Tuning Analysis: Meshuggah 6 String Tuning

This tuning is an exceptionally low and unconventional setup for a 6-string guitar, clearly inspired by the band Meshuggah's signature, heavy, and progressive sound. It pushes the boundaries of standard guitar tuning, dropping strings significantly to achieve a guttural, often dissonant, and incredibly powerful sonic palette. The incredibly low F1 on the 6th string creates a massive, resonant bass foundation, indicative of a focus on extreme low-end riffing.

The unique interval structure, particularly the wide gaps and the top string being tuned lower than the second string, suggests a design focused on complex, percussive riffs, dissonant textures, and intricate lead work, rather than traditional open chord strumming. It is crafted for a distinctively aggressive, highly rhythmic, and technically demanding playing style typical of progressive metal.

Technical Breakdown:

• Tuning Notes: The open strings are tuned to F1, A#2, D#3, G#3, C#4, F3.
• Extreme Down-tuning: Compared to standard E Standard (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4), this tuning is profoundly down-tuned across all strings, with the lowest string reaching F1, which is over an octave below standard E2.
• Irregular Intervals: The intervals between adjacent strings are highly irregular and unconventional:
  • String 6 (F1) to String 5 (A#2): An octave and an augmented 4th (18 semitones). This is an exceptionally wide and dissonant interval between the two lowest strings.
  • String 5 (A#2) to String 4 (D#3): An augmented 4th (tritone) (6 semitones).
  • String 4 (D#3) to String 3 (G#3): A perfect 4th (5 semitones).
  • String 3 (G#3) to String 2 (C#4): A perfect 4th (5 semitones).
  • String 2 (C#4) to String 1 (F3): A major 6th down (8 semitones down, or a diminished 3rd up). This inverted interval on the highest strings is highly unusual and will create unexpected harmonic relationships and unique voicings.

Chords and Voicings:

The open string notes (F, A#, D#, G#, C#, F) do not immediately form a conventional, consonant chord. This tuning is not designed for traditional open chord strumming but rather for specific voicings and riffing techniques:

• Power Chords: Standard power chord shapes (root-5th) will be accessible and powerful on strings 4-3 and 3-2 due to the perfect 4th intervals. However, on strings 6-5 and 5-4, a standard power chord shape will produce a tritone or an even wider dissonant interval, requiring players to adapt their fingerings or embrace these inherent dissonances.
• Octave Voicings: The F1 on the 6th string and F3 on the 1st string are two octaves apart, providing a strong anchor for massive octave-based riffs or open drone notes.
• Dissonant Clusters: The unique and often dissonant intervals are ideal for creating heavy, clustered, and angular voicings, characteristic of progressive and extreme metal. Open string chords will almost always feature prominent dissonances, adding to the aggressive character.
• Riffing Focus: This tuning is primarily designed for percussive, single-note, or two-note riffs that leverage the extremely low register and the specific interval relationships between strings to create a unique rhythmic and harmonic impact. It encourages a highly technical and precise playing approach.

Here are the notes for each string in this tuning:

• String 6 (lowest): F1
• String 5: A#2
• String 4: D#3
• String 3: G#3
• String 2: C#4
• String 1 (highest): F3

How to Tune Your Guitar for Meshuggah 6 String Tuning

Achieving this extreme tuning requires significant adjustments. Please take extreme care when tuning, as these are large movements from standard pitch. For optimal playability and to maintain proper string tension and intonation, a heavier gauge string set is highly recommended for this tuning.

• String 6 (lowest): Tune down 11 semitones to reach F1.
• String 5: Tune down 11 semitones to reach A#2.
• String 4: Tune down 11 semitones to reach D#3.
• String 3: Tune down 11 semitones to reach G#3.
• String 2: Tune down 10 semitones to reach C#4.
• String 1 (highest): Tune down 11 semitones to reach F3.

Important Note on String Gauge: Tuning strings down by more than 4 semitones (or up by more than 4 semitones) can lead to insufficient string tension, resulting in fret buzz, poor intonation, and a muddy tone. The movements in this tuning (10-11 semitones down for all strings) are extreme and necessitate a significantly heavier or baritone string set to ensure proper playability and to achieve the desired tone.