Tuning Analysis: Em add 4

Verbal Analysis

The "Em add 4" tuning offers a deeply resonant and somewhat melancholic soundscape, perfectly suited for styles requiring rich, low-voiced accompaniment, droning textures, or expressive slide and fingerstyle playing. Imagine a wide-open, spacious sound where chords bloom with an inherent minor tonality, yet with the interesting tension of an added fourth. The heavily down-tuned strings, particularly the lowest three (all down 5 semitones), provide a slinkier feel, making bends and vibrato effortless and lending themselves to a more expressive touch. This tuning encourages exploration of open-string drones and unconventional voicings due to the significant intervallic shifts from standard tuning. As hinted in its description, it aims to give you a strong minor sound with immediate access to a subdominant quality without complex fretting.

Technical Analysis

This tuning establishes the notes B1 E2 A2 E3 G3 B3 from low to high (6th to 1st string). When strummed open, this configuration forms an Em(add11)/B chord. The core E minor triad (E, G, B) is robustly present across the 5th (E2), 3rd (E3), 2nd (G3), and 1st (B3) strings, with the lowest 6th string adding a deep B1, acting as the root or a strong fifth. The defining "add 4" element comes from the A2 on the 4th string, which functions as an added 4th or 11th to the E minor chord, providing harmonic depth and a distinct subdominant color without requiring additional fretting. The doubled B (B1 and B3) and E (E2 and E3) notes significantly enhance the resonance and thickness of the open chord.

Open Chords and Chords Within Reach

• Open Chord: The open strings naturally form a powerful Em(add11)/B chord, offering a rich, full sound as your starting point. This chord is characteristic of the tuning's minor and slightly suspended feel.
• Barre Chords: This tuning is highly conducive to single-finger barre chords. By simply barring across all strings at any fret, you can easily generate parallel minor(add11) chords up the neck. For example, a barre at the 3rd fret will produce a Dm(add11), while a barre at the 5th fret will give you an Em(add11) in root position (E in the bass).
• Subdominant Chords (Am/A): As highlighted in the original description, the prominent open A2 string (4th string) greatly facilitates the formation of subdominant chords (iv or IV). You can achieve an A minor (A C E) by utilizing the open 4th (A), open 5th (E), fretting the 2nd string (G) at the 3rd fret (C), and optionally fretting the 1st string (B) at the 5th fret (E). An A major (A C# E) is similarly within reach by fretting the 2nd string (G) at the 4th fret (C#).
• Drone and Power Chords: The heavily lowered tuning and wide intervals make this ideal for creating massive, open-string drone chords and powerful low-end riffs. Experiment with fretting only the lowest string and letting others ring out for unique harmonic textures and impactful chord voicings.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Em add 4" tuning from standard EADGBe tuning, carefully adjust each string as follows:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 5 semitones to B1.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 5 semitones to E2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 5 semitones to A2.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 4 semitones to G3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 5 semitones to B3.

Important Note on String Gauge: Please exercise caution with these string movements. Generally, tuning a string down by more than 4 semitones (or up by more than 4 semitones) means the string tension will be significantly altered. For optimal playability and to avoid potential issues such as fret buzz or inadequate intonation, we advise considering a different gauge string set specifically designed for lower tunings. In this "Em add 4" tuning, five of the six strings are tuned down 5 semitones, indicating that a heavier gauge string set would significantly enhance the sound, stability, and playability.