The "Mote Tuning Sonic Youth" is an intriguing and highly distinctive tuning primarily associated with Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, specifically used on their track "Mote". This setup radically reconfigures the standard guitar, producing a sound that is at once resonant, droning, and characteristic of the band's experimental noise rock aesthetic.

Verbal Analysis

At first glance, this tuning presents a series of doubled notes across the neck: G2-G2, D3-D3, and F4-F4. This immediate repetition creates a rich, thick texture, allowing for powerful open string drones and unison effects. The lower two strings are tuned to a deep G, providing a formidable sonic foundation. Moving upwards, the middle strings are paired at D3, a perfect fifth above the low G, adding harmonic depth. The highest two strings, tuned to F4, introduce a minor seventh interval, giving the overall open tuning a strong G dominant 7th quality (G D F). This open G7 sound is vibrant and full, suggesting bluesy or rock-and-roll sensibilities while still maintaining a uniquely experimental edge due to its unconventional voicings.

The pairing of strings is a hallmark of this tuning, encouraging players to explore thick, ringing chords and sustained textures. The intervals between these pairs (G-D, D-F) lend themselves to harmonic exploration, offering a unique sonic landscape for improvisation and composition. It's a tuning designed to exploit the natural resonance of the instrument, producing a sound that is both immense and often beautifully dissonant, perfectly suited for the avant-garde rock pioneered by Sonic Youth.

Technical Analysis

The tuning consists of the notes G2 G2 D3 D3 F4 F4 from the 6th (low) to the 1st (high) string.

• String 6: G2 (Low G)
• String 5: G2 (Unison with String 6)
• String 4: D3 (Perfect 5th above G2)
• String 3: D3 (Unison with String 4)
• String 2: F4 (Minor 7th above G2, major 3rd above D3)
• String 1: F4 (Unison with String 2)

This arrangement creates an open G dominant 7th chord (G7) across all open strings, voiced as G-G-D-D-F-F. The unique doubling of notes across octaves (G2/G2, D3/D3, F4/F4) provides an extraordinary depth and sustain. The sonic density encourages the use of open string drones and provides a fertile ground for experimental chord voicings and melodic lines that leverage these unisons and octaves. Traditional chord shapes become largely irrelevant, instead prompting players to discover new harmonic possibilities through simple barres or single-finger placements that resonate across the paired strings. The overall feel is raw, powerful, and deeply resonant, ideal for creating massive walls of sound or subtle, harmonic textures.

How to Tune

Achieving the "Mote Tuning Sonic Youth" involves significant adjustments from standard E Standard tuning. Please proceed with care, especially for strings requiring larger pitch changes.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 3 semitones from E2 to G2. This movement is within safe limits for most string gauges.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones from A2 to G2. This movement is within safe limits for most string gauges.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains at D3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 5 semitones from G3 to D3. This is a significant drop. For optimal tension and tone, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised for this string.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 6 semitones from B3 to F4. This is a very large upward adjustment, a tritone. For safety and string integrity, a lighter gauge string is strongly advised for this string, and tune slowly to avoid breakage.
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 1 semitone from E4 to F4. This movement is within safe limits for most string gauges.

Always tune slowly and check string tension regularly, especially when making large adjustments. Consider professional setup if unsure.