This unique guitar tuning, named "DDGDGC" and popularised by Novo Amor in his track "State Lines," offers a deeply resonant and atmospheric soundscape. It shifts the guitar's traditional sonic palette into a realm of rich drones and open, expansive chords, perfectly suited for the melancholic and ethereal style found in the linked performance.

Verbal Analysis:

The tuning immediately strikes with its profound low end, featuring two D notes (D2) on the lowest strings. This creates a powerful, sustained drone, anchoring the entire tuning with a dark, fundamental bass. The subsequent strings build upwards, adding a G, an octave D, another G, and finally a C. This arrangement suggests a sound that is both full and spacious, capable of generating ringing, open chords that are neither strictly major nor minor in a conventional sense. The sonic character is one of deep introspection and expansive texture, allowing for sustained notes and delicate arpeggios that shimmer with a natural resonance.

It's particularly effective for fingerstyle playing, where the open strings can blend seamlessly, creating lush harmonic washes. The deep tunings on most strings mean that a lighter touch might yield surprising sustain and a less percussive attack, enhancing its ambient qualities.

Technical Analysis:

The tuning from low to high is D2 D2 G2 D3 G3 C4. Compared to standard E Standard tuning, this is a significant re-voicing:

• String 6 (Low E): Tuned down an entire step to D2.
• String 5 (A): Tuned down a perfect fifth to D2.
• String 4 (D): Tuned down a perfect fifth to G2.
• String 3 (G): Tuned down a perfect fourth to D3.
• String 2 (B): Tuned down a major third to G3.
• String 1 (High e): Tuned down a major third to C4.

The open string chord formed by DDGDGC can be analyzed as a D suspended 4th chord with an added minor seventh: Dsus4(addC). The root is D, with a perfect fourth (G) and a minor seventh (C). This open chord itself is rich and complex, providing a foundation for diverse harmonic exploration.

Open Chords and Possibilities:

The inherent structure makes several chord voicings easily accessible:

• Open Dsus4(addC): This is the natural resonance of the open strings, offering a melancholic yet full sound.
• G Major/Minor Chords: With G notes on the 4th and 2nd strings, and D notes reinforcing the G major triad (G-B-D), sliding up the neck to form G-rooted chords should feel intuitive and powerful, especially with the low D drones.
• D Chords: The dominant D notes across the lowest strings make D major, minor, or suspended chords readily available with minimal fretting, offering deep, resonant voicings.
• C Chords: The high C string, combined with the G and D notes, hints at C Major or C Lydian sounds, especially when the low D strings are muted or used as pedal tones.

The deeply lowered tunings across most strings (especially -7 semitones on strings 5 and 4) mean that standard gauge strings might feel very loose. For optimal tension and tone, a heavier gauge string set is highly recommended, particularly for the 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings, to maintain playability and avoid excessive fret buzz.

Target Tuning Notes:

String 6 (Lowest): Tune to D2
String 5: Tune to D2
String 4: Tune to G2
String 3: Tune to D3
String 2: Tune to G3
String 1 (Highest): Tune to C4

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe):

• String 6 (Low E to D2): Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 5 (A to D2): Tune down 7 semitones. *Caution: Tuning down 7 semitones is a significant drop. A heavier gauge string is advised for optimal tension and tone.
• String 4 (D to G2): Tune down 7 semitones. *Caution: Tuning down 7 semitones is a significant drop. A heavier gauge string is advised for optimal tension and tone.
• String 3 (G to D3): Tune down 5 semitones. *Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant drop. A heavier gauge string is advised for optimal tension and tone.
• String 2 (B to G3): Tune down 4 semitones. *Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a notable drop. Consider a heavier gauge string for better tension.
• String 1 (High e to C4): Tune down 4 semitones. *Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a notable drop. Consider a heavier gauge string for better tension.

When tuning, proceed slowly and check your intonation, especially with such large pitch changes. If your guitar struggles to hold tune or strings feel too slack, a professional setup or a heavier gauge string set may be beneficial.