Tuning Analysis: Thornhill - Arkangel Tuning

This unique 7-string guitar tuning is famously used by Thornhill in their song "Arkangel." It's a highly experimental and aggressive tuning designed to deliver a massive low-end presence combined with soaring high notes, creating a soundscape that is both heavy and atmospheric.

Technical Observations:

• Overall Range: The tuning spans an exceptionally wide range from E1 on the 7th string to C5# on the 1st string, covering almost four octaves. This vast dynamic range allows for incredibly deep, rumbling riffs alongside brighter lead lines.
• Extreme Low End: The 7th string tuned to E1 provides an incredibly deep, rumbling foundation, significantly lower than typical 7-string tunings. This is a common characteristic of modern metal and djent tunings, enabling crushing low-frequency impact.
• Irregular Intervals: This tuning is far from standard, featuring highly irregular and wide intervals between several strings.
  • The jump from E1 (7th string) to C3# (6th string) is a massive 20 semitones (Major 13th), making common chord shapes across these two strings virtually impossible without extreme stretches or string-skipping.
  • Similarly, the interval from F3# (5th string) to B2 (4th string) drops 7 semitones (a perfect fifth down), followed by another huge leap from B2 (4th string) to D4# (3rd string) of 17 semitones (a Major 10th). These irregular intervals suggest the tuning is not designed for traditional open chord strumming but rather for specific melodic lines, power chords on select string groups, or utilizing open strings as drones.
• Consistent High End: The top three strings (D4#, G4#, C5#) are tuned in perfect fourths (D# to G# is 5 semitones, G# to C# is 5 semitones). This consistency allows for familiar power chord and scale shapes to be easily played on these higher strings, offering a degree of playability amidst the experimental lower end.
• Open String Harmony: The open strings (E1, C3#, F3#, B2, D4#, G4#, C5#) do not form a conventional chord that is easily recognizable. However, the presence of C#, D#, G# in the upper register, alongside E and B in the lower, suggests a possible C# minor or E major tonality, but with significant dissonance or a modal approach. This tuning is likely built around specific melodic phrases and dissonant power chords rather than open major/minor harmony. The E1 and B2 create a perfect fifth, a common heavy chord root.

How to Tune:

Due to the significant string movements required, particular care should be taken during tuning. For movements of 4 semitones or more (up or down), it is generally advised to consider a different gauge of string to ensure proper intonation and string tension, and to prevent potential damage to the guitar or strings.

• 7th String (Lowest): Tune down 7 semitones to E1. (Caution: This is a significant drop. A heavier gauge string is strongly advised.)
• 6th String: Tune down 3 semitones to C3#.
• 5th String: Tune down 3 semitones to F3#.
• 4th String: Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• 3rd String: Tune down 4 semitones to D4#. (Caution: This is a significant drop. A heavier gauge string is strongly advised.)
• 2nd String: Tune down 3 semitones to G4#.
• 1st String (Highest): Tune down 3 semitones to C5#.

Open String Notes:

7th String: E1
6th String: C3#
5th String: F3#
4th String: B2
3rd String: D4#
2nd String: G4#
1st String: C5#