The Mushok Tuning is a distinctive 7-string guitar tuning popularized by Mike Mushok, the lead guitarist of Staind, and featured in several of his band's songs. This tuning is characterized by its exceptionally low and heavy sound, creating a dark, aggressive, and highly resonant sonic landscape.

Verbal Analysis:

Prepare for a deeply guttural and impactful sound. With its lowest string hitting G#1, this tuning dives into the sub-bass frequencies, delivering immense weight and sustain. The overall feel is incredibly dense and powerful, perfect for generating crushing riffs and thick, wall-of-sound textures. The numerous dropped notes contribute to a sludgy, almost detuned quality that enhances its heavy metal and nu-metal applications. It's a tuning designed to evoke a sense of brooding intensity and raw power, making it ideal for the somber and heavy soundscapes Staind is known for.

Technical Analysis:

This 7-string tuning centers around G# as a foundational root. Let's break down the open string intervals, from the lowest (7th) to highest (1st):

• 7th String (G#1): The very low root, providing a deep, resonant core.
• 6th String (C#3): An octave plus a perfect fourth above the root G#1 (G# to C# is a perfect fourth). This creates a readily available G# power chord foundation (G#5) when played with the 7th string.
• 5th String (D#3): A whole step (major second) above C#3. This adds a minor second/major second interval to the C# string, potentially creating interesting dissonances or suspended qualities when played with the 6th string.
• 4th String (A#3): A perfect fourth above D#3. This continues the power chord friendly intervals.
• 3rd String (C#4): A minor third above A#3.
• 2nd String (F#4): A perfect fourth above C#4. Another strong power chord interval.
• 1st String (A#4): A major third above F#4.

The prevalence of perfect fourth intervals (G#-C#, D#-A#, C#-F#) makes two-finger power chords incredibly easy to play across multiple strings, which is a hallmark of heavy modern rock and metal. While the open strings don't form a simple major or minor chord across all seven, the combination of G#1, C#3, and D#3 provides a potent low-end rumble with a minor or suspended quality. The intervals of minor and major thirds on the higher strings add harmonic depth. This tuning is designed to facilitate immense rhythmic chugging and open-string drone effects, characteristic of Mushok's powerful and often dark playing style.

String Gauge Recommendation:

Given the extreme down-tuning across most strings – specifically the 7th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings which are dropped by 4 or more semitones from their standard pitch – a significantly heavier gauge string set is highly recommended. This will help maintain adequate string tension, improve intonation stability, and prevent excessive floppiness, allowing for clearer articulation and sustain vital for such low tunings. While the 6th string, with only a 3-semitone drop, might tolerate a standard gauge, for consistency and optimal performance across the entire range, a full heavy-gauge 7-string set would be ideal to achieve the full potential of this heavy tuning.

Tuning Notes:

• 7th String (Lowest String, typically B): G#1
• 6th String (Low E string equivalent): C#3
• 5th String (A string equivalent): D#3
• 4th String (D string equivalent): A#3
• 3rd String (G string equivalent): C#4
• 2nd String (B string equivalent): F#4
• 1st String (Highest String, typically E): A#4

How to Tune:

Follow these precise instructions to set your 7-string guitar to the Mushok Tuning. It's crucial to take care when making significant pitch adjustments.

• 7th String: Tune down 5 semitones to G#1. (Due to this significant drop, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised for optimal tension and tone.)
• 6th String: Tune down 3 semitones to C#3.
• 5th String: Tune down 6 semitones to D#3. (Due to this significant drop, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised for optimal tension and tone.)
• 4th String: Tune down 4 semitones to A#3. (Due to this significant drop, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised for optimal tension and tone.)
• 3rd String: Tune down 6 semitones to C#4. (Due to this significant drop, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised for optimal tension and tone.)
• 2nd String: Tune down 5 semitones to F#4. (Due to this significant drop, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised for optimal tension and tone.)
• 1st String: Tune down 6 semitones to A#4. (Due to this significant drop, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised for optimal tension and tone.)