Step into the raw, experimental soundscapes of Sonic Youth with this unique and highly dissonant tuning, which we've named Sonic Youth Dissonance. Commonly known as the "Total Trash" tuning, this setup is fundamental to many of their iconic tracks like "Total Trash," "Trilogy," "Bull in the Heather," and "Cotton Crown." It's a hallmark of their distinctive approach to noise and texture, creating a sound that is both jarring and deeply expressive.

Technical Analysis

This tuning transforms the standard six-string guitar into a drone-heavy, dissonant machine:

• Instrument Type: Guitar
• Open Tuning Notes: G2 - G2 - D3 - D3 - D4# - D4#

The core characteristic of this tuning lies in its heavily duplicated and clustered notes. We see pairs of G2, D3, and D4# (Eb4). The open tuning itself is a highly charged sonority:

• The lowest two strings are tuned to unison G2s, providing a massive, rumbling bass foundation.
• The middle two strings are tuned to unison D3s, adding a perfect fifth above the G, creating a powerful G5 (power chord) effect on strings 6-5-4-3.
• The highest two strings are tuned to unison D4#s (Eb4s). This is where the extreme dissonance enters. An Eb against the foundational G and D creates a strong minor second interval with the D (D to D# / Eb) and a minor third interval with the G (G to Eb), clashing with any implied G major harmony.

The resulting open chord is a complex cluster, perhaps best described as a G5 with an added Eb (G-D-Eb). The repeated notes across octaves amplify these intervals, making them incredibly potent and suitable for the kind of feedback, drone, and rhythmic noise-making Sonic Youth is known for. It's not a tuning for conventional chord-melody playing, but rather for exploring sonic textures, sustained tones, and controlled chaos.

Chords and Harmonic Possibilities

Given the inherent dissonance, conventional open chords are largely absent. However, this tuning excels at:

• Power Chords & Drones: Playing across the lower four strings (G-G-D-D) yields a robust G5 power chord, perfect for heavy rhythmic parts or sustained drones.
• Dissonant Clusters: The D# (Eb) on the high strings creates intense minor second and minor third intervals against the D and G. This allows for rich, clashing harmonies and highly expressive voicings by selectively muting or fretting strings.
• Unison & Octave Melodies: The paired G2s, D3s, and D4#s mean that single-note lines played on these pairs will have a natural thickening and sustain, ideal for hypnotic riffs or feedback generation.
• Modal Exploration: The strong G and D foundation, coupled with the dissonant D# (Eb), lends itself to modes that incorporate both natural and flatted notes, creating unique scales and melodic possibilities not found in standard tuning. It's particularly effective for exploring Lydian Augmented or Phrygian Dominant sounds if approached carefully.

This tuning is less about traditional chord shapes and more about the interplay of open strings, fretboard clusters, and the raw, unpolished sound they produce. It's a tuning that demands exploration and invites a departure from conventional harmony.

How to Tune: Sonic Youth Dissonance (Total Trash)

To achieve the "Sonic Youth Dissonance" (Total Trash) tuning, you will be making significant adjustments from standard EADGBe tuning. Please proceed with caution, especially with large semitone changes, as these can put stress on your guitar neck and strings. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, it is generally advised to use a different gauge string to prevent breakage or damage.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune to G2. This string needs to be tuned up 3 semitones from its standard E2. (Care is advised as this is approaching the 4 semitone limit for tuning up.)
• String 5 (A): Tune to G2. This string needs to be tuned down 2 semitones from its standard A2.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change. This string remains at D3.
• String 3 (G): Tune to D3. This string needs to be tuned down 5 semitones from its standard G3. (A different gauge string is advised due to this large downward movement.)
• String 2 (B): Tune to D4#. This string needs to be tuned down 8 semitones from its standard B3. (A different gauge string is advised due to this extremely large downward movement.)
• String 1 (High E): Tune to D4#. This string needs to be tuned down 13 semitones from its standard E4. (A different gauge string is strongly advised due to this very large downward movement, more than an octave.)

Always use a reliable tuner and check your intonation after making such drastic tuning changes. Enjoy exploring the dissonant sonic possibilities!