This unique guitar tuning, known as "Drop C# Open Ver" and famously used in Adrienne Lenker's "Blue and Red Horses," offers a rich and somber tonal landscape. While its name might suggest a simple drop tuning, it's actually a sophisticated open chord tuning that resolves to a C# minor 6th.

Verbal Analysis

The overall feel of this tuning is deep and resonant, leaning towards a melancholic or introspective sound due to the prevalent minor tonality. The 'Drop C#' aspect roots the tuning in a low, powerful register, suitable for a full, driving sound, yet the 'Open Ver' reveals a harmonic complexity. When strummed open, it immediately presents a C# minor 6th chord, providing a beautiful, ready-made harmony that can inspire creative fingerstyle passages or atmospheric chord progressions. The open strings offer a drone-like quality, allowing individual notes to ring out with clarity, perfect for dynamic arrangements where chord extensions and suspensions can be explored.

Technical Analysis

The tuning consists of the notes C3# G3# C4# G4# A3 E4 from low to high. Examining the intervals relative to C# (the root of the open chord):

• String 6 (C#3): Root
• String 5 (G#3): Perfect 5th
• String 4 (C#4): Octave (Root)
• String 3 (G#4): Perfect 5th (octave higher)
• String 2 (A3): Minor 6th
• String 1 (E4): Minor 3rd

When all strings are played open, they collectively form a C# minor 6th chord (C# - E - G# - A). This provides a rich harmonic foundation. Because of this open chord structure, barring across all strings at any fret will yield a transposed minor 6th chord (e.g., barre at the 1st fret creates a Dm6, 2nd fret an D#m6). This makes playing numerous minor 6th chords incredibly accessible. Additionally, the open G# on the third string, combined with the C#s and the A, presents opportunities for interesting voicings and drone-based melodic lines, particularly appealing for blues, folk, or modern alternative genres. The relatively small string movements from standard tuning mean most standard gauge strings should maintain good playability without excessive tension changes.

String 6 (Low E): C3# (C Sharp)
String 5 (A): G3# (G Sharp)
String 4 (D): C4# (C Sharp)
String 3 (G): G4# (G Sharp)
String 2 (B): A3 (A Natural)
String 1 (High E): E4 (E Natural)

How to Tune (from Standard E A D G B E)

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones from E to C# (C3#). This is a significant drop, but generally manageable with standard light/medium gauge strings.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 1 semitone from A to G# (G3#).
• String 4 (D): Tune down 1 semitone from D to C# (C4#).
• String 3 (G): Tune up 1 semitone from G to G# (G4#). Exercise caution when tuning up; do so slowly to prevent string breakage.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones from B to A (A3).
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from E to E (E4).

Note on String Gauges: All indicated string movements are within typical safe ranges for standard guitar string gauges (up to 4 semitones up or down). However, always tune carefully and ensure your instrument can handle the tension changes. For optimal performance with the lowest C# string, some players might prefer a slightly heavier gauge on the 6th string, though it is not strictly necessary for a -3 semitone drop.