Lynx-6 Alternate: A Low-Voiced, Open Minor Soundscape

The Lynx-6 Alternate tuning transforms your guitar into a unique sound palette, characterized by its deep, resonant lows and a harmonically rich open voicing. As described in its origin, it's designed to offer a feel that is 'Drop-D esque', especially with the lowest string tuned down to D, creating a powerful foundation. This tuning involves significant drops on most strings, aiming for a distinctive minor-leaning open chord.

Technical Breakdown

The open strings are tuned to the following notes, from lowest to highest:

• 6th String (Low E): D2
• 5th String (A): A2
• 4th String (D): C3
• 3rd String (G): E3
• 2nd String (B): G3
• 1st String (High E): D4

This configuration presents a fascinating intervallic landscape:

• The lowest two strings (D2-A2) form a perfect 5th, providing a robust power chord foundation.
• The notes across all six open strings (D A C E G D) create a distinctive and rich sonority. With the lowest string set to D and the highest string also to D, it establishes a powerful octave anchor. The intervallic relationships include a D power chord (D2-A2) at the bottom and a C Major triad (C3-E3-G3) on the middle strings. The collective voicing, featuring D (root), A (perfect 5th), C (minor 7th), E (major 9th), and G (perfect 11th) relative to D, generates a rich, open D minor-esque or Dsus4 sound with added color tones. This gives the tuning a naturally deep and often melancholic character when strummed open.

Playing Opportunities

Due to its open voicing and low D string, this tuning is excellent for:

• Drone and Ambience: The resonant open strings lend themselves well to atmospheric playing, especially in D minor keys.
• Slide Guitar: A slide across the strings will produce compelling chordal movements, particularly for D minor and related harmonies.
• Unique Voicings: Familiar chord shapes will be re-contextualized, opening up new melodic and harmonic possibilities. Barring across frets will produce parallel chord voicings that can be very intuitive for rhythm playing in certain styles.
• Riffing: The low D string provides a strong foundation for heavy riffs, living up to its 'Drop-D esque' claim. The parallel perfect 5ths on strings 6 and 1 (D2 and D4) also make for powerful octave playing.

Considerations for Tuning

While most strings are tuned down by a moderate amount, the 2nd string (from B to G) requires a significant drop of 4 semitones. This substantial reduction in tension means that for prolonged use or optimal performance, particularly if you find the string becomes too slack or experiences excessive buzzing, considering a heavier gauge string for the 2nd string might be beneficial.

How to Tune to Lynx-6 Alternate

To achieve the Lynx-6 Alternate tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-E, follow these steps for each string:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 4 semitones to G3. (Note: A significant drop; consider a heavier gauge string if you experience slackness or buzzing.)
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.