"C Lydian Open" Tuning Analysis

This intriguing guitar tuning, aptly named "C Lydian Open," offers a bright and expansive sound palette. As described by its creator, it's perfect for styles like Midwest Emo, where shimmering, melodic, and sometimes melancholic textures are desired, aiming for a generally "bright tuning" experience. The open strings immediately evoke a sense of airiness and complexity, making it an excellent choice for ambient soundscapes, arpeggiated patterns, and expressive chord voicings.

Technical Breakdown:

• Notes (Low to High String): F♯3, A2, C3, G3, B3, E4
• Open String Harmony: When arranged by pitch from lowest to highest (A2, C3, F♯3, G3, B3, E4), the open strings strongly lean into a C Lydian tonality (C-D-E-F♯-G-A-B). This tuning prominently features the notes C, E, F♯, G, A, and B, making an open C major 7#11 chord (C-E-G-B with the F♯ acting as the #11) particularly resonant. This gives the tuning an immediate dreaminess and sophistication.
• Intervalic Structure (between adjacent strings, low to high):
  • String 6 (F♯3) to String 5 (A2): This is a non-linear arrangement where the 6th string's pitch is actually higher than the 5th string's pitch. This creates unique harmonic possibilities and unexpected bass lines.
  • String 5 (A2) to String 4 (C3): Minor third (3 semitones) – a characteristic, slightly melancholic interval.
  • String 4 (C3) to String 3 (G3): Perfect fifth (7 semitones) – a wide, resonant interval, excellent for open drones and powerful, clear voicings.
  • String 3 (G3) to String 2 (B3): Major third (4 semitones) – contributes to the bright and harmonious character of the tuning.
  • String 2 (B3) to String 1 (E4): Perfect fourth (5 semitones) – a standard and solid interval, providing familiarity in the higher register.

Chords and Playability:

• Open Chords: The open tuning provides several rich harmonic possibilities:
  • Cmaj7#11: Strike the open 6th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings (F♯3, C3, G3, B3, E4). This immediately creates a lush, dreamy, and distinctly Lydian chord, perfect for sustained harmonies and textural playing.
  • Amin Triad: By playing strings 5, 4, and 1 (A2, C3, E4), you get a clear and ringing A minor triad, offering a touch of introspection.
  • Emin Triad: Strings 1, 3, and 2 (E4, G3, B3) form an E minor triad, providing a melancholic yet resonant harmonic option.
  • Gmaj (partial): Strings 3 and 2 (G3, B3) provide the root and major third of a G major chord. A D note can be easily fretted (e.g., 2nd fret on string 4, or 10th fret on string 1) to complete this.
• Beyond Open Chords: The unique string intervals, particularly the perfect fifth between strings 4 and 3, and the distinctive placement of the 6th string, will encourage fresh fingerings for familiar chord shapes. Simple barre chords are likely to yield sophisticated extended harmonies, making this tuning ideal for creating ambient pads, intricate arpeggios, and expressive melodic lines. The inherent brightness of the Lydian mode, combined with the open, ringing nature of the strings, lends itself well to dynamic and emotionally rich playing. The F♯3 on the lowest string offers a strong, slightly dissonant or yearning bass foundation, perfectly aligning with the emotional depth often explored in Midwest Emo music.

How to Tune:

Carefully adjust each string to reach its target note. The semitone movements described below indicate the change from the string's assumed previous pitch to achieve the specified target note. All movements in this tuning are within the recommended safe range of -4 to +4 semitones for standard string gauges.

• String 6 (Low E string equivalent): Tune to F♯3. This requires you to Tune up 2 semitones from its current note.
• String 5 (A string equivalent): Tune to A2. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 4 (D string equivalent): Tune to C3. This requires you to Tune down 2 semitones from its current note.
• String 3 (G string equivalent): Tune to G3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2 (B string equivalent): Tune to B3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (High E string equivalent): Tune to E4. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Important Note: All specified string movements are within the recommended safe range of -4 to +4 semitones for standard string gauges. If a tuning were to require movements exceeding these ranges, a different string gauge would typically be advised to maintain proper tension and avoid potential string breakage.