This tuning, named Nick Drake (up one half step), is a captivating and harmonically rich configuration that evokes the melancholic beauty and intricate fingerstyle characteristic of the legendary artist Nick Drake. As its description suggests, it's a direct transposition of a foundational Nick Drake tuning, shifted up a half-step. This adjustment provides a brighter, more shimmering quality to the original voicing, while retaining its complex and introspective harmonic possibilities. It’s particularly well-suited for acoustic fingerstyle playing, offering a lush open sound that can be both ethereal and deeply resonant, perfect for intricate melodic lines and sustained arpeggios.

Technical Analysis:

• Open String Notes: The tuning presents the notes C#, G#, C#, F#, C#, F from the lowest to highest string.
• Intervals and Chords: When strummed open, this tuning forms a C# Major chord (C#, E#(F), G#) with an added F# (the perfect 4th or 11th). Specifically, the open notes are C# (Root), F (Major 3rd), G# (Perfect 5th), and F# (Perfect 4th/11th). This creates a C#maj(add4) or C#maj11 chord quality (without the 7th and 9th), giving it a characteristic suspended or modal flavor. The abundant C# roots and octaves provide a solid foundation, while the F# adds harmonic complexity and a distinctive melodic tension often found in Drake's compositions.
• Chord Shapes and Reach: Due to the repetitive C# and G# notes across the lower strings, many common chord shapes will be transformed, often simplifying voicings or opening up new possibilities for drones and suspensions. Barre chords will naturally yield variations of C#maj(add4) or C#sus4/maj shapes, depending on the fret. The close proximity of the F# and F (E#) allows for interesting melodic movement with minimal finger shifts, ideal for intricate fingerpicking patterns. This tuning encourages exploration beyond standard chord forms, leading to unique harmonic landscapes.

How to Tune:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones from its standard E note. The target note for this string is C3#.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 1 semitone from its standard A note. The target note for this string is G3#.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 1 semitone from its standard D note. The target note for this string is C4#.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 1 semitone from its standard G note. The target note for this string is F4#.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 2 semitones from its standard B note. The target note for this string is C5#.
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 1 semitone from its standard E note. The target note for this string is F4.

Note on String Tension: Generally, tuning a string up or down by more than 4 semitones from its standard pitch may require a different string gauge to maintain optimal tension and prevent string breakage or damage to your instrument. For this particular tuning, all string movements are within a safe range of +/- 3 semitones, so a change in string gauge is not strictly necessary.

String 6 (Low E): C3#

String 5 (A): G3#

String 4 (D): C4#

String 3 (G): F4#

String 2 (B): C5#

String 1 (High E): F4