DGCEBE Guitar Tuner

DGCEBE Dark Shoegazey - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Dark Shoegazey

One of my friends showed me this tuning

This intriguing guitar tuning, aptly named "Dark Shoegazey" as shared by a friend, presents a profound sonic shift from standard EADGBE. It's perfectly crafted for creating deep, resonant, and often melancholic soundscapes, making it an excellent choice for genres like shoegaze, ambient, and post-rock.

Technical Analysis:

The tuning establishes the open strings as D2-G2-C3-E3-B3-E4. This involves significant down-tuning for the lower strings:

The 6th string (Low E) is tuned down a Major 2nd (2 semitones) to D2.
The 5th string (A) is tuned down a Major 2nd (2 semitones) to G2.
The 4th string (D) is tuned down a Major 2nd (2 semitones) to C3.
The 3rd string (G) experiences a more substantial drop, descending a Minor 3rd (3 semitones) to E3.
The 2nd string (B) and 1st string (High E) remain at their standard pitches, B3 and E4 respectively.

This configuration results in a unique interval structure:

String 6 (D2) to String 5 (G2): Perfect Fourth (5 semitones)
String 5 (G2) to String 4 (C3): Perfect Fourth (5 semitones)
String 4 (C3) to String 3 (E3): Major Third (4 semitones)
String 3 (E3) to String 2 (B3): Perfect Fifth (7 semitones) - a distinctive departure from standard tuning's Minor Third interval here.
String 2 (B3) to String 1 (E4): Perfect Fourth (5 semitones)

The prominent Perfect Fifth interval between the 3rd and 2nd strings, along with the consistent Perfect Fourths on the lowest strings, contributes significantly to the tuning's open and resonant character.

Open String Chords and Harmonic Possibilities:

The open tuning itself, DGC EBE, forms a rich, complex, and slightly suspended chord. With D as the implied root, it contains a perfect 4th (G), minor 7th (C), major 9th (E), major 6th (B), and a repeated major 9th (E). This creates an expansive Dm7add4add6/add9 voicing, perfect for atmospheric drones.

More straightforwardly, the upper four strings (C3-E3-B3-E4) form a clear and ringing C Major 7th chord. This provides an immediate sense of harmonic sophistication and ethereal quality. The top three strings (E3-B3-E4) form an E power chord, offering a bright, yet robust, counterpoint. The D-G-C sequence on the bottom strings facilitates easy, powerful open power chords and low-end riffing. Traditional chord shapes will require adaptation due to the altered intervals, especially the Perfect Fifth on strings 3-2, but this opens up a new world of voicings and unique harmonic clusters.

How to Tune Your Guitar:

To set your guitar to the "Dark Shoegazey" tuning from standard EADGBE, follow these instructions:

String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to reach D2.
String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones to reach G2.
String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones to reach C3.
String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones to reach E3.
String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E4.

Important Tuning Considerations: When making significant pitch adjustments, especially tuning down 3 or 4 semitones, always proceed with care to avoid putting undue stress on your strings or guitar. If you plan to frequently use tunings that involve movements of more than 4 semitones (either up or down), considering a different string gauge might enhance playability and prevent premature string wear.

String 6 (Low E): D2

String 5 (A): G2

String 4 (D): C3

String 3 (G): E3

String 2 (B): B3

String 1 (High E): E4