The original tuning name for this configuration is "dissonant half-ostrich in g", and it's accurately described as a tuning designed for a "dissonant drone guitar" where "chords can drone easier than straight ostrich" tunings. This indicates a focus on sustained, resonant sounds with an inherently tense harmonic character.

Verbal Analysis

This is a truly unique and experimental tuning, far removed from conventional guitar voicings. When strummed open, it creates a dense, shimmering wall of sound dominated by the interplay of G and G#. The inherent minor second dissonance (G to G#) gives it an intensely atmospheric and sometimes unsettling quality, perfect for creating vast soundscapes, drone music, or avant-garde compositions. It encourages a focus on texture and sustain rather than traditional melody or harmony, providing a rich, ringing backdrop that can be both beautiful and haunting. While challenging for conventional chord shapes, its strength lies in its ability to produce powerful, resonant clusters with minimal effort.

Technical Analysis

• Root Note Focus: The tuning is firmly rooted around G, with notes G2, G3, G3#, G4, G4# spanning across multiple octaves.
• Key Dissonance: The defining characteristic is the presence of both G natural and G sharp. This creates a powerful minor second interval, which is heard across the strings, contributing to the "dissonant" aspect.
• Open Chord: The open tuning itself forms a specific cluster chord: G2-G3#-G3#-G3-G4#-G4. This is a highly dissonant, non-traditional chord that cannot be easily categorized as major, minor, or dominant.
• Drone Potential: The close voicings and repeated notes across octaves make it ideal for sustained, ringing drones, as the "dissonant half-ostrich" name implies.
• Chord Accessibility: Traditional chord shapes will be heavily revoiced or rendered dissonant. However, simple one-finger barres or two-finger clusters will create transpositions of the open dissonant chord, allowing for easy exploration of its unique harmonic character across the fretboard. It's particularly suited for slide guitar or single-note melodies played over the droning open strings.

Tuning Notes

String 6 (Low E): G2
String 5 (A): G3#
String 4 (D): G3#
String 3 (G): G3
String 2 (B): G4#
String 1 (High E): G4

How to Tune

• String 6 (Low E, Target G2): Tune up 3 semitones. (This movement is within a safe range for standard strings, but always tune gradually.)
• String 5 (A, Target G3#): Tune down 1 semitones. (This movement is within a safe range for standard strings.)
• String 4 (D, Target G3#): Tune down 6 semitones. (Caution: This is a significant drop beyond -4 semitones. For optimal tension and tone, especially if playing aggressively, consider a heavier gauge string for this string. Otherwise, expect a much looser feel.)
• String 3 (G, Target G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). (No string tension change required.)
• String 2 (B, Target G4#): Tune down 3 semitones. (This movement is within a safe range for standard strings.)
• String 1 (High E, Target G4): Tune up 3 semitones. (This movement is within a safe range for standard strings, but always tune gradually to avoid string breakage.)