Tuning Overview: Evergreen

The "Evergreen" tuning, popularized by Ben Howard, is a deeply resonant and atmospheric guitar setup that immediately evokes a sense of vastness and introspection. It's a non-standard tuning designed to facilitate complex fingerpicking patterns and open, sustained drones, characteristic of Howard's acoustic soundscapes. This tuning transforms the guitar into a highly expressive instrument, perfect for creating rich harmonic textures and melancholic melodies.

Technical Analysis

This unique tuning is C2-F2-F3-A#4-F4-C4 (from low to high). It's essentially an Fsus4 chord (F-A#-C) with a low C bass, spread across multiple octaves, but with the specific voicing of C-F-F-A#-F-C. The presence of two Fs and two Cs, along with the A# (which is enharmonically Bb), creates a rich, ambiguous tonality. The open strings themselves form an Fsus4 chord with a strong C root/bass. This provides a natural foundation for drone notes and allows for melodic movement that feels both grounded and soaring.

The intervals between the open strings are particularly interesting:

• Low C (6th string) to F (5th string): Perfect 4th
• F (5th string) to F (4th string): Octave
• F (4th string) to A# (3rd string): Augmented 2nd (or Minor 3rd if A# is treated as Bb)
• A# (3rd string) to F (2nd string): Diminished 5th (or Perfect 4th down if A# is treated as Bb)
• F (2nd string) to C (1st string): Perfect 5th

This combination results in a highly sympathetic resonance, making the guitar feel alive and responsive. The tuning leans towards an Fsus4 chord over a C bass, offering a blend of major and minor qualities due to the A# (Bb) and the underlying C. It provides a vast sonic palette for intricate fingerstyle playing and allows for beautiful, shimmering arpeggios.

Chordal Opportunities

The open tuning itself rings out an Fsus4 chord over a C bass (C-F-F-A#-F-C). This immediate resonance makes it easy to create captivating musical phrases. Barring all strings at a single fret will produce various sus4-like or minor-like chords, often with a rich drone. For example, barring at the 5th fret would likely yield a similar chord shape, but rooted differently. Many open position chords are easily accessible, often requiring just one or two fingers to produce full, complex voicings. The low C and F strings provide a powerful, sustaining drone that can anchor melodies played on the higher strings. This tuning encourages exploration of open voicings and hammer-ons/pull-offs, allowing players to build lush soundscapes with minimal effort.

How to Tune to Evergreen (from Standard EADGBe)

Please note: Tuning your guitar significantly up or down requires care. For movements exceeding 4 semitones, it is generally recommended to consider using a different string gauge to prevent string breakage or neck tension issues.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 4 semitones to F2.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 3 semitones to F3. Exercise caution as this is a notable increase in tension.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 3 semitones to A#4. Exercise caution as this is a notable increase in tension.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 6 semitones to F4. Extreme caution is advised for this string. Tuning up 6 semitones is a significant change in tension and could lead to string breakage or neck damage. A lighter gauge string for this position is highly recommended if you plan to use this tuning frequently.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 4 semitones to C4.

Tuning Notes (Low to High)

• String 6: C2
• String 5: F2
• String 4: F3
• String 3: A#4
• String 2: F4
• String 1: C4