The "Gardenia" tuning, as discovered on TikTok, presents a truly unique and expansive sonic landscape for the guitar. It ventures far beyond conventional tunings, offering a blend of deep resonance and sparkling high notes.

Technical Analysis:

The open strings are tuned to D1 A2 E3 F4# A3 C5# (from thickest to thinnest). This is a highly unconventional tuning with significant interval variations and a non-monotonic pitch order across the strings. Notably:

• The 6th string (D1) is exceptionally low, providing a deep, resonant foundation.
• The interval from string 6 (D1) to string 5 (A2) is a very wide octave and a perfect fifth (19 semitones), creating a large jump.
• String 5 (A2) to string 4 (E3) is a perfect fifth (7 semitones).
• String 4 (E3) to string 3 (F4#) is an octave and a major second (14 semitones).
• A particularly striking feature is the jump from string 3 (F4#) down to string 2 (A3), which is a drop of 10 semitones. This reversed pitch order between adjacent strings will significantly alter strumming patterns and chord voicings, requiring careful technique.
• String 2 (A3) to string 1 (C5#) is an octave and a major third (16 semitones).

Despite the unusual intervals, the open notes D, A, E, F#, A, C# share a strong harmonic relationship. The unique notes (D, E, F#, A, C#) form a D Major 9th chord, suggesting a bright, majestic, and somewhat ethereal quality. The low D provides a powerful root, while the high C# offers a shimmering top end. Open strumming is likely to produce rich, complex harmonies, possibly challenging to control due to the non-linear string order. This tuning seems designed for atmospheric textures, arpeggiated figures, and exploring new chord shapes that leverage its wide range and unique intervals, especially the inverted pitch of the 3rd and 2nd strings.

How to Tune:

To achieve the "Gardenia" tuning, you will need to adjust your strings as follows. Please note the significant upward movements on some strings, for which a different gauge string is generally advised to ensure string integrity and proper tension.

• String 6 (Thickest): Tune up 1 semitone to D1.
• String 5: Tune up 5 semitones to A2. Caution: This is a significant upward adjustment (exceeds 4 semitones); consider a lighter gauge string to avoid breakage and ensure proper tension.
• String 4: Tune up 7 semitones to E3. Caution: This is a very significant upward adjustment (exceeds 4 semitones), often requiring a lighter gauge string to prevent breakage and maintain playability.
• String 3: Tune down 1 semitone to F4#.
• String 2: Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• String 1 (Thinnest): Tune down 3 semitones to C5#.

Always tune carefully and progressively to avoid breaking strings.

String 6: D1

String 5: A2

String 4: E3

String 3: F4#

String 2: A3

String 1: C5#