The tuning, "Open double G minor," is specifically noted as the correct setup for the song ".CODA" by Dead Poet Society. This makes it a specialized tuning, tailored to achieve a particular sonic landscape and playability for that track, highlighting its role in specific musical contexts.

Verbal Analysis

This is an Open G minor tuning, characterized by its deep, resonant, and often melancholic sound. The "double G" in its name likely refers to the prominent G notes across multiple strings, reinforcing the root and adding a powerful, full bass foundation. Open tunings are highly favored for slide guitar due to the ease of creating chords with a single barre. For this tuning, simply strumming the open strings (G1, G2, D3, G3, A4#, D4) will naturally produce a rich G minor chord. The presence of G (root), D (fifth), and A# (minor third, also known as Bb) across the open strings forms a strong G minor tonality, making it an excellent base for blues, rock, and darker alternative styles.

Because the open strings form a G minor chord, barre chords become very intuitive. By barring across any fret, you can easily play other minor chords up and down the neck (e.g., barring the 3rd fret would yield an A# minor, the 5th fret a C minor, etc., though the exact voicings might be unique due to the specific intervals). The low G notes (G1 and G2) provide a huge sonic impact, lending itself to heavy riffs and a thick wall of sound. This tuning offers a unique palette for creative expression, moving beyond standard guitar voicings.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to G1, G2, D3, G3, A4#, and D4 (from the lowest string, traditionally the E string, to the highest, traditionally the high e string). Let's break down the intervals and their contribution to the sound:

• String 6 (G1): The absolute lowest note, providing an exceptionally deep and resonant foundation.
• String 5 (G2): An octave above string 6, reinforcing the G root and adding depth.
• String 4 (D3): The perfect fifth of G, harmonically stabilizing the chord.
• String 3 (G3): Another G, two octaves above G1, further emphasizing the root with a brighter voicing.
• String 2 (A4# / Bb4): The minor third of G, crucial for defining the minor quality of the tuning.
• String 1 (D4): The perfect fifth of G, an octave above D3, completing the chord with a high resonance.

The overall intervallic structure of the open strings is a G minor triad (G - Bb - D) with multiple octaves of G and D, creating a full and harmonically rich G minor sound. This setup is highly conducive to drone-like textures and simplifies playing minor chords across the fretboard, especially for slide guitar techniques.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Open double G minor" tuning, carefully follow these specific string adjustments to reach the target notes:

• String 6 (Lowest string): Tune up 6 semitones to G1. Caution: Tuning up 6 semitones is a significant increase in tension. If starting from standard E, a lighter gauge string is strongly advised, or proceed with extreme care to avoid string breakage or neck damage.
• String 5: Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• String 4: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to D3.
• String 3: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to G3.
• String 2: Tune down 1 semitone to A4#.
• String 1 (Highest string): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.

Always tune carefully, using a reliable tuner for accuracy. Pay close attention to string tension, especially for strings with large pitch adjustments.

String 6: G1

String 5: G2

String 4: D3

String 3: G3

String 2: A4#

String 1: D4