This unique guitar tuning, named "Ben Howard - She Treats Me Well" and closely associated with his track "I Forget Where We Were," creates a profoundly deep and resonant sonic landscape. The tuning is characterized by its extremely low bass notes and an open, rich harmonic structure that immediately evokes a moody, introspective, and slightly bluesy atmosphere. It strongly features a C7sus4 voicing, generating a sense of unresolved tension and warmth that is ideal for atmospheric fingerstyle, percussive techniques, or slide playing.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to C2 - G2 - A#3 (Bb3) - G3 - F3 - A#4 (Bb4). This arrangement forms a full, open C7sus4 chord (C-F-G-Bb) with strategic octave doublings of G and A# (Bb) across the fretboard.

• The 6th string (C2) and 5th string (G2) establish a powerful, resonant perfect fifth foundation, grounding the tuning with a deep root and its dominant.
• The 4th string (A#3 / Bb3) introduces the distinctive minor seventh, giving the chord its dominant and bluesy character.
• The 3rd string (G3) reinforces the perfect fifth of the chord, adding depth and sustain.
• The 2nd string (F3) provides the suspended fourth, creating the characteristic 'sus4' sound and contributing to the open, slightly unresolved quality.
• Finally, the 1st string (A#4 / Bb4) completes the harmony by reinforcing the minor seventh an octave higher, adding sparkle and fullness to the top end.

The open C7sus4 chord, combined with its unique voicings and wide intervals, offers a rich harmonic palette for exploration. This tuning is highly conducive to percussive playing, open-string arpeggios, and expressive slide techniques, leveraging its drone-like qualities. The prominent A# (Bb) note naturally lends itself to a bluesy, folky, or minor feel, perfect for emotive compositions. Simple barre chords at various frets will easily yield variations of dominant 7th suspended 4th chords, allowing for intuitive harmonic movement within this distinct sonic space.

How to Tune Your Guitar

Achieving this tuning requires significant adjustments from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). Please proceed with caution, especially with larger downward movements, as string tension will be greatly reduced. For drops exceeding 4 semitones, a heavier gauge string set is highly recommended to maintain optimal playability, intonation, and string life. Always tune slowly and gently.

• 6th String (Low E to C2): Tune down 4 semitones. This is a considerable drop from E to C. Tune carefully to avoid snapping or over-loosening.
• 5th String (A to G2): Tune down 2 semitones. This will take your A string to G.
• 4th String (D to A#3 / Bb3): Tune down 4 semitones. This is a significant drop from D to A#. Tune carefully.
• 3rd String (G to G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Your G string remains at G.
• 2nd String (B to F3): Tune down 6 semitones. This is a very large drop from B to F, potentially making the string very loose and difficult to play. A different gauge string is strongly advised for optimal performance and intonation.
• 1st String (High E to A#4 / Bb4): Tune down 6 semitones. This is also a very large drop from E to A#, which will significantly reduce string tension. A different gauge string is strongly advised for optimal performance and intonation.

String 6: Tuned to C2 (low C).

String 5: Tuned to G2.

String 4: Tuned to A#3 (Bb3).

String 3: Tuned to G3.

String 2: Tuned to F3.

String 1: Tuned to A#4 (Bb4).