A Glimpse into Elliott Smith's "Clementine"

This unique guitar tuning, famously associated with Elliott Smith's melancholic masterpiece "Clementine," offers a sonic landscape that is both delicate and haunting. It departs significantly from standard tuning, creating open string voicings that lend themselves to intricate fingerstyle patterns and the atmospheric, introspective sound characteristic of Smith's work. The tuning allows for resonant drones and unexpected harmonic interplay, providing a rich backdrop for vocal melodies without complex fretting.

Technical Analysis: D A E C G C

The open string notes D2-A2-E3-C4-G3-C4 (low to high) create a complex but highly resonant sonority. While not an obvious open major or minor chord, the collection of notes D, A, E, C, G, C strongly implies a C major tonality with significant extensions. Specifically, it can be viewed as a Cmaj6/9 chord (C-E-G-A-D) with a repeated C on the highest string, and the lowest string being D, providing an inverted or suspended feel. This structure avoids the typical strong root-position chords, favoring a more ambiguous, shimmering quality.

Key observations include:

• The high C-G-C (strings 3, 2, 1) forms a clear C major triad, providing a bright, chime-like quality to the higher register.
• The lower strings (D-A-E) add an open, almost modal foundation. When combined with the higher strings, they contribute to a rich, often melancholic, harmonic palette.
• Accessible chords in this tuning might include open C major voicings, various suspended chords, and drone-based arpeggios that leverage the natural resonance of the open strings. The unique intervals also make exploring new chord shapes and melodic patterns rewarding, straying from conventional fretboard logic.

Open String Notes (Low to High)

• String 6: D2
• String 5: A2
• String 4: E3
• String 3: C4
• String 2: G3
• String 1: C4

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones from E2 to D2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change from A2 (0 semitones).
• String 4 (D): Tune up 2 semitones from D3 to E3.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 5 semitones from G3 to C4. This is a significant adjustment.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 4 semitones from B3 to G3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 4 semitones from E4 to C4.

Important Note on String Gauge: Please exercise caution when adjusting string tension. For movements exceeding 4 semitones (either up or down), such as String 3 (up 5 semitones) and String 2 & 1 (down 4 semitones), it is generally advisable to consider using a different string gauge to prevent string breakage or excessive tension on the instrument's neck. Always tune slowly and check your instrument's intonation.