The Vs Self Deep Drop tuning plunges your guitar into a realm of extreme low frequencies and unique harmonic textures, deeply inspired by experimental and heavy soundscapes. This is an exceptionally low and wide-ranging tuning, characterized by significant drops across most strings, most notably three strings being tuned down an entire octave.

Technical Analysis:

Starting from standard EADGBe, this tuning results in the open notes E1 A1 B2 F#4 G#4 E3. The overall intervallic structure, considering the fundamental notes (E, A, B, F#, G#, E), suggests an E Major sonority with added extensions. Specifically, it contains the root (E), major second (F#), major third (G#), perfect fourth (A), and perfect fifth (B). However, the extreme octave displacements (E1, A1, B2, E3, F#4, G#4) mean that strumming the open strings produces a rich, sprawling Emaj(add2, add4) chord spread across multiple octaves, creating a dense and resonant wall of sound rather than a simple triadic harmony. The lowest E1 and A1 strings provide a thunderous, sub-harmonic foundation. The B2 introduces a distinctive dissonance or tension, while the F#4 and G#4 strings create brighter, almost bell-like tones that hover above the lower register. The E3 string acts as an anchor or an upper drone.

Due to the vast range and dramatic string tension changes, this tuning is highly specialized. It excels in genres such as drone metal, post-rock, ambient, or experimental music where a colossal, sustained sound is desired. Traditional chord shapes will largely be unusable, encouraging exploration of new voicings, open string drones, and single-note melodic lines that leverage the unique intervallic relationships.

Chords and Playability:

While not an "open chord" in the conventional sense, strumming all open strings will yield a massive, dark E Major-infused sound. The tuning's structure (E1 A1 B2 F#4 G#4 E3) does not immediately lend itself to common chord shapes. Instead, players might find themselves using:

• Drone Chords: Leveraging the low E1 and A1 strings for a deep, resonant base while adding single notes or partial chords on the higher strings.
• Unison/Octave Riffs: The repeated E notes (E1, E3) could be used for powerful octave riffs, though they are two octaves apart.
• Two or Three-String Voicings: Exploring power chords or intervallic shapes that utilize only a few adjacent strings, especially on the lower register for impactful, heavy sounds, or on the higher register for distinct melodic fragments.
• Single-Note Runs: The wide range allows for dynamic single-note lines that can jump across octaves, creating spacious and dramatic musical phrases.

The significant tension changes necessitate a dedicated setup with much heavier gauge strings for optimal tone and intonation, especially for the strings tuned down a full octave. Careful setup for neck relief and intonation is crucial.

How to Tune:

This tuning involves substantial drops for most strings. It is strongly recommended to use a set of much heavier gauge strings, especially for those tuned down more than 4 semitones, to maintain playable tension and proper intonation. Tuning up significantly (more than 4 semitones) can risk string breakage, while tuning down excessively (more than 4 semitones) on standard gauges can lead to very loose, floppy strings.

• String 6 (Low E): Standard E2 is tuned to E1. Tune down 12 semitones. This is a full octave drop, requiring a significantly heavier gauge string.
• String 5 (A): Standard A2 is tuned to A1. Tune down 12 semitones. This is a full octave drop, requiring a significantly heavier gauge string.
• String 4 (D): Standard D3 is tuned to B2. Tune down 3 semitones. This is a moderate drop.
• String 3 (G): Standard G3 is tuned to F#4. Tune down 1 semitones. (Note: Achieving F#4 from standard G3 would typically involve an octave shift in addition to the semitone drop specified, as G3 tuned down 1 semitone results in F#3. The target note is F#4.)
• String 2 (B): Standard B3 is tuned to G#4. Tune down 3 semitones. (Note: Achieving G#4 from standard B3 would typically involve an octave shift in addition to the semitone drop specified, as B3 tuned down 3 semitones results in G#3. The target note is G#4.)
• String 1 (High E): Standard E4 is tuned to E3. Tune down 12 semitones. This is a full octave drop, requiring a significantly heavier gauge string.

String 6 (Low E): E1 (Extremely low, an octave below standard E)

String 5 (A): A1 (Very low, an octave below standard A)

String 4 (D): B2 (A minor third below standard D)

String 3 (G): F#4 (An octave above F#3, which is a semitone below standard G)

String 2 (B): G#4 (An octave above G#3, which is a minor third below standard B)

String 1 (High E): E3 (An octave below standard E)