Tuning Analysis: Ultrasound C# Drone

Verbal Description

The "Ultrasound C# Drone" tuning, notably utilized by the artist Empty Country for songs like "Ultrasound," is a deeply resonant and strikingly dissonant landscape for the guitar. It plunges the instrument into a realm of low-end rumble and palpable harmonic tension. The widespread use of C# across three different octaves (6th, 4th, and 1st strings) forms a powerful, almost ambient drone foundation, lending itself to a heavy, dark, and expansive sound palette.

This is not a 'pretty' tuning in the conventional sense, but one designed for maximum impact and atmosphere. The most striking element is the close proximity of F# and F on the 3rd and 2nd strings, creating an immediate, gripping semitone dissonance. This unique interval cluster can be exploited for unsettling melodies, driving, industrial textures, or creating a sense of unease and depth. The overall feel is one of sonic weight, perfect for creating dense, textural music.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes for this tuning are:

• 6th String: C3#
• 5th String: G3#
• 4th String: C3#
• 3rd String: F3#
• 2nd String: F3
• 1st String: C5#

Analysing the intervals and harmonic content of the open strings reveals a complex and tension-rich voicing:

• The 6th, 5th, and 4th strings (C#3, G#3, C#3) form a robust C#5 power chord, providing a strong, low-end foundation.
• The 3rd string (F#3) adds a Perfect 4th (or sus4) against the C# root, creating a slightly open, pending quality.
• The 2nd string (F3) is a Major 3rd relative to the C# root, but critically, it forms a stark Minor 2nd (semitone) dissonance with the adjacent F#3. This is the primary source of the tuning's unique tension.
• The 1st string (C5#) is a high octave of the root, reinforcing the C# drone and allowing for bright, ringing melodic or sustained notes above the lower, denser core.

The full open voicing (C#3 G#3 C#3 F#3 F3 C5#) doesn't resolve to a simple major or minor triad but presents a rich, often clashing, sonority that leans into suspended and dissonant harmonies. Power chords built around C# on the lower strings are readily available and impactful. The unique F#/F cluster invites experimentation with melodic phrases that highlight or resolve this tension.

String Gauge Recommendation

Please note the significant changes from standard tuning implied by the tuning instructions:

• Strings 4 (C#3), 3 (F#3), and 2 (F3) are tuned down 13, 13, and 6 semitones respectively. Such extreme drops will result in significantly reduced string tension. For optimal playability, intonation, and to avoid excessive floppiness, it is highly recommended to use heavier gauge strings for these specific strings.
• Strings 6 (C#3), 5 (G#3), and 1 (C#5) are tuned down 3, 1, and 3 semitones respectively. While these are also downtuned, they fall within a more manageable range where standard or slightly heavier gauges might suffice, though heavier options could still enhance tone and feel.

How to Tune: Ultrasound C# Drone

To achieve the "Ultrasound C# Drone" tuning, carefully adjust each string according to the following movements, always tuning gradually to prevent string breakage or damage.

• 6th String (Low E position): Tune down 3 semitones to C#3.
• 5th String (A position): Tune down 1 semitone to G#3.
• 4th String (D position): Tune down 13 semitones to C#3. (Consider a heavier gauge string due to extreme drop)
• 3rd String (G position): Tune down 13 semitones to F#3. (Consider a heavier gauge string due to extreme drop)
• 2nd String (B position): Tune down 6 semitones to F3. (Consider a heavier gauge string)
• 1st String (High E position): Tune down 3 semitones to C#5.

Important Note on String Gauge: When strings are tuned down by more than 4 semitones (or up by more than 4 semitones), it's generally advised to use a different, usually heavier, string gauge. For this specific tuning, the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings are exceptionally slack due to the significant drop in pitch (13, 13, and 6 semitones respectively). Using a heavier gauge for these strings is highly recommended to improve tension, intonation, and overall playability, preventing them from feeling excessively loose or 'floppy'.