This unique guitar tuning, aptly named "My feet," is specifically crafted for the Coldplay song "Now my feet won't touch the ground" from their track "Up&Up." It offers a distinct sonic palette far removed from standard guitar tunings, designed to evoke a specific ethereal or melancholic atmosphere.

Verbal Analysis

The tuning's most striking characteristic is its re-entrant nature, where the lowest string (String 6) is actually pitched higher than two of its adjacent, thinner strings (String 5 and String 4). This creates a shimmering, almost harp-like quality when strummed or arpeggiated, allowing for unexpected voicings where bass notes might appear higher in the register. The overall sound leans towards complex harmonies, with strong minor and diminished qualities present in the open strings. This suggests it's not a tuning for conventional rock or pop chord progressions but rather for intricate fingerstyle, ambient textures, or specific melodic passages that leverage its unique intervallic structure. It's likely designed to create a specific harmonic backdrop that underpins the lyrical sentiment of floating or detachment.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this tuning, from String 6 (lowest physical string) to String 1 (highest physical string), are:

• String 6: D#3
• String 5: A2
• String 4: C3
• String 3: G3
• String 2: B3
• String 1: C4

Observing the pitches from lowest to highest overall pitch, we find a re-entrant arrangement:

• A2 (String 5) - Lowest overall pitch
• C3 (String 4)
• D#3 (String 6)
• G3 (String 3)
• B3 (String 2)
• C4 (String 1) - Highest overall pitch

The intervals between adjacent strings (from String 6 to String 1) are highly varied:

• String 6 (D#3) to String 5 (A2): This is a descending interval of a tritone (6 semitones), where the 6th string is actually higher in pitch than the 5th.
• String 5 (A2) to String 4 (C3): A minor 3rd (3 semitones up).
• String 4 (C3) to String 3 (G3): A perfect 5th (7 semitones up).
• String 3 (G3) to String 2 (B3): A major 3rd (4 semitones up).
• String 2 (B3) to String 1 (C4): A minor 2nd (1 semitone up).

The collective open chord formed by these notes is A, C, D#, G, B, C. This complex voicing contains:

• An A diminished triad (A, C, D#), offering a tense, unresolved quality.
• A C minor triad (C, D#, G, where D# is Eb), providing a foundational melancholic sound.

Collectively, it can be interpreted as a C minor-major 7 chord (C, Eb/D#, G, B) with an added A (from the A diminished) and an octave C. This chord has a distinct, modern, and often jazz-influenced sound, creating a feeling of introspective tension and release. The presence of the minor 2nd interval between B3 and C4 on the two highest strings further enhances its unique and potentially dissonant texture. Standard open chords are not readily available in this tuning, encouraging exploration of arpeggios, specific melodic lines, and non-traditional chord shapes to fully utilize its expressive potential.

How to Tune "My feet"

To achieve the "My feet" tuning, adjust your guitar strings as follows:

• String 6 (Lowest String): Tune to D#3. This requires you to Tune down 1 semitones from its implied original E3 pitch.
• String 5: Tune to A2. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from its standard A2 pitch.
• String 4: Tune to C3. Tune down 2 semitones from its standard D3 pitch.
• String 3: Tune to G3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from its standard G3 pitch.
• String 2: Tune to B3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from its standard B3 pitch.
• String 1 (Highest String): Tune to C4. Tune down 4 semitones from its standard E4 pitch. Please note: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change. While generally manageable with standard strings, for optimal tension, intonation, and tone, especially if you plan to keep this tuning for extended periods, a heavier gauge string for this particular string might be advised.