Verbal Analysis

The 'Open A sharp minor' tuning, famously used by Godspeed You! Black Emperor on many of their tracks, is an intriguing and sonically rich setup. Despite its name, the open strings collectively form a D# minor 7 chord (D#, F, A#, C#) when ordered by pitch (D#3, F3, A#3, C#4, F4, A#4), creating a deep, resonant, and somewhat melancholic sound that is immediately evocative. The tuning features several re-entrant points, where a lower-pitched string is followed by a higher one, creating unexpected harmonic textures and facilitating unique voicings. This provides a rich, droning quality, perfect for atmospheric and post-rock styles. The close voicings and octave displacements make for interesting arpeggios and power chords across the fretboard, while the low D# offers a powerful foundation.

Technical Analysis

This tuning sets the guitar strings to the following notes: D#3, A#3, C#4, F3, A#4, F4 (from low E to high E string). Let's examine the intervals between adjacent strings:

• String 6 (D#3) to String 5 (A#3): A Perfect 5th (7 semitones). This wide interval provides a strong harmonic base.
• String 5 (A#3) to String 4 (C#4): A Minor 3rd (3 semitones). This tight interval helps build the minor chord sound.
• String 4 (C#4) to String 3 (F3): A significant drop of 8 semitones, effectively a Descending Major 6th. This creates a highly re-entrant structure, making the 3rd string lower than the 4th, which opens up unique melodic and harmonic possibilities.
• String 3 (F3) to String 2 (A#4): A massive leap of 17 semitones, spanning an octave and a Major 3rd. This is another dramatic re-entrant point, with the 2nd string being considerably higher than the 3rd.
• String 2 (A#4) to String 1 (F4): A drop of 5 semitones, a Descending Perfect 4th. This is yet another re-entrant interval, placing the highest string lower than the second highest.

The multiple re-entrant intervals (string 4 to 3, string 3 to 2, string 2 to 1) are the defining characteristic of this tuning, resulting in a non-linear string progression. This structure requires a unique approach to playing, favoring droning open strings and wide interval fingerings. The overall range spans from D#3 to A#4.

Open Chords and Possibilities

As noted, strumming all open strings yields a rich D# minor 7 (D#m7) chord. This provides an excellent starting point for improvisations and compositions in this key. The re-entrant nature means that standard chord shapes will not apply, but new, often simpler, single-finger barres can yield complex harmonic results due to the stacked intervals. The presence of A# and C# (relative to the F) implies an A# minor quality within the D#m7. Experimentation with droning the low D#3 or A#3 while exploring higher string melodies will unlock the full potential of this unique tuning.

How to Tune

To set your guitar to the 'Open A sharp minor' tuning, follow these precise string adjustments:

• Low E String (6th): Tune down 1 semitone to D#3.
• A String (5th): Tune up 1 semitone to A#3.
• D String (4th): Tune down 1 semitone to C#4.
• G String (3rd): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• B String (2nd): Tune down 1 semitone to A#4.
• High E String (1st): Tune up 1 semitone to F4.

Note on String Gauges: All string movements in this tuning are within +/- 4 semitones of standard tuning, which generally does not require a change in string gauge. However, always exercise caution when tuning, especially when tuning strings up.

String 6 (Low E): D#3 (The lowest note, providing a deep, resonant foundation for the tuning.)

String 5 (A): A#3 (A perfect 5th above the 6th string, reinforcing the D# minor harmony.)

String 4 (D): C#4 (A minor 3rd above the 5th string, continuing to build the D#m triad.)

String 3 (G): F3 (Significantly lower than the 4th string, creating a re-entrant interval. This F note functions as the minor 3rd of D#m7, an octave below the F on the 1st string.)

String 2 (B): A#4 (A substantial leap from the 3rd string, resulting in another re-entrant interval. This A# is an octave above the 5th string A#3 and represents the perfect 5th of D#m7.)

String 1 (High E): F4 (A perfect 4th lower than the 2nd string, another re-entrant point. This F is the minor 3rd of D#m7 and an octave above the 3rd string F3.)