Welcome to the Haunted Forest Emaj7 Tuning, a captivating setup inspired by the unique sound of "The Bug Collector" by Haley Heyndrickx, further enhanced by the use of a capo on the 4th fret. This tuning offers a rich, slightly melancholic, and undeniably ethereal soundscape, perfect for fingerstyle playing, indie folk, or any genre seeking a distinct textural quality.

Verbal Analysis

With the capo placed on the 4th fret, this tuning transforms the guitar's open strings into a shimmering, resonant sound. The resulting open chord is complex and beautiful, providing an immediate sense of mystery and depth. It’s a tuning that encourages exploration beyond conventional chord shapes, allowing for droning strings and intricate melodic lines to shine. Players will find that the natural resonance of the open strings creates a spacious and atmospheric feel, reminiscent of wandering through a moonlit forest, much like the evocative landscapes found in Studio Ghibli films.

Technical Analysis

The base tuning, before the capo, sets the guitar to C♯3, C♯4, F3, G♯4, C4, F4. When a capo is applied to the 4th fret, all notes are effectively raised by four semitones. This results in the following sounding open string notes:

• 6th String (Low E): E3
• 5th String (A): E4
• 4th String (D): G♯3
• 3rd String (G): C5
• 2nd String (B): E4
• 1st String (High E): G♯4

These open notes – E, G♯, C – form an intriguing chord. Essentially, it creates an Emaj7(addC) or more precisely, a C augmented triad over an E bass (Caug/E). The repeated E's (6th, 5th, 2nd strings) and G♯'s (4th, 1st strings) provide a strong, resonant foundation, while the C (3rd string) adds a unique tension and color. This makes the open tuning itself a powerful, complex chord.

Due to this unique open voicing, traditional barre chords might not translate directly, but simple two and three-finger shapes can yield beautiful and unexpected harmonies. Moving shapes chromatically up the neck will reveal parallel augmented chords, offering a rich palette for harmonic exploration. The strong E and G♯ presence also means that simple E major and C augmented based melodies and harmonies will feel very natural and resonant within this tuning.

Base Open String Notes (without capo)

These are the notes your strings should be tuned to before applying a capo.

• 6th String (Low E): C♯3
• 5th String (A): C♯4
• 4th String (D): F3
• 3rd String (G): G♯4
• 2nd String (B): C4
• 1st String (High E): F4

Sounding Open String Notes (with capo on 4th fret)

With a capo placed on the 4th fret, these are the actual notes that will sound when you play the open strings.

• 6th String (Low E): E3
• 5th String (A): E4
• 4th String (D): G♯3
• 3rd String (G): C5
• 2nd String (B): E4
• 1st String (High E): G♯4

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve this unique tuning from standard EADGBe, carefully adjust each string as follows. Always tune slowly and check your intonation.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones from standard E3, resulting in C♯3.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 4 semitones from standard A3, resulting in C♯4. Caution: Tuning up by 4 semitones puts significant tension on the string. Consider a lighter gauge string if this tuning is used frequently to avoid string breakage or neck strain.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 3 semitones from standard D4, resulting in F4. Note: The target note specified in the base tuning for this string is F3. To achieve F3, you would need to either tune down 9 semitones from standard D4, or tune the resulting F4 down an octave. The provided instructions lead to F4.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 1 semitone from standard G4, resulting in G♯4.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 1 semitone from standard B3, resulting in C4.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 1 semitone from standard E4, resulting in F4.