Tuning Analysis: Women - China Steps

This unique tuning, known as "Women - China Steps," is derived from the song of the same name by the band Women. It presents a distinctive sonic landscape, characterized by unconventional intervals and open string relationships. The altered low string and high string create a sense of tension and open possibilities for experimental harmonies and dissonant textures, typical of post-punk or experimental rock.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this tuning, from low to high, are D♯3, A2, D3, G3, A3, C♯5. This setup departs significantly from standard tuning, transforming the guitar's harmonic potential:

• The lowest string (D♯3) introduces a sharp, leading tone in the bass, which creates a strong tension against the natural D3 and A2 on the adjacent strings. This D♯ on the bass string is quite unusual and suggests a specific melodic or harmonic role, possibly a drone or a specific dissonance within the song.
• The middle four strings (A2, D3, G3, A3) resemble a partial Open Dsus4 or Gadd9 type configuration (A-D-G-A), providing a relatively consonant foundation in contrast to the outer strings. This cluster could facilitate ringing drones or specific arpeggiated figures.
• The highest string (C♯5) is tuned to a high C♯, creating a wide intervallic stretch with the rest of the tuning, especially the A2 (Major 3rd two octaves higher). This bright, high C♯ can cut through the mix, offering melodic opportunities or shimmering upper voicings.

Open Chords and Voicings

Due to the unique arrangement of notes, traditional open major or minor chords are not immediately apparent across all six strings. Instead, this tuning facilitates:

• Dissonant Voicings: The D♯3 on the low string creates a tritone with A2 (string 5) and a minor second with D3 (string 4), allowing for rich, dissonant open string clusters.
• Modal Harmonies: The inner strings (A2 D3 G3 A3) offer a suspended, modal quality. By fretting one note on string 6 to, for example, 'A' (4th fret), you could create an A minor 7sus4 type voicing (A-D-G-A).
• Melodic Potential: The open strings, particularly the high C♯5, can serve as drone notes or points of melodic departure, especially when combined with single-note lines on other strings. Chords like an A Major 7 (A, C♯, G) can be formed by carefully muting or avoiding certain strings, or by fretting an 'E' on the D string.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Women - China Steps" tuning from standard EADGBe, carefully adjust each string as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 1 semitone from E2 to D♯2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (A2).
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (D3).
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (G3).
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones from B3 to A3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 3 semitones from E4 to C♯4.

Note: All string movements are within the range that generally does not require a change in string gauge.

Here are the final notes for each string in the "Women - China Steps" tuning:

• String 6: D♯3
• String 5: A2
• String 4: D3
• String 3: G3
• String 2: A3
• String 1: C♯5