This distinctive tuning, named "Open C sus2", carries a historical note as it was reportedly used by Blackwater Fever Slide on their first album. It evokes a haunting, resonant quality, perfect for slide guitar work or creating expansive, atmospheric soundscapes. The open strings immediately present a C#sus2 chord, offering a rich, suspended harmony without any fretting.

Technical Analysis

The tuning's structure is built around the notes C#, G#, and D#, forming a C#sus2 chord (C# - D# - G#). Specifically, the open strings are tuned to:

• Low E string (6th): C3# (Root)
• A string (5th): G3# (Perfect Fifth)
• D string (4th): C4# (Octave of Root)
• G string (3rd): G4# (Octave of Perfect Fifth)
• B string (2nd): C5# (Octave of Root)
• High E string (1st): D5# (Major Second/Ninth)

This arrangement means that simply strumming all open strings produces a full, ringing C#sus2 chord. The repeated C# and G# notes across different octaves create a powerful, drone-like foundation. The inclusion of the D# on the highest string adds a beautiful, open suspension that can lend itself to melancholic or soaring melodies.

Accessible Chords & Voicings

Due to its open nature, several chord possibilities become easily accessible:

• Open C#sus2: Strumming all open strings gives you a bright, suspended C#sus2.
• Barre Chords: By barring across any fret, you can effortlessly play other sus2 chords. For example, barring at the 2nd fret would yield a D#sus2, at the 4th fret an F#sus2, and so on. This makes transposing very intuitive for suspended harmonies.
• Drone & Slide Opportunities: The unison and octave root/fifth notes make this an ideal tuning for slide guitar, allowing for smooth, fluid melodic lines over a stable harmonic background. Drones can be easily achieved by holding down certain strings and letting others ring open.

Experimentation with single-note melodies and bass lines will reveal the full potential of this intriguing open sus2 tuning.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Open C sus2" tuning from standard E Standard tuning, follow these precise adjustments for each string. Please exercise caution when tuning, especially when significantly increasing or decreasing string tension. As a general guideline, for movements exceeding 4 semitones (up or down), consider using a different gauge string to ensure optimal playability and prevent damage.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones to C3#. (This is a notable drop, so proceed carefully.)
• String 5 (A): Tune down 1 semitone to G3#.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 1 semitone to C4#.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 1 semitone to G4#.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 2 semitones to C5#.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 1 semitone to D5#.