The 'C# Koyunbaba Re-entrant' tuning for guitar is a truly unique and evocative sonic landscape, diverging significantly from standard guitar tuning. It creates a rich, resonant, and almost ethereal sound, making it particularly well-suited for intricate fingerstyle pieces, drone-based music, or compositions seeking a distinctive, non-Western musical texture.

Its most striking feature is its re-entrant nature, where adjacent strings do not always follow a strictly ascending pitch order. This creates surprising harmonic possibilities and a harp-like quality when strummed or arpeggiated.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to E2, C#4, G#3, C#5, G#4, C#5. This arrangement is built around the core notes E, G#, and C# across multiple octaves.

Harmonically, these notes form a strong **C# minor triad (C# E G#) with the E (string 6) in the bass**, creating a C#m/E voicing. Alternatively, it can be perceived as an **E major 6th chord (E G# C#) lacking its fifth (B)**. This dual interpretation allows for versatile emotional expression, ranging from melancholic minor tonalities to open, resonant major qualities.

The prevalence of C# and G# across the middle and upper strings (C#4, G#3, C#5, G#4, C#5) creates a strong overtone series and natural resonance, making open chords incredibly rich and sustaining.

The re-entrant aspect is notable: the 5th string (C#4) is pitched higher than the 4th string (G#3), and the 3rd string (C#5) is pitched higher than the 2nd string (G#4). This challenges conventional guitar chord shapes and encourages exploration of new voicings and melodic patterns.

Chords and Playability

• Open Chord: Strumming all open strings will yield a beautiful **C# minor chord with an E bass (C#m/E)** or an **E Major 6 (no 5th)**. This chord has a very full, resonant quality due to the octaves and open intervals.
• Drones and Harmonics: The repeated G# and C# notes are perfect for creating sustained drones, especially when coupled with the low E. Harmonics will ring out brilliantly, providing an almost bell-like quality.
• Fingerstyle: This tuning shines in fingerstyle playing, allowing for complex arpeggios that utilize the re-entrant strings for unique melodic interplay and voicing. The wide intervals between some strings, and narrow re-entrant intervals on others, offer a unique sonic palette ideal for intricate patterns.
• Accessibility: Due to the re-entrant nature, many standard chord shapes will need to be re-imagined or may not be directly transferable. However, the open tuning itself provides a strong harmonic foundation, making it easier to find complementary chord shapes nearby. Barring across certain frets, particularly higher up the neck, could reveal new chord voicings that resonate with the open strings.

How to Tune Your Guitar to C# Koyunbaba Re-entrant

Please note: Extreme changes in string tension can be risky. Always tune slowly and carefully, using a reliable tuner. If a string movement exceeds a change of -4 or +4 semitones from its standard pitch, consider using a different string gauge to avoid breakage and ensure optimal tone and playability.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune from Standard E2 to E2. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 5 (A String): Tune from Standard A2 to C#4. Tune up 4 semitones. *(This movement is at the upper limit for a standard string; proceed with caution.)*
• String 4 (D String): Tune from Standard D3 to G#3. Tune down 6 semitones. *(This significant drop exceeds 4 semitones and strongly advises using a heavier gauge string for optimal tone and tension.)*
• String 3 (G String): Tune from Standard G3 to C#5. Tune up 6 semitones. *(This significant raise exceeds 4 semitones and strongly advises using a lighter gauge string to prevent breakage.)*
• String 2 (B String): Tune from Standard B3 to G#4. Tune down 3 semitones. *(Proceed with caution as this is a noticeable drop.)*
• String 1 (High E): Tune from Standard E4 to C#5. Tune down 3 semitones. *(Proceed with caution as this is a noticeable drop.)*

Here are the notes for each string in the C# Koyunbaba Re-entrant tuning, from the thickest (lowest pitch) to the thinnest (highest pitch):

• String 6: E2 (The lowest E, same as standard guitar tuning)
• String 5: C#4 (A C# note two octaves above the 6th string E, and notably higher in pitch than the subsequent 4th string)
• String 4: G#3 (A G# note, lower in pitch than the 5th string but higher than the 6th string E)
• String 3: C#5 (A C# note, the highest C# in this tuning and higher in pitch than the subsequent 2nd string)
• String 2: G#4 (A G# note, an octave above the 4th string G#)
• String 1: C#5 (The highest string, matching the pitch of the 3rd string)