Description of the Nick Depirro 8 String Tuning

This unique tuning, known as the "Nick Depirro 8 String," is the specific setup used by Nick Depirro for Night Verses' track "Plague Dancer." It's tailored for an 8-string guitar, designed to deliver a complex, heavy, and progressive sound, characteristic of modern metal and experimental rock genres.

Verbal Analysis

The tuning provides an exceptionally deep and resonant foundation, starting with a very low F1. This immediate low-end grunt is perfect for crushing riffs and extended range heavy music. The arrangement of notes creates a dense sonic tapestry, often leaning into dissonant and tension-filled voicings. While it features a strong F root and several perfect fifths (C notes), the inclusion of A#3 and C#4 in the middle strings introduces distinct harmonic complexities. This isn't a simple diatonic tuning; it's crafted to create specific, impactful sonic textures, allowing for powerful open-string drones and unique chordal possibilities that are not typically found in standard tunings.

This tuning would excel in genres requiring massive low-end, intricate arpeggios, and percussive riffing, such as djent, progressive metal, and atmospheric rock. The open strings themselves can form a powerful, albeit dissonant, 'cluster' chord that screams modern heaviness. Players will find that traditional chord shapes are largely reimagined, pushing them towards innovative fingerings and exploiting the wide intervals and close dissonances this tuning offers.

Technical Analysis

The tuning notes are as follows: F1 C2 F2 A#3 C#4 F3 C4 F4 (from lowest string 8 to highest string 1).

Analyzing the intervals from the lowest F1:

• String 8 (F1): Root note, provides the fundamental low-end.
• String 7 (C2): A perfect fifth above F1. Forms a strong F5 power chord with F1.
• String 6 (F2): An octave above F1, reinforcing the root.
• String 5 (A#3): A perfect fourth above F2 (or an augmented fourth/diminished fifth relative to F1, often interpreted as Bb3). This note introduces a unique color and tension.
• String 4 (C#4): An augmented fifth above F2 (or an augmented fifth relative to F1). This creates significant dissonance and a darker, more exotic sound.
• String 3 (F3): An octave above F2, further reinforcing the F root.
• String 2 (C4): A perfect fifth above F3.
• String 1 (F4): An octave above F3, completing the high-end F voicing.

The open strings collectively create a complex voicing centered around F. The F1, C2, F2, F3, C4, F4 strings form a robust F5 power chord across multiple octaves. The A#3 and C#4 are the standout notes, introducing a tritone (A# to F is a tritone if F is root, A# is b5) and an augmented fifth, respectively, in relation to the F root. This combination results in a dense, dissonant, and powerful open chord that is ideal for heavy, atmospheric textures or as a foundation for intricate single-note lines.

Chords within reach include open F5 power chords using various combinations of the F and C strings. The consistent F-C-F pattern across several string sets (8-7-6, 3-2-1) makes it easy to form crushing power chords by simply barring or playing adjacent strings. The unique intervals of A#3 and C#4 also open up possibilities for complex, dissonant voicings that are characteristic of modern, progressive music. For instance, a simple two-finger chord across the 5th (A#3) and 4th (C#4) strings could create a minor third interval, useful in unconventional melodic contexts.

How to Tune

To achieve the Nick Depirro 8 String tuning, follow these specific string adjustments from standard tuning. Please be mindful of string tension and take care when tuning.

• String 8 (Lowest): Tune down 1 semitone to F1.
• String 7: Tune up 1 semitone to C2.
• String 6: Tune up 1 semitone to F2.
• String 5: Tune up 1 semitone to A#3.
• String 4: Tune down 1 semitone to C#4.
• String 3: Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• String 2: Tune up 1 semitone to C4.
• String 1 (Highest): Tune up 1 semitone to F4.

Note on String Gauge: While none of the string movements in this tuning exceed 4 semitones up or down, it's always wise to ensure your string gauge is appropriate for the desired tension and tone, especially with frequent tuning changes. Extreme changes (exceeding 4 semitones) typically warrant considering a different string gauge to prevent breakage or poor intonation.