Lasse Lindh's Hush Tuning: A Deep, Melancholic Landscape

This unique tuning, popularized by Lasse Lindh in his track "Hush," creates an atmospheric and deeply resonant soundscape on the guitar. It's characterized by its rich, melancholic open chord qualities and drone-like bass, making it ideal for ambient textures, fingerstyle compositions, and expressive melodic playing. The arrangement of notes lends itself to a sound that is both full and introspective, inviting exploration of its unique harmonic possibilities.

Technical Breakdown: B-A-B-F#-B-E

The open strings are tuned to:

• Low B (6th String)
• A (5th String)
• B (4th String)
• F# (3rd String)
• B (2nd String)
• High E (1st String)

At its core, this tuning provides a powerful open B minor 7 (add11) chord. The root note 'B' is heavily emphasized, appearing on the 6th, 4th, and 2nd strings, creating a strong, resonant foundation and a natural drone. The 'A' on the 5th string introduces a minor 7th, while the 'F#' on the 3rd string provides the essential perfect 5th, solidifying the B minor harmony. The high 'E' on the 1st string adds an 11th (or a perfect 4th above the B on the 2nd string), giving the tuning a complex, shimmering quality that can be both mournful and expansive.

Open Chords and Sonic Potential:

With the open strings alone, you have a beautiful B minor 7 (add11) voicing (B-A-B-F#-B-E). This allows for immediate melancholic harmonies without fretting. Exploring this tuning further:

• B minor (Bm): The combination of B-F#-B across strings 6, 3, and 2 forms a strong B minor triad, easily extended.
• B minor 7 (Bm7): By including the A on the 5th string, the tuning naturally presents a B minor 7 chord. This can be voiced richly across the open strings.
• B suspended 2 (Bsus2) / B minor 9 (Bm9): While not a pure sus2 (due to the F#), the interplay between B, A, and E can create suspended or extended minor harmonies, especially when playing arpeggios.
• Drone Textures: The repeated B notes across different octaves (B2, B2, B3) along with the A2 allow for sustained, droning passages, perfect for ambient music or creating a sense of tension and release.
• Melodic Opportunities: The distinct intervals between strings, particularly the jump to F# and then to E, open up unique melodic phrasing possibilities, moving beyond standard scale shapes.

This tuning invites creative exploration, encouraging players to discover new harmonic voicings and melodic patterns that are naturally resonant and evocative.

How to Tune Your Guitar to Lasse Lindh's Hush Tuning (B-A-B-F#-B-E)

This tuning involves significant changes for some strings. Please tune carefully and consider a different string gauge if tuning up more than 4 semitones or down more than 4 semitones, as this can affect string tension and potentially damage your guitar or strings.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 7 semitones from E2 to B2. Caution: Tuning up 7 semitones is a significant increase in tension. A heavier gauge string for the 6th string is highly recommended to prevent breakage and maintain optimal playability.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from A2 to A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 3 semitones from D3 to B2.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 1 semitone from G3 to F#4.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from B3 to B3.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from E4 to E4.

Resulting Open String Notes:

• 6th String: B2
• 5th String: A2
• 4th String: B2
• 3rd String: F#4
• 2nd String: B3
• 1st String: E4