This is a profoundly heavy and resonant guitar tuning, famously utilized by Mike Mushok of Staind on several songs, most notably "So Far Away". It offers a dark, guttural sonic landscape, perfect for powerful riffs, thick harmonies, and atmospheric textures common in modern rock and metal genres. Its deep low end provides an immense foundation, giving the instrument an authoritative and imposing voice.

Technical Analysis

The open tuning itself presents a G#sus4 chord, voiced as G#2 D#3 G#3 C#4 D#4 G4#. This arrangement of notes creates a unique harmonic palette:

• The foundational G# (root) on the 6th string, combined with D# (perfect 5th) on the 5th string, provides a massive, full power chord sound.
• The repetition of G# and D# notes across multiple octaves (G#2, D#3, G#3, D#4, G4#) creates a natural resonance and harmonic richness, ideal for drone-style playing.
• The inclusion of C# (a perfect 4th above G#) on the 3rd string adds a suspended quality, allowing for both simple, powerful voicings and more intricate, open-string melodic possibilities reminiscent of DADGAD tunings.
• This tuning facilitates easy access to huge-sounding G#5 and D#5 power chords across multiple strings. The parallel fifths and octaves make barre chords particularly impactful and straightforward to execute, lending itself well to a heavy, driving rhythm style.

How to Tune

Achieving this tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-E requires significant adjustments. Please note the substantial down-tuning for most strings, for which a heavier gauge string set is highly recommended to maintain playability and intonation.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 8 semitones to G2#. This is a very significant drop.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 6 semitones to D3#.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 6 semitones to G3#.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 6 semitones to C4#.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 8 semitones to D4#. This is a very significant drop.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 8 semitones to G4#. This is a very significant drop.

Caution: Tuning down by 6 or 8 semitones significantly reduces string tension. For optimal tone, intonation, and to prevent potential string breakage or damage to your guitar, it is strongly advised to use a heavier gauge string set specifically designed for such low tunings when utilizing this configuration frequently.