The "The Fire Ben Howard" tuning offers a uniquely atmospheric and resonant landscape for guitarists, strongly evocative of Ben Howard's distinctive fingerstyle and melodic approach. This is not a tuning designed for conventional open chords, but rather for creating rich, droning textures and specific harmonic voicings. All strings are significantly lowered from standard E Standard, resulting in a slacker feel and a darker, more mellow tonal quality.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes, from low to high, are A#2 (Bb2), G2, C3, E3, F3, and C4. This collection of notes forms a complex harmony. If we consider the notes G, C, E, F, C, it hints at a G sus4 or a Cadd11 sound with a G bass. The presence of E3 and F3 adjacent to each other (a minor second interval) is a key feature, promoting clustered voicings and a specific melancholic or ethereal quality often found in Ben Howard's work.

Key intervals between adjacent strings are:

• Low A#2 to G2: A descending minor 3rd (or an ascending major 6th)
• G2 to C3: An ascending perfect 4th
• C3 to E3: An ascending major 3rd
• E3 to F3: An ascending minor 2nd – this tight interval is highly characteristic and provides unique dissonances or tight clusters.
• F3 to C4: An ascending perfect 4th

The low A#2 (Bb2) string acts as a deep drone, providing a rich foundation for the higher, more melodic strings. This tuning encourages an open, ringing sound, ideal for intricate fingerpicking patterns where the interplay of open and fretted notes creates a dense harmonic tapestry.

Potential Chords and Voicings

While standard open chords are not readily available, this tuning excels at creating unique and expansive voicings:

• The open strings C3 E3 F3 C4 form a Cadd11 sound, providing a rich, open major chord with a suspended feel.
• Including the G2 string, the notes G2 C3 E3 F3 C4 suggest variations of G sus4 or Cadd11 voicings, offering a complex yet pleasing harmony.
• The A#2 (Bb2) on the lowest string allows for strong minor tonality or the use of a Bb major or G minor context. For instance, an open voicing combining A#2 and G2 (as a minor 3rd interval) sets a somber mood, while the higher strings can add brightness or tension.
• Experimenting with single-finger barres or partial chords across the middle strings (C3 E3 F3 C4) can quickly yield interesting suspended or extended harmonies due to the tight intervals.

How to Tune

Due to the significant downward tuning across all strings, it is advisable to use a lighter gauge set of strings to avoid excessive floppiness, especially for the 6th and 2nd strings which are tuned down by 6 semitones each. Always tune carefully and gradually.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 6 semitones from E2 to A#2 (Bb2). This is a substantial drop and will significantly reduce string tension.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones from A2 to G2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones from D3 to C3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones from G3 to E3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 6 semitones from B3 to F3. This is another considerable drop; exercise caution.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 4 semitones from E4 to C4.

This tuning is perfect for exploring ambient soundscapes, intricate fingerstyle, and creating music with a deep, resonant character, making it a favorite for those seeking to break away from conventional guitar voicings.

The open notes for "The Fire Ben Howard" tuning are as follows (from lowest pitch to highest pitch):

• String 6: A#2 (Bb2)
• String 5: G2
• String 4: C3
• String 3: E3
• String 2: F3
• String 1: C4