however, remains within typical acceptable ranges for standard sets.

String 6 (lowest): C#3 (Low C sharp)

String 5: G#3 (G sharp below middle C)

String 4: C#4 (C sharp, an octave above the lowest C sharp)

String 3: F#4 (F sharp above middle C)

String 2: C#5 (C sharp, two octaves above the lowest C sharp)

String 1 (highest): E4 (High E, corresponding to the standard high E string)