The "Evergreen" tuning, popularized by artist Ben Howard, offers a deeply resonant and atmospheric soundscape. It's a tuning that encourages open-string drones, intricate fingerstyle, and a percussive playing approach, characteristic of Howard's style. The presence of multiple Cs and Fs across the fretboard, along with a prominent A# (Bb), creates a rich, sustained harmonic environment, perfect for crafting introspective and expansive musical pieces.

Technical Analysis

• Open Notes: The tuning lays out as C2 - F2 - A#3 - F3 - F3 - C4 (low to high), forming a broad, open voicing.
• Key Chords: Played open, this tuning forms an Fsus4 chord (F-Bb-C). The specific voicing C2-F2-A#3(Bb3)-F3-F3-C4 provides a strong, foundational harmony. The sus4 quality gives it a gentle, unresolved feel that can be highly evocative.
• Intervals:
  • Between 6th (C2) and 5th (F2) strings: Perfect 4th.
  • Between 5th (F2) and 4th (A#3) strings: Compound Tritone / Augmented 4th (F2 to A#3 / Bb3). The octave jump creates an open, expansive sound.
  • Between 4th (A#3) and 3rd (F3) strings: Minor 6th.
  • Between 3rd (F3) and 2nd (F3) strings: Unison. This feature is particularly valuable for creating percussive hits, harmonized melodies, and drone effects.
  • Between 2nd (F3) and 1st (C4) strings: Perfect 5th.
• Harmonic Density: The tuning features two C notes (6th and 1st strings) and three F notes (5th, 3rd, and 2nd strings), creating a thick, resonant sound that allows for rich harmonic interplay and sustained notes.
• Playability: The open Fsus4 chord lends itself well to fingerstyle patterns where open strings can ring out freely. The close proximity of the 2nd and 3rd strings (both F3) can be exploited for unique voicings and rhythmic accents, while the octaves (C2-C4 and F2-F3) provide a full, enveloping sound.

How to Tune (from Standard E-A-D-G-B-E)

Please be mindful of the significant string tension changes for tunings outside of a +/- 4 semitone range, as a different string gauge may be advised for optimal performance and string longevity.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2. (Movement exceeds 4 semitones; a different string gauge may be advised.)
• String 5 (A): Tune down 4 semitones to F2. (Movement exceeds 4 semitones; a different string gauge may be advised.)
• String 4 (D): Tune down 4 semitones to B2. (Movement exceeds 4 semitones; a different string gauge may be advised. Note: The target note based on this movement from standard D is B2, however, the tuning's specified note for this string is A#3.)
• String 3 (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 6 semitones to F3. (Movement exceeds 4 semitones; a different string gauge may be advised.)
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 4 semitones to C4. (Movement exceeds 4 semitones; a different string gauge may be advised.)

String 6 (Low E): C2

String 5 (A): F2

String 4 (D): A#3

String 3 (G): F3

String 2 (B): F3

String 1 (High E): C4