Tuning Overview: Nick Drake's Place to Be

This distinctive tuning, famously utilized by Nick Drake for his song "Place to Be," transforms the standard guitar into an instrument of profound resonance and intricate harmonic possibilities. It's characterized by a significant down-tuning across most strings, creating a looser feel and a darker, more melancholic tonal palette that is perfectly suited for intricate fingerstyle playing.

Technical Analysis

Starting from standard EADGBe tuning, this configuration sets the strings to C G C F G E. Let's break down the intervals and harmonic implications:

• String 6 (Low E to C2): Tuned down a major third (4 semitones), providing a deep, foundational root note.
• String 5 (A to G2): Tuned down a whole step (2 semitones), offering the perfect fifth to the open C, creating a powerful low C5 chord in conjunction with the 6th string.
• String 4 (D to C3): Tuned down a whole step (2 semitones), providing another C an octave above the 6th string. This establishes a strong C-G-C drone.
• String 3 (G to F3): Tuned down a whole step (2 semitones). This F note introduces a suspended 4th quality against the C drone, adding a wistful, open character to the tuning.
• String 2 (B to G3): Tuned down a major third (4 semitones), providing the perfect fifth to the open C root. This G harmonizes well with the low C-G-C foundation.
• String 1 (High E to E4): Remains at its standard pitch. This E note provides the major third to the open C, completing a C major triad (C-E-G) within the open strings, albeit with an intervening F.

The open strings (C-G-C-F-G-E) collectively contain the notes C, E, F, G. This creates a complex open voicing that can be perceived as a C major chord with an added suspended 4th (F), lending it a rich, somewhat unresolved yet beautiful quality. The repetition of C and G notes across octaves creates a strong, resonant drone.

Chords and Playability

This tuning significantly alters the landscape for traditional chord shapes. Standard EADGBe fingerings will yield entirely new, often unexpected, voicings. This is not a tuning designed for easy strumming of common chords, but rather for exploration and specific harmonic ideas:

• Open Voicing: The open strings themselves offer a rich, resonant sound (C G C F G E). While not a simple major or minor chord, it provides a strong C-based tonality with a suspended 4th and major 3rd present, ideal for arpeggios and melodic exploration.
• Drone Capability: The multiple C and G strings allow for powerful, sustained drones, which are particularly effective in fingerstyle arrangements.
• New Chord Shapes: Barre chords will produce unique voicings, often rich in harmonic extensions. For instance, a full barre across the first fret would yield C# G# C# F# G# F, creating a distinct, often melancholic cluster. Experimentation is key to discovering new harmonic possibilities.
• Fingerstyle Focus: This tuning truly shines for fingerstyle playing, allowing the guitarist to pick out individual notes and create intricate melodic lines against the open string drones. The wide intervals between the lower strings provide a spacious feel, while the higher strings offer melodic possibilities for melodies and embellishments.

Overall, "Nick Drake's Place to Be" tuning is a highly expressive and atmospheric tuning that encourages a departure from conventional playing, opening up a world of resonant, intricate, and often melancholic musical textures.

How to Tune

To achieve this specific tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these string adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2. (Note: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change; consider a heavier gauge string for optimal tension and playability.)
• String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 4 semitones to G3. (Note: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change; consider a heavier gauge string for optimal tension and playability.)
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E4.

String 6: Tuned to C2 (the lowest note).

String 5: Tuned to G2.

String 4: Tuned to C3.

String 3: Tuned to F3.

String 2: Tuned to G3.

String 1: Tuned to E4 (the highest note).