Tuning Overview: Loom/Comintern

The "Loom/Comintern" tuning is a distinctive setup for the guitar, described by its creator for use in a side project. It plunges the guitar into a significantly lower register compared to standard tuning, creating a darker, heavier, and potentially more resonant soundscape. The extensive downtuning across all strings allows for a wide dynamic range, suitable for atmospheric textures or powerful, riff-based music. The tuning leans heavily into perfect fifths on the lower strings, offering a consistent and sonorous foundation, while the upper strings introduce specific harmonic intervals that can create rich, open chord voicings.

Technical Analysis: F# Dominance with Extended Harmonies

This tuning is configured as F#2 - C#3 - G#3 - D#4 - F#4 - A#4. At its core, the open strings suggest an F# tonality. The first four strings (F#2, C#3, G#3, D#4) are tuned in a sequence of perfect fifths (F# to C#, C# to G#, G# to D#), which provides a powerful, almost orchestral, low-end. This structure naturally lends itself to creating expansive power chords and sustained drones. The full open tuning, F#2-C#3-G#3-D#4-F#4-A#4, contains the notes F#, A#, C#, D#, G#. These notes form an F# major triad (F#, A#, C#) with added extensions: a G# (major 2nd/9th) and a D# (major 6th/13th). This means that simply strumming the open strings yields a complex F#maj(add2,add6) or F#maj9(no5,add6) voicing, offering a rich, resonant chord without any fretting. This inherent harmonic complexity makes it ideal for ambient textures or rich arpeggiated patterns. The consistent perfect fifths on the lower strings also facilitate easy transposition of power chord shapes.

Some easily accessible open chords or voicings include:

• F#maj(add2,add6): Strumming all open strings provides this rich, resonant chord.
• Power Chords: Due to the perfect fifths on the lower strings, moving a single finger across the 6th, 5th, 4th, and 3rd strings (e.g., at the 2nd fret for a G# power chord) will create powerful, consistent voicings.
• Drone-based Harmonies: The low, resonant F# makes it an excellent drone note, allowing melodic lines or chord fragments to be played over it for an atmospheric effect.

How to Tune Your Guitar to Loom/Comintern

To achieve the Loom/Comintern tuning, you will be making significant adjustments to your standard guitar tuning. It is crucial to use a reliable tuner. Please note that the instructions for movement are provided directly from the tuning data. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, it is generally advised to consider a different gauge of strings to maintain proper tension and intonation, and to prevent potential damage to your instrument. For reference, standard guitar tuning is E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4 (from thickest to thinnest string).

• String 6 (Low E string): The target note for this string is F#2. According to the tuning instructions, you should tune this string down 10 semitones. Given this substantial change from its original E2, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised.
• String 5 (A string): The target note for this string is C#3. According to the tuning instructions, you should tune this string down 8 semitones. Given this substantial change from its original A2, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised.
• String 4 (D string): The target note for this string is G#3. According to the tuning instructions, you should tune this string down 6 semitones. Given this substantial change from its original D3, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised.
• String 3 (G string): The target note for this string is D#4. According to the tuning instructions, you should tune this string down 4 semitones. Given this significant change from its original G3, a heavier gauge string is advised.
• String 2 (B string): The target note for this string is F#4. According to the tuning instructions, you should tune this string down 5 semitones. Given this substantial change from its original B3, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised.
• String 1 (High E string): The target note for this string is A#4. According to the tuning instructions, you should tune this string down 6 semitones. Given this substantial change from its original E4, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised.

String 6: F#2

String 5: C#3

String 4: G#3

String 3: D#4

String 2: F#4

String 1: A#4