Open C Guitar
Open strings form a C major chord. Rich, resonant sound used in acoustic and experimental music.
Open C produces a wide, resonant C major chord across all six strings. The low C on the 6th string drops the bass further than most open tunings, creating a deep, almost piano-like sustain. Devin Townsend, Led Zeppelin (for certain tracks) and several post-rock bands have used Open C for its sheer sonic weight.
The tuning works for both delicate fingerpicked passages and massive wall-of-sound strumming.
Open C Character
The wide interval spread (the low C and high E are nearly four octaves apart) gives Open C a bigger sound than most tunings. Simple two-finger chord shapes produce rich, complex voicings. The downside is that the low 6th string needs a heavy gauge to maintain tension at C2.
This tuning rewards experimentation. Try simple barre shapes at different frets and listen to how the open strings interact with the fretted notes.