This unique guitar tuning, originally conceived by a user seeking a personal and distinct sonic signature, offers a refreshing departure from standard guitar voicings. It's designed to inspire new melodic and harmonic ideas, providing a rich, open harmony perfect for exploration.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to C#3, G#3, C#4, F#4, G#4, D#5. This arrangement creates a captivating and resonant sound:

• The foundation is built upon the root note C#, with the lowest three strings (C#3, G#3, C#4) forming a robust C#5 power chord, providing a powerful and stable base.
• Across all six strings, the collective notes (C#, G#, F#, D#) clearly outline a C#sus4(add9) chord (C#, F#, G#, D#). This gives the tuning a naturally suspended and open quality, eschewing the immediate resolution of a major or minor third for a more expansive feel.
• The intervals between strings are: Perfect 5th (C#3-G#3), Perfect 4th (G#3-C#4), Perfect 4th (C#4-F#4), Major 2nd (F#4-G#4), and Perfect 5th (G#4-D#5). This blend of fourths, fifths, and a major second creates an interesting balance of stable and slightly dissonant intervals, offering both harmonic strength and melodic tension.
• This tuning is exceptionally well-suited for drone-based playing, intricate fingerstyle compositions, and creating expansive, ambient soundscapes. The open C#sus4(add9) chord itself is a beautiful and inspiring starting point.
• Due to the prevalence of perfect fourths and fifths in the lower strings, power chords and simple open voicings become easily accessible. For instance, barring across the C#3, G#3, C#4, F#4 strings will immediately yield a strong C#sus4 voicing, which can then be moved up the neck to create other suspended chords.
• The F#4-G#4 major second interval between the 4th and 3rd strings (relative to standard tuning's G and B strings) adds a unique melodic flavor, allowing for quick hammer-ons/pull-offs or subtle embellishments within the overarching suspended harmony.

Experimenting with a slide or utilizing open string drones against moving bass lines could yield impressive and evocative results with this distinct tuning.

Open String Notes

String 6: C#3

String 5: G#3

String 4: C#4

String 3: F#4

String 2: G#4

String 1: D#5

How to Tune

To achieve the 'C# Open Sus4/add9' tuning from standard EADGBe tuning (E3, A3, D4, G4, B4, E5), follow these steps:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones from E3 to C#3.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 1 semitones from A3 to G#3.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 1 semitones from D4 to C#4.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 1 semitones from G4 to F#4.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 3 semitones from B4 to G#4.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 1 semitones from E5 to D#5.

Note: All string movements for this tuning are within 3 semitones down. This is generally safe for standard gauge guitar strings. Always tune slowly and carefully to avoid unnecessary stress on the strings and bridge.