Nodding Off Tuning: A Nu-Gaze Landscape for Guitar

This intriguing tuning, designed for the Guitar, is famously used in narrowhead's song 'nodding off'. It offers a sonic palette reminiscent of Drop C# tunings but with unique extensions that lean heavily into the atmospheric and sometimes dissonant textures characteristic of nu-gaze and #11 chords. The overall sound is deep and resonant, with a solid low end provided by the C# root, allowing for powerful riffing while the higher strings introduce tension and harmonic richness.

Technical Analysis: Open String Notes and Intervals

• 6th String: C#3 - The foundational root, providing a deep, heavy base.
• 5th String: G#3 - A perfect fifth above the low C#, reinforcing the power chord foundation.
• 4th String: C#4 - An octave above the 6th string, creating a full, resonant C# power chord across the lowest three strings.
• 3rd String: G3 - A minor seventh above the low C#, introducing a bluesy or dominant quality when combined with the C# and G#. This note is particularly key for creating complex harmonies.
• 2nd String: A#4 - An augmented sixth (or minor third over G#) above the low C#. This note adds a significant color, hinting at advanced chord voicings or scales that are less diatonic.
• 1st String: D4 - A major second (or minor ninth) above the low C#. This D natural against the C# root creates a distinct tension, perfect for dissonant voicings and textures often found in nu-gaze, providing opportunities for rich #11 or b9 sounds.

The open strings of C#3 G#3 C#4 G3 A#4 D4 create a complex cluster. While not forming a simple major or minor triad, the C# G# C# power chord provides a strong base. The inclusion of G3 (minor 7th), A#4 (augmented 6th/minor 3rd over G#), and D4 (minor 9th/major 2nd) allows for immediate access to rich, extended chords. You can easily form powerful C#5 chords on the lower strings, or by fretting around the open strings, achieve evocative C# minor 7 (b5) shapes, or experimental C# sus4add#11 voicings that are characteristic of the genre.

How to Tune Your Guitar to Nodding Off

To achieve the 'Nodding Off' tuning, you will adjust your strings from standard E Standard tuning as follows:

• 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): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The G string remains at G3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 1 semitone to A#4.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.

Important Note: While none of these individual string movements exceed the recommended four-semitone limit, always exercise caution when tuning strings significantly up or down. For extreme tunings beyond four semitones in either direction, considering a different gauge string set is often advised to maintain proper string tension and avoid damage to your instrument.