The "Hypnos" tuning, named after Chelsea Wolfe's evocative song, is a highly unconventional and expansive setup designed for atmospheric, heavy, and experimental sonic exploration. It crafts a stark and wide harmonic landscape, perfect for drone textures and specific melodic phrasing rather than conventional chord strumming.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning immediately conveys a dark and expansive character, establishing a somber, heavy mood fitting for its namesake. The significantly dropped low strings (D2, B2) provide an exceptionally deep, resonant foundation, creating a powerful, almost menacing bass register. In stark contrast, the remarkably high notes on the middle strings (F4#, F5#) introduce a piercing, ethereal, and even shimmering quality. This extreme dynamic range between the bass and treble registers creates a unique, open, and ringing sound, lending itself well to sparse arrangements, arpeggios, and sustained ambient soundscapes. The juxtaposition of such low and high registers will likely produce a powerful, haunting, and distinct sonic palette, aligning perfectly with the atmospheric and often heavy style associated with Chelsea Wolfe. It encourages a more textural approach to playing, focusing on the interplay of these widely spaced notes.

Technical Analysis

The open tuning notes are: D2 B2 D3 F4# F5# E4.

• The bottom three strings (D2 B2 D3) create an interesting foundation. The D2 and D3 provide a strong octave anchor, while the B2 sits a major 6th above D2, forming an inverted B minor harmony (D/B) or a Dsus2 add6.
• Moving up, strings 4, 3, and 2 (D3 F4# F5#) feature a D root with a major third and its perfect octave (D3 - F4# - F5#). This creates a very strong, resonant D Major presence in the higher register, with the F4# and F5# ringing out a powerful octave.
• The full open string set (D B D F# F# E) creates a complex, extended harmony. It contains the notes of a D Major chord (D, F#) along with B (a major 6th from D) and E (a major 9th from D). This suggests an open Dadd9sus2 or a D Major 6/9 (missing the 5th, A). The high E also adds an interesting dissonance or extension.
• The wide intervals between adjacent strings, such as D2-B2 (major 6th), D3-F4# (a compound major 3rd, or D to F# an octave higher), and F5#-E4 (a descending major 2nd), make traditional chord voicings challenging. However, these specific intervals are ideal for crafting expansive textures, two-note harmonies, and unique melodic patterns that exploit the full range of the tuning.
• Due to the combination of very low D and B notes and very high F# and E notes, this tuning is exceptionally well-suited for drone-based compositions, arpeggiated figures that highlight the wide note spread, and heavy, riff-oriented playing on the lower strings. The repeated D notes (strings 6 and 4) provide a natural, resonant anchor for melodies and riffs. While not a conventional chord tuning, open harmonies leaning towards D Major (with extensions) or B Minor are implied, but their execution will be unique due to the extreme string tension differences.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

• String 6 (Low E - E2): Tune down 2 semitones from standard E2 to achieve D2.
• String 5 (A - A2): Tune up 2 semitones from standard A2 to achieve B2.
• String 4 (D - D3): Keep as is; no change from standard D3. The target note is D3.
• String 3 (G - G3): Based on the movement, tune down 1 semitone from standard G3. This would typically result in F#3. However, the specified target note for this tuning is F4#. To reach F4# from standard G3 would require tuning up 11 semitones, which is a very significant tension increase, far exceeding the recommended limit of 4 semitones. A much lighter gauge string is strongly advised if aiming for F4# to prevent string breakage and potential instrument damage. Proceed with extreme caution.
• String 2 (B - B3): Based on the movement, tune up 7 semitones from standard B3. This would typically result in F#4. However, the specified target note for this tuning is F5#. To reach F5# from standard B3 would require tuning up 19 semitones. This is an exceptionally drastic tension increase, extremely risky and far beyond safe limits for standard strings and guitars. This degree of tuning is highly likely to cause string breakage and potential irreversible damage to your instrument without a significantly lighter gauge string specifically designed for such extreme high tensions, or custom modifications. Seriously consider string gauge and instrument integrity. Proceed with the utmost caution.
• String 1 (High E - E4): Keep as is; no change from standard E4. The target note is E4.