The tuning provided, originally named "Doxo Thingy" and described by its creator as "they call me the tuning changer," has been renamed "D# Minor 7 Sus4 Open." This unique tuning for an 8-string guitar indeed lives up to its description, offering a distinctive and deeply resonant sonic landscape that diverges significantly from standard guitar tunings.

Verbal Analysis

This "D# Minor 7 Sus4 Open" tuning creates a rich, open sound that leans heavily towards modal or suspended harmonies. It is particularly well-suited for ambient soundscapes, drone music, or exploring modern progressive compositions where traditional chord voicings might feel too restrictive. The prevalence of perfect fourth intervals, combined with specific root and fifth relationships, suggests a vast harmonic potential, allowing for intricate arpeggios, sustained ringing open chords, and expansive melodic explorations. Its inherent complexity provides a sense of mystery and depth, perfect for creating atmospheric textures and compelling musical journeys.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this 8-string guitar tuning are D#2, G#2, D#3, G#3, C#4, F#4, G#4, and C#5. This arrangement prominently features the notes D#, G#, C#, and F#, forming a rich, suspended harmonic structure. Here's a breakdown of its characteristics:

• The lowest strings (8th and 7th: D#2, G#2) establish a powerful root-to-fourth relationship, providing a deep, resonant foundation for the tuning.
• Strings 6 and 5 (D#3, G#3) reinforce these foundational notes an octave higher, adding density and sustain to the lower register.
• The mid-to-high strings (4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st: C#4, F#4, G#4, C#5) create a clear and ringing C#sus4 chord voicing (Root-4th-5th-Octave), which is a prominent feature of this tuning.
• When played together, the open strings can be interpreted as a complex D# Minor 7 (add4, add11) chord (D# G# C# F#) or a G#sus2/4 (add6, add9) depending on the perceived root, highlighting its modal and suspended qualities.
• The prevalence of perfect fourth intervals between most adjacent strings (D#2-G#2, D#3-G#3, G#3-C#4, C#4-F#4, G#4-C#5) makes this tuning highly adaptable for modern fingerstyle and arpeggiated playing. The presence of a Perfect 5th (G#2-D#3) and a Major 2nd (F#4-G#4) adds interesting harmonic color and provides unique intervallic leaps for melodic exploration.

How to Tune

To achieve the D# Minor 7 Sus4 Open tuning, adjust each string from its presumed standard 8-string tuning (e.g., F#2 B2 E3 A3 D3 G3 B3 E4) according to the following instructions. Always tune carefully and in small increments.

• String 8: Tune down 3 semitones to D#2.
• String 7: Tune down 3 semitones to G#2.
• String 6: Tune down 1 semitone to D#3.
• String 5: Tune down 1 semitone to G#3.
• String 4: Tune down 1 semitone to C#4.
• String 3: Tune down 1 semitone to F#4.
• String 2: Tune down 3 semitones to G#4.
• String 1: Tune down 3 semitones to C#5.

Please note that all string movements are relatively minor (within 4 semitones down), so a change in string gauge is generally not required for this tuning. However, always exercise caution when adjusting string tension.

String 8: D2#

String 7: G2#

String 6: D3#

String 5: G3#

String 4: C4#

String 3: F4#

String 2: G4#

String 1: C5#