This unique tuning, known as "the gardener," is famously used by The Tallest Man on Earth for his song of the same name. It's an evocative and somewhat unconventional open tuning that moves beyond standard guitar voicings to create a rich, layered sound.

Technical Analysis

• Instrument Type: Guitar
• Base Tuning: This tuning is based around a D Major chord, but with a distinct re-entrant string. The pitches do not strictly ascend from the lowest to the highest string.
• Open Notes (from 6th to 1st string): D2, A2, D3, D4, A3, F#5.
• Pitch Progression (from low to high string):
  • String 6 (D2)
  • String 5 (A2) - A perfect fifth above D2.
  • String 4 (D3) - An octave above D2, or a perfect fourth above A2.
  • String 3 (D4) - An octave above D3.
  • String 2 (A3) - This is the re-entrant note, a perfect fifth above D3 but a major sixth below the D4 on the 3rd string, creating an unexpected voice leading and unique melodic range.
  • String 1 (F#5) - A major third above D4, giving the high end a bright, clear D Major tonality, at an exceptionally high octave.

Verbal Analysis & Open Chords

The open strings of "the gardener" tuning spell out a full D Major chord (D, A, D, D, A, F#). This means that simply strumming all open strings will produce a resonant D Major sound, making it an open tuning. The most striking feature is the re-entrant A3 on the 2nd string, which is pitched lower than the D4 on the 3rd string. This creates a distinctive, almost harp-like or dulcimer-like texture, allowing for unusual melodic pathways where lower notes can appear on 'higher' physical strings.

Due to its open D Major nature, many common major chords can be easily formed by simply barring across the frets. For example:

• A barre at the 5th fret will yield a G Major chord.
• A barre at the 7th fret will yield an A Major chord.

However, the re-entrant A3 and the exceptionally high F#5 (an octave above a typical Open D high F#) mean that traditional chord shapes will need significant re-imagining. This tuning encourages exploration of melodic patterns, drones, and arpeggios that highlight its unique intervallic structure, rather than relying on standard chord vocabulary. It is particularly well-suited for fingerstyle playing that can take advantage of the surprising string relationships and ringing open notes, offering a shimmering and expansive soundscape.

How to Tune 'the gardener'

To achieve the 'the gardener' tuning, start from standard EADGBe tuning and adjust each string as follows:

• String 6 (Low E String): Tune down 2 semitones from E2 to D2.
• String 5 (A String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to A2.
• String 4 (D String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to D3.
• String 3 (G String): Tune up 7 semitones from G3 to D4. ⚠ Caution: Tuning up 7 semitones is a significant increase in tension. A lighter gauge string for this position is strongly advised to prevent string breakage and potential neck damage.
• String 2 (B String): Tune down 2 semitones from B3 to A3.
• String 1 (High E String): The target note for this string is F#5. The instruction is to tune up 2 semitones from its standard pitch to achieve an F# note. However, F#5 is an exceptionally high pitch for a guitar's highest string. While the direct semitone movement specified in the instruction is +2 (from a conceptual 'E' note to an 'F#'), reaching F#5 from a standard High E (E4) would actually be an octave higher than F#4. ⚠ Caution: Achieving F#5 requires extreme tension on the string. It is highly recommended to use a very light gauge string specifically designed for such high pitches, or to ensure your instrument is properly set up to handle this tension to prevent string breakage and potential instrument damage.

Always tune carefully and check string tension to ensure the safety of your instrument.