Tuning Analysis: Midwest Emo on Crack

This intriguing tuning, aptly named Midwest Emo on Crack, comes with a story of serendipitous discovery on an old Parlor guitar. As the original description states, "I found out about this tuning, after I found an old Parlor guitar from the 30's. and this was the only tuning it would hold and it sounded cool as fuck." This speaks to its unconventional nature and the unique sonic character it imparts.

Verbal Analysis

Sonically, Midwest Emo on Crack offers a distinctly open, ringing quality, rich with sustained resonance due to its specific note choices and the extreme tension changes across the strings. The presence of multiple B notes across different octaves (B2, B3) acts almost as a drone, providing a stable harmonic bed from which other notes can chime. The overall sound leans towards bright and jangly, characteristic of many Midwest Emo or Math Rock styles, but with an underlying tension or melancholic twist that prevents it from being overly saccharine. It encourages arpeggiated figures and open-string voicings, and its unusual intervals make for unexpected harmonic possibilities, perfect for creating intricate, shimmering soundscapes or angular, percussive riffs. It truly feels like a tuning designed to evoke emotion and push creative boundaries, living up to its evocative name.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this tuning are: C#3 E2 B2 B2 F#4 B3. Arranging these notes from lowest to highest (and removing octaves/duplicates for core harmonic analysis) gives us E, B, C#, F#. This selection of notes strongly suggests an E Major harmonic structure. Specifically, when E is considered the root, we have:

• E (Root)
• B (Perfect 5th)
• C# (Major 6th)
• F# (Major 9th)

This open tuning thus functions as an Emaj6/9 chord without the major 3rd (G#). The absence of the major third lends a beautiful ambiguity and openness to the tuning, making it versatile for both major and minor contexts or for suspended-like voicings. The repeated B notes (B2, B3) and the high B string (B3) provide a strong, resonant perfect fifth and octave tones, while the F# adds a bright, expansive upper extension.

While the open strings don't form a simple major or minor triad, they provide excellent building blocks for complex chords with minimal fretting:

• By fretting the 3rd string (B2) up to a G# (4th fret), you can easily achieve an open E Major chord (C# E G# B F# B - effectively an Emaj6/9 with the 3rd).
• Fretting across certain frets can quickly yield various suspended or extended chords, often with a rich drone from the open B strings.
• The distinct intervals lend themselves well to melodic lines that weave in and out of the open string resonance, perfect for arpeggios and fingerstyle playing typical of the genres it evokes.

Open String Notes

Here are the notes for each string in the Midwest Emo on Crack tuning, from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st):

• 6th String (Low E): C#3
• 5th String (A): E2
• 4th String (D): B2
• 3rd String (G): B2
• 2nd String (B): F#4
• 1st String (High E): B3

How to Tune

To achieve the Midwest Emo on Crack tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these instructions carefully. Please note that several strings require significant pitch changes; for movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different gauge string is generally advised to maintain string integrity and optimal playability.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#3.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 5 semitones to E2. (Note: This movement exceeds 4 semitones down; consider a heavier gauge string for optimal performance.)
• 4th String (D): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 8 semitones to B2. (Note: This is a very significant drop; a much heavier gauge string is strongly advised for stability and to prevent floppiness.)
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 5 semitones to F#4. (Note: This movement exceeds 4 semitones down; consider a heavier gauge string for optimal performance.)
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 5 semitones to B3. (Note: This movement exceeds 4 semitones down; consider a heavier gauge string for optimal performance.)