Verbal Analysis: The Unemployed Tuning

The 'Unemployed Tuning' offers a unique and versatile sonic landscape, particularly well-suited for Irish traditional music and country blues arrangements. As its description suggests, it's designed to facilitate seamless transitions between accompaniment and melodic playing. The innovative use of the top two strings as a doubled course for tunes evokes the rich, resonant quality of an octave mandolin, providing a distinctive texture. For chordal work, the flexibility to use the high E string as a sustained drone or to selectively avoid it allows for a broad palette of harmonic colors, enhancing its suitability for both intricate melodic lines and driving rhythmic patterns.

Technical Analysis: Unemployed Tuning (D A D A E E)

The core of the 'Unemployed Tuning' lies in its open notes: D2 A2 D3 A3 E4 E4. This configuration creates a resonant, drone-friendly foundation, rooted in D. Let's break down the intervals and harmonic implications:

• String 6 (Low D): D2 (The root)
• String 5 (A): A2 (A perfect 5th above the root D)
• String 4 (D): D3 (An octave above the low D, reinforcing the root)
• String 3 (A): A3 (A perfect 5th above D3, and an octave above A2, creating a strong D-A-D-A power chord foundation)
• String 2 (E): E4 (A major 2nd or 9th above D3, adding a bright, suspended quality)
• String 1 (High E): E4 (In unison with String 2, providing a robust, doubled melodic voice or sustained drone)

This tuning inherently creates a rich Dsus2 or Dadd9 harmony when strummed open, thanks to the prominent D and A notes supporting the E. The unison E4-E4 on the higher strings is particularly notable, offering excellent potential for melodic embellishments and a full, sustained tone.

Open Chords & Reachable Shapes:

• Open D Sus2/Dadd9: The full open strum creates a vibrant Dsus2/Dadd9 chord (D-A-D-A-E-E). This is a highly resonant and stable open sound, ideal for backing vocals or expansive sonic textures.
• D Major & Minor: A D Major chord can be easily formed by fretting String 3 (A3) at the 2nd fret (to F#3), yielding D-A-D-F#-E-E (effectively a Dmaj9). For D minor, fret String 3 at the 1st fret (to F3), resulting in D-A-D-F-E-E (a Dmin9). The top E-E will always provide a characteristic '9th' color to these chords.
• Power Chords: The D-A-D-A arrangement on the lower four strings makes power chords incredibly accessible. Simply barring across these strings at any fret will produce a powerful root-fifth-octave-fifth chord. For example, a bar at the 2nd fret yields an E5 chord (E-B-E-B).
• Melodic Potential: The doubled E4 strings are a standout feature for lead playing, especially in Irish traditional music. They allow for easy harmonized melodies, robust single-note lines with natural sustain, and a mandolin-like drone effect. This facilitates rapid melodic runs and intricate ornamentation.
• Country Blues Suitability: The open D foundation, coupled with the ability to create strong drones, makes this tuning exceptionally good for slide guitar. The resonant open strings can underpin bluesy phrases and provide a sustained backdrop for expressive playing.

How to Tune Your Guitar to Unemployed Tuning

To achieve the 'Unemployed Tuning' from standard E-A-D-G-B-E, follow these instructions carefully. Please note that significant changes (more than 4 semitones up or down) may require a different string gauge for optimal tension and string longevity. Tuning up more than 4 semitones should be done with extra caution.

• String 6 (Low E to D2): Tune down 2 semitones. (Original: E2 -> Target: D2)
• String 5 (A to A2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). (Original: A2 -> Target: A2)
• String 4 (D to D3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). (Original: D3 -> Target: D3)
• String 3 (G to A3): Tune up 2 semitones. (Original: G3 -> Target: A3)
• String 2 (B to E4): Tune up 5 semitones. (Original: B3 -> Target: E4). Caution: This is a substantial change. Consider using a lighter gauge string for this position if you plan to use this tuning frequently to prevent string breakage or neck damage.
• String 1 (High E to E4): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). (Original: E4 -> Target: E4)