Verbal Analysis: The Harmonic Resonator

This intriguing tuning, famously utilized by experimental composer Glenn Branca and the seminal band Sonic Youth, particularly on their track "Expressway to Yr Skull," is a masterclass in resonant open string voicings and sonic density. It eschews traditional chordal harmony in favor of rich, sustained drones and shimmering overtones. The tuning immediately suggests a soundscape of immense sustain and harmonic interplay, perfect for creating walls of sound, hypnotic pulses, and soaring, almost orchestral textures. It's less about fretting complex chords and more about letting the instrument ring out, exploring the sympathetic vibrations and dissonances that emerge from its unique structure. This tuning is not for the faint of heart; it's designed to provoke and explore the very limits of guitar sonics.

Technical Analysis: Open E Major Dyad

The "Glenn Branca" tuning reveals a fascinating open structure:

• String 6 (Low E): E2
• String 5 (A String): G#3
• String 4 (D String): E3
• String 3 (G String): G4#
• String 2 (B String): E3
• String 1 (High E): G4#

This arrangement creates an open chord consisting solely of the notes E and G#, distributed across several octaves. Specifically, it's a repeated E Major dyad (root and major third), with no perfect fifth (B) present.

• E2 (Root)
• G#3 (Major Third, one octave above E2's major third, relative to the E string)
• E3 (Root, one octave above E2)
• G4# (Major Third, two octaves above E2's major third, relative to the E string)
• E3 (Root, one octave above E2 - Note: This is the same octave as string 4, creating unison/octave doubling here)
• G4# (Major Third, two octaves above E2's major third, relative to the E string - Note: This is the same octave as string 3, creating unison doubling here)

The repeated E and G# notes across multiple octaves create a dense, chiming resonance when strummed open, emphasizing the major third interval. This tuning naturally lends itself to droning textures and harmonic exploration rather than conventional chord progressions. Chords formed by simply barring across frets will produce parallel major dyads, offering a powerful, consistent sonic character throughout the fretboard. Simple two-finger shapes or single-string melodies can take on immense harmonic weight due to the open string resonance. Moving up the neck and barring, for example, at the 5th fret, would yield an A Major dyad (A and C#), preserving the core harmonic relationship of the open strings. The lack of a perfect fifth might make it feel less "full" in a traditional sense, but it opens the door to unique sonic landscapes, often favoring overtones and sympathetic vibrations that are characteristic of Branca's and Sonic Youth's work.

Current Tuning Notes

Here are the notes for each string in this "Glenn Branca" tuning:

• String 6 (Low E): E2
• String 5 (A String): G#3
• String 4 (D String): E3
• String 3 (G String): G4#
• String 2 (B String): E3
• String 1 (High E): G4#

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

Follow these instructions to achieve the "Glenn Branca" tuning from standard EADGBe (E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4) tuning:

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from its standard E2 pitch. Tune to E2.
• String 5 (A String): Tune down 1 semitone from its standard A2 pitch. Tune to G#3.
• String 4 (D String): Tune up 2 semitones from its standard D3 pitch. Tune to E3.
• String 3 (G String): Tune up 1 semitone from its standard G3 pitch. Tune to G4#.
• String 2 (B String): Tune down 7 semitones from its standard B3 pitch. Tune to E3.
  Caution: Tuning down 7 semitones is a significant change. If tuning from a standard gauge string, please exercise care to avoid string floppiness. For optimal tension and tone, consider using a heavier gauge string for this pitch.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 8 semitones from its standard E4 pitch. Tune to G4#.
  Caution: Tuning down 8 semitones is a very significant change. If tuning from a standard gauge string, please exercise extreme care to avoid string floppiness and poor intonation. For optimal tension and tone, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised for this pitch.