Welcome to a captivating and evocative tuning, famously described as a "c#sus4 (variation on a nick drake tuning)". This open tuning creates an immediate sense of mood and atmosphere, perfect for intricate fingerstyle arrangements and resonant accompaniment.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning immediately conjures a rich, open C♯ suspended 4th chord. The repeated C♯ and F♯ notes across different octaves create a drone-like quality, allowing melodies and harmonics to shimmer above a stable foundation. The close voicings on the higher strings (C♯5, F♯5) provide an interesting contrast to the wide intervals on the lower strings (C♯3, G♯3, C♯4). It feels melancholic yet full, lending itself beautifully to introspective and ethereal compositions. Players familiar with Nick Drake's unique tunings will find this variation offers a similar creative palette, encouraging open string drones and fluid chord changes with minimal fretting.

Technical Analysis

The open strings sound out the notes C♯3, G♯3, C♯4, F♯4, C♯5, F♯5. This configuration forms a C♯sus4 chord (C♯, F♯, G♯).

• String 6 (C♯3) and String 5 (G♯3) form a perfect fifth.
• String 5 (G♯3) and String 4 (C♯4) form a perfect fourth.
• String 4 (C♯4) and String 3 (F♯4) form a perfect fourth.
• String 3 (F♯4) and String 2 (C♯5) form a perfect fifth.
• String 2 (C♯5) and String 1 (F♯5) form a perfect fourth.

The presence of multiple perfect fifths and fourths across the strings makes this a very resonant and harmonically rich tuning. The open F♯ notes (on strings 3 and 1) act as the suspended 4th interval of the C♯ major chord. This tuning naturally facilitates arpeggiated figures and drone playing. Moving a single finger across a fret can often create full, harmonically interesting chords due to the open intervals. For instance, fretting all strings at the 2nd fret would yield a D♯sus4. Simple barre chords will also take on new voicings, and the open strings provide excellent opportunities for sympathetic resonance.

How to Tune

To achieve this specific C# Suspended 4th tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these precise adjustments. Please tune carefully and gradually, especially when increasing string tension.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones from E to C♯3. This is a significant drop, so proceed slowly.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 1 semitone from A to G♯3.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitone from D to C♯4.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 1 semitone from G to F♯4.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 2 semitones from B to C♯5. Exercise caution when tuning up.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 2 semitones from E to F♯5. Exercise caution when tuning up.

While none of these individual string movements exceed the recommended +/- 4 semitones for standard string gauges, always listen to your guitar and strings. If you experience significant tension or slack, a different string gauge might be beneficial for optimal playability and tone.

String 6 (Lowest): C♯3

String 5: G♯3

String 4: C♯4

String 3: F♯4

String 2: C♯5

String 1 (Highest): F♯5