Welcome to the intricate sonic world of Thurston's Sharp Drone, a tuning famously known as "Thurston Moore - By The Fire." This distinctive configuration is a core element of Thurston Moore's experimental sound, prominently featured on his albums "By The Fire" and "Spirit Counsel." As revealed in an interview with Nick Reinhart of Tera Melos, this tuning forms the backbone for tracks such as "Locomotives," "They Believe In Love (When They Look at You)," "Venus," and "Siren," showcasing its versatility in creating both atmospheric textures and driving, angular riffs.

Verbal Analysis

Verbally, Thurston's Sharp Drone is characterized by its expansive, ringing resonance and a compelling sense of tension. The open strings create a vast, almost symphonic drone, often punctuated by a bright, cutting edge. It’s a tuning that encourages unconventional playing, moving away from standard chord voicings towards single-note melodies, arpeggiated figures, and clusters of notes that shimmer and clash in intriguing ways. The overall feel is one of open-ended exploration, allowing for both delicate, ethereal passages and powerful, sustained textures. It sounds simultaneously grounded by its low, doubled roots and elevated by its sharp, soaring higher notes.

Technical Analysis

Technically, Thurston's Sharp Drone is tuned to D#3 D#3 A#3 A#4 C#5 D#5. Let's analyze the intervals from the lowest D#:

• 6th String (D#3): The fundamental root note, establishing the tonic center.
• 5th String (D#3): A perfect unison with the 6th string, providing exceptional depth and sustain to the low end. This doubling creates a powerful, droning foundation.
• 4th String (A#3): A perfect fifth above the root D#, creating a strong D#5 power chord when played with the two lower strings. This adds harmonic stability.
• 3rd String (A#4): An octave above the 4th string, reinforcing the perfect fifth and adding brightness without introducing new harmonic content.
• 2nd String (C#5): This string introduces a minor seventh interval relative to the D# root. This is a critical component, imparting a distinct, bluesy, or often unresolved character to the open tuning. Relative to the 3rd string A#, it functions as a major third.
• 1st String (D#5): The root note, two octaves above the 6th string. This bright, high D# caps the tuning, providing a complete octave span and a sparkling top end. Relative to the 2nd string C#, it is a major second.

The open strings collectively form a rich, resonant D#m7(no3) or D#7sus2(no3) chord (D#, A#, C#), characterized by its droning perfect fifths and the distinctive minor seventh. This provides an instant, full-bodied sound perfect for textural playing. Due to the unison and octave pairings, simple shapes and single-note lines will have an amplified, resonant quality. While traditional chord shapes will be significantly altered, the tuning is highly conducive to creating unique modal drones, dissonant clusters, and shimmering arpeggios that leverage the open string harmonies. The stability of the doubled roots and fifths allows for adventurous melodic and harmonic exploration on the higher strings.

How to Tune Your Guitar for Thurston's Sharp Drone

To achieve the unique sonic signature of Thurston's Sharp Drone, follow these precise string adjustments from standard E Standard tuning (E A D G B E):

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 1 semitone to D#3.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 6 semitones to D#3. Caution: Tuning down 6 semitones is a significant change. A heavier gauge string for this position may be advised to maintain proper tension and intonation.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 4 semitones to A#3. Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change. A heavier gauge string for this position may be advised to maintain proper tension and intonation.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 3 semitones to A#4. Caution: Tuning up 3 semitones can increase string tension considerably. Tune slowly and carefully to avoid string breakage or neck stress.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 2 semitones to C#5.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 1 semitone to D#5.