Verbal Analysis

This unique and deeply resonant tuning, inspired by System of a Down's "Lonely Day," plunges the guitar into a dark, heavy, and emotionally charged soundscape. It's not a standard drop tuning, but rather a complex arrangement that creates a distinctive sonic signature. The low D# provides an incredibly solid foundation, while the interplay of minor thirds, perfect fourths, and minor sevenths across the open strings conjures a melancholic yet powerful atmosphere. This tuning lends itself perfectly to the band's characteristic blend of aggressive riffs, intricate melodic lines, and soaring vocal harmonies. The significant tuning adjustments, especially on the middle strings, highlight a desire for very specific harmonic voicings and a slacker feel on the higher strings, ideal for expressive bends and a less conventional approach to chording.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes for this tuning are D#3 - A#3 - F#4 - C#5 - G#4 - C#5. This configuration results in a rich and complex open chord. From the lowest string (D#), the intervals are:

• String 6 (D#): Root
• String 5 (A#): Perfect 5th
• String 4 (F#): Minor 3rd
• String 3 (C#): Minor 7th
• String 2 (G#): Perfect 4th (or an 11th from the root)
• String 1 (C#): Minor 7th (octave above string 3)

Together, the open strings form a D# minor 7th chord with an added 11th (D#m7add11). This provides a naturally dark, jazzy, yet heavy tonal palette. The significant upward tuning on the D and G strings (4 and 6 semitones respectively) creates high tension on these specific strings, while the high E and B strings are tuned down significantly, reducing their tension. This varied string tension across the fretboard will profoundly impact playability and tone.

Chord Possibilities and Playability

The open D#m7add11 chord is a powerful starting point for composition in this tuning. Simple one or two-finger shapes on the lower strings can easily yield powerful, dissonant, or melancholic voicings. Power chords involving the lowest three strings (D#, A#, F#) are readily accessible, providing a thick, heavy foundation. The repeated C# on strings 3 and 1 can be used as a sustained drone or a melodic anchor point, a common technique in System of a Down's music. The unique intervals make standard chord shapes less intuitive but open up a world of unconventional harmonic clusters and fingerings, encouraging exploration outside of typical major/minor scales. Barre chords will require re-thinking due to the irregular intervals, but simple shapes on specific string groups will reveal surprising harmonies.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'Lonely Day' tuning, start from standard EADGBe tuning and adjust each string as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 1 semitones to D#.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 1 semitones to A#.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 4 semitones to F#. Caution: Tuning up 4 semitones is a significant adjustment; a lighter gauge string for the 4th string (D) may be advisable to prevent breakage and maintain intonation.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 6 semitones to C#. Caution: Tuning up 6 semitones is a very substantial adjustment; a lighter gauge string for the 3rd string (G) is strongly advised to prevent string breakage and excessive neck tension. Extreme care should be taken during this adjustment.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 3 semitones to G#.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#.

String 6: D3# – The lowest string, tuned down from standard E, provides a deep, resonant foundation for heavy riffs.

String 5: A3# – Tuned up from standard A, creating a perfect fifth interval above the low D#, essential for thick power chords.

String 4: F4# – Tuned significantly up from standard D, establishing the minor third of the D# root, contributing to the tuning's melancholic character.

String 3: C5# – Tuned drastically up from standard G, this note forms the minor seventh of D#, crucial for the D#m7 chord quality.

String 2: G4# – Tuned down from standard B, this note adds an interesting perfect fourth (or 11th) interval above the low D#, adding harmonic richness.

String 1: C5# – The highest string, tuned down from standard E, reinforces the minor seventh of the D# root, creating unique melodic and harmonic possibilities with string 3.