How to Tune to CGDGBE Tuning
A hybrid tuning (C-G-D-G-B-E) that keeps the top three strings standard while lowering the bottom three toward an open G-flavored bass. Richard Thompson uses it for his tour-de-force fingerstyle showpiece "1952 Vincent Black Lightning," letting him hold standard chord shapes up top while a droning C and G anchor the low end.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| String 6 | C2 | 65.41 Hz |
| String 5 | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
| String 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| String 3 | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| String 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| String 1 | E4 | 329.63 Hz |
Fun Fact
Richard Thompson's "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" is regularly cited as one of the greatest guitar songs ever written. The relentless fingerpicked pattern — bass, melody and chords played simultaneously — is made possible by this tuning, which frees the low strings to ring as open drones while the melody moves on top.
String Tension & Setup Tips
Recommended Gauge:Light-to-medium acoustic gauges (.012-.053). The low E drops a fourth to C, so a heavier 6th string keeps it tight; the A drops to G and the D stays. The top three strings are standard, so no extra tension concerns up high.
CGDGBE TuningIntermediate
C - G - D - G - B - ENo Capo
Frequently Asked Questions
What tuning is 1952 Vincent Black Lightning in?
Richard Thompson plays it in CGDGBE: the low E is dropped to C, the A to G, the D stays D, and the G, B, E remain standard. This gives a low C-G drone under otherwise familiar chord shapes.
How do I tune to CGDGBE?
From standard EADGBE: drop the low E two whole steps to C, drop the A a whole step to G, leave D, G, B, and high E exactly as they are. Only the bottom two strings change. Match them with the tuner above.
Why keep the top strings standard?
Keeping G-B-E standard lets you use ordinary chord and melody fingerings on the top strings while the retuned bass strings ring as open C and G drones. It is a favorite trick for fingerstyle players who want a big open sound without relearning the whole fretboard.
What are the frequencies for CGDGBE?
C2 = 65.41 Hz, G2 = 98.00 Hz, D3 = 146.83 Hz, G3 = 196.00 Hz, B3 = 246.94 Hz, E4 = 329.63 Hz.