Unlocking the Soundgarden G Octave Drop Tuning

This unique tuning, which we've named Soundgarden G Octave Drop, clearly draws inspiration from the innovative and often heavy soundscapes of bands like Soundgarden, as hinted by the original description referring to the "Superunknown" album. It's a tuning designed to provide a rich, deep foundation with interesting harmonic possibilities, moving beyond standard guitar voicings to create a distinctive sonic character.

Verbal Analysis:

Expect a powerful, resonant, and somewhat dark sound from this tuning. The presence of a low G on the 6th string combined with a significantly lowered B string (an entire octave down) creates a unique sonic landscape. It's ideal for heavy riffs, atmospheric soundscapes, and allows for open-string drones that can create a sense of vastness or foreboding. The open G major elements provide a strong tonal center, while the other notes introduce tension and possibilities for unusual melodic lines. This tuning encourages a more open, less fretted playing style, leveraging the natural resonance of the altered open strings.

Technical Analysis:

The open strings of your Guitar are tuned to G2 A2 D3 G3 B2 E4.

• The core of this tuning features a strong G Major triad (G-B-D) across strings 6, 4, 3, and 2. Specifically, the G2 (6th string), D3 (4th string), G3 (3rd string), and B2 (2nd string) combine to create a deep and resonant G Major chord, with the B note positioned an octave lower than its standard tuning.
• The presence of A2 on the 5th string and E4 on the 1st string adds an extended quality. When strummed open, this creates a harmonically rich sound akin to a Gsus2add13 or G6add9, depending on the emphasis, offering a more complex character than a simple open major chord.
• The most striking feature is the 2nd (B) string tuned down an entire octave to B2. This drastically alters typical guitar voicings and provides a very low, thick third to the G major chord, or a deep second when used with an A root, significantly expanding the instrument's low-end melodic and harmonic range.
• This tuning is excellent for playing power chords and heavy riffs rooted on the 6th and 5th strings (G and A), offering substantial low-end presence and a robust sonic impact.
• Given the specific intervals, players can explore various modal sounds, such as G Mixolydian or G Lydian, by carefully integrating the E4 and A2 notes in relation to the G root.
• Chords that become readily accessible or take on new character:
• Open G Major: Easily achieved by strumming strings 6, 4, 3, and 2, providing a full, deep G chord with unique low-end presence.
• Deep G5 Power Chords: Moving single-finger barre shapes or two-finger power chord shapes across the lower strings will yield incredibly heavy and resonant power chords.
• Open Gsus2: By muting the 5th and 1st strings, a Gsus2 can be formed (G-D-G-B), offering a softer yet still powerful open voicing.
• Modified Am/Am7 Shapes: The A2 on the 5th string and the open G and B strings can lend themselves to interesting minor voicings, especially with the unusually low B2.

How to Tune Your Guitar to Soundgarden G Octave Drop

To achieve the Soundgarden G Octave Drop tuning, start from standard EADGBe tuning. Please note the significant changes on the 6th and 2nd strings. The 2nd string, in particular, is tuned down an entire octave. Extreme caution should be exercised when tuning strings beyond 4 semitones up or down. In such cases, or for any tuning exceeding -4 or +4 semitones, a different gauge string is often advised to prevent string damage, maintain optimal tension, and ensure the best playability.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 3 semitones from E2 to G2. Take care when tuning up to avoid snapping the string.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to A2.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to D3.
• 3rd String (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to G3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 12 semitones from B3 to B2. This is a significant drop of a full octave. For optimal string tension, to prevent potential string damage or buzzing, and to achieve the best tone, a heavier gauge string is strongly recommended for this string.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E4.