The FGCGCG Tuning is an incredibly resonant and harmonically rich alternate tuning, described in its origins as suitable for "Worship music in 5 keys at once." It achieves this by transforming the standard EADGBe into a deeply sonorous open voicing.

Verbal Analysis:

This tuning creates an expansive, atmospheric sound ideal for ambient, post-rock, and of course, worship music. The open strings resonate beautifully, providing a rich harmonic foundation. It's designed for lush, sustained chords and melodic lines that leverage the droning quality of the open strings. Chords are often simplified, allowing for expressive single-finger or barre-chord voicings to create complex harmonies with ease. The repeating G-C-G-C-G pattern across the top five strings makes it intuitive to find musically pleasing shapes up and down the neck, while the low F adds a strong, grounding bass.

Technical Analysis:

Technically, the FGCGCG tuning (F2 G2 C3 G3 C4 G4) can be seen as a derivation of the GADADA tuning, shifted down by a whole step (2 semitones). The open strings form a complex yet harmonious chord:

• The core of the tuning (G-C-G-C-G from string 5 to 1) establishes a robust C Major chord (C-G-C-G-C-G).
• The lowest string (F2) then grounds this C Major chord with an F in the bass. This creates an open Fsus2/C (F G C) or, more accurately, an inversion of a C chord with an F in the bass (C/F), with an added G. It can also be perceived as an Fmaj9sus2 chord (F-G-C-E-G), though without the 'E' for the major 7th, it leans towards an Fsus2 or Fadd9 with the C as the root.

This structure makes it incredibly versatile for creating both suspended and major-like sonorities. By simply barring across various frets, you can achieve a wide range of harmonious chords:

• Open (FGCGCG): A rich Fsus2/C voicing, or C major over an F bass.
• Barre at 1st Fret (F#G#C#G#C#G#): An F#sus2/C# or C# major over an F# bass.
• Barre at 3rd Fret (AGDGDA): An Asus2/D or D major over an A bass. This also reflects the GADADA tuning structure shifted to A.
• Barre at 5th Fret (CGCEGC): A Gsus2/D or D major over a G bass.

The prevalence of fourths and fifths (G-C, C-G) in the upper strings provides a stable and resonant backdrop, making this tuning excellent for creating vast soundscapes with minimal effort.

How to Tune to FGCGCG:

To achieve the FGCGCG tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps with care, especially for strings tuned up several semitones. Remember that negative values indicate tuning down, and positive values indicate tuning up.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone from E2 to F2. This is a minor adjustment.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones from A2 to G2. This will provide a warmer, lower bass note.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 2 semitones from D3 to C3. Another step down for a deeper resonance.
• 3rd String (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains at G3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 1 semitone from B3 to C4. A slight increase in tension here.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 3 semitones from E4 to G4. Please exercise caution when tuning this string up by 3 semitones, as it increases string tension significantly. For prolonged use or if your guitar is not set up for higher tension, consider using a lighter gauge string to prevent potential damage.

Always re-check your tuning after making adjustments, as changes in one string can subtly affect others. If tuning up by more than 4 semitones (or down by more than 4 semitones), a different gauge string is generally advised to maintain optimal playability and guitar health.

String 6 (Low E String): Tuned to F2

String 5 (A String): Tuned to G2

String 4 (D String): Tuned to C3

String 3 (G String): Tuned to G3

String 2 (B String): Tuned to C4

String 1 (High E String): Tuned to G4