Description of 'slowdive - sleep tuning'

The 'slowdive - sleep tuning', as its name suggests, is the evocative tuning used in Slowdive's atmospheric track 'Sleep'. This tuning departs significantly from standard EADGBe, creating a unique and deeply resonant soundscape, characteristic of the shoegaze genre.

Technical Analysis

This tuning establishes a highly unconventional set of intervals across the strings. From the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st) string, the notes are D#3, A#3, C#4, F3, G#4, and G#5. The open strings present a mix of wide, standard, and dissonant intervals:

• String 6 (D#3) to String 5 (A#3): A Perfect 5th (P5, 7 semitones). This provides a solid, resonant foundation on the lower end.
• String 5 (A#3) to String 4 (C#4): A Minor 3rd (m3, 3 semitones). This is a relatively close, melancholic interval.
• String 4 (C#4) to String 3 (F3): A Major 6th down (M6↓, 8 semitones down). This is a significant drop in pitch, creating a wide, almost jarring interval that contributes to the tuning's unique character.
• String 3 (F3) to String 2 (G#4): A Major 6th (M6, 9 semitones). Another relatively wide interval, but upwards, adding to the expansive feel.
• String 2 (G#4) to String 1 (G#5): A Perfect Octave (P8, 12 semitones). The unison of the two highest strings provides a strong, ringing drone on G#, perfect for shimmering textures.

The open strings themselves do not readily form a simple major or minor chord, indicating that this tuning is likely designed for specific melodic lines, arpeggios, and ambient textures rather than conventional strumming. However, certain resonant qualities emerge:

• The lowest two strings (D#3, A#3) form a strong D#5 power chord.
• The top two strings (G#4, G#5) are an octave apart, providing a powerful G# drone. When combined with the 4th string (C#4), this creates a pronounced G#sus4 chord (G#, C#, D#) quality on the higher strings.
• The F3 on the 3rd string acts as a unique, often dissonant, element that can provide tension or resolve in unexpected ways, contributing to the ethereal and often melancholic sound of the track.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'slowdive - sleep tuning' from standard EADGBe, follow these steps:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 1 semitones to D#3.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 1 semitones to A#3.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitones to C#4.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 3 semitones to G#4.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 4 semitones to G#5. Caution: Tuning this string up by 4 semitones is a significant adjustment. While generally safe, monitor string tension carefully. For adjustments exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different string gauge is typically advised.

This tuning will transform your guitar into an instrument capable of replicating the distinctive sonic textures heard in Slowdive's 'Sleep'.

String 6: Tuned to D#3 (Eb3). This is the lowest string, providing a deep, resonant foundation for the tuning.

String 5: Tuned to A#3 (Bb3). A perfect fifth above the 6th string, contributing to a full, open sound on the lower register.

String 4: Tuned to C#4 (Db4). A minor third above the 5th string, adding a melancholic color to the lower-mid range.

String 3: Tuned to F3. This string is notably lower than the 4th string, creating a wide and unique interval that adds to the tuning's distinctive character.

String 2: Tuned to G#4 (Ab4). A significant jump up from the 3rd string, this note begins the higher, droning section of the tuning.

String 1: Tuned to G#5 (Ab5). An octave above the 2nd string, this unison creates a powerful, shimmering drone on G# for the highest register.