Verbal Analysis

Known famously as the 'Teenage Riot' tuning, this setup is indelibly linked to the experimental rock pioneers Sonic Youth. It's a prime example of their unconventional approach to guitar, creating a soundscape that defies traditional harmony and embraces unique textures. This tuning isn't designed for playing standard chord shapes; instead, it invites the player to explore new voicings, drones, and percussive possibilities, which are hallmarks of Sonic Youth's groundbreaking sound.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes for this tuning are G2-A2-B2-D3-E3-G3, from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st) string. When strummed open, these notes collectively form a rich G Major 6th chord with an added 2nd (often termed Gmaj6/9). Specifically, it presents the intervals of Root (G), Major 2nd (A), Major 3rd (B), Perfect 5th (D), Major 6th (E), and an Octave (G) from the lowest G string.

While the open strings produce a harmonically full Gmaj6/9 chord, the true character of this tuning emerges from its drastic deviations from standard tuning. The unique interval relationships between strings—such as the Major 2nd between the 6th (G) and 5th (A) strings, and the minor 3rd between the 2nd (E) and 1st (G) strings—make conventional chord voicings impractical. This encourages players to explore clustered sounds, arpeggiated patterns, and the distinctive dissonances that arise from single-note lines or two-finger voicings. Barring across all strings will naturally produce variations of the Gmaj6/9 chord further up the neck (e.g., Cmaj6/9 at the 5th fret, Dmaj6/9 at the 7th fret), offering a foundational method for exploring melodic movement within this highly idiosyncratic harmonic framework.

Here are the target notes for each string:

• String 6 (Low E string position): G2
• String 5 (A string position): A2
• String 4 (D string position): B2
• String 3 (G string position): D3
• String 2 (B string position): E3
• String 1 (High E string position): G3

How to Tune

Approach this tuning carefully due to the significant changes required for most strings. When tuning a string up or down by more than 4 semitones, it is generally advised to consider using a different string gauge to maintain optimal tension and prevent potential string damage or poor intonation.

• String 6 (Low E to G2): Tune up 3 semitones. (This is a moderate upward adjustment.)
• String 5 (A to A2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 4 (D to B2): Tune down 3 semitones. (This is a moderate downward adjustment.)
• String 3 (G to D3): Tune down 5 semitones. (Recommendation: This is a significant drop. Consider a heavier gauge string if frequently using this tuning.)
• String 2 (B to E3): Tune down 7 semitones. (Recommendation: This is a significant drop. Consider a heavier gauge string if frequently using this tuning.)
• String 1 (High E to G3): Tune down 9 semitones. (Recommendation: This is a substantial drop. Consider a heavier gauge string if frequently using this tuning.)