The "Midwest Emo" tuning, as its name suggests, is crafted for a sound that resonates with the melancholic, intricate, and often emotionally charged characteristics of the genre. With its unique open string voicings, this tuning invites exploration beyond standard chord shapes, focusing on open, ringing tones and complex harmonic textures, perfect "For your daily dose of melancholy".

Technical Breakdown:

The tuning configuration is D2 A2 E3 E3 A3 E4. This is not a common open chord in the traditional sense, but it does form a rich Dsus2 chord (D-A-E) or an Asus4 chord (A-D-E) across the open strings. The arrangement of notes offers a distinctive palette:

• The lowest string is tuned down to D2, providing a deep, resonant bass foundation.
• The second and fifth strings are A2 and A3, respectively, offering an octave doubling of the fifth of D, or the root of A, creating a strong harmonic anchor.
• Most notably, the third and fourth strings are both tuned to E3. This unison interval on adjacent strings is highly unusual and creates a thick, chorus-like sound when strummed or allows for interesting melodic possibilities where one E can drone while the other is fretted or bent.
• The highest string remains E4, providing a bright top end that complements the lower E strings.

This tuning emphasizes the notes D, A, and E. The presence of two E3 strings and the A3 string creates a dense, ringing sound, making it ideal for arpeggiated patterns, fingerpicking, and creating sustained, atmospheric soundscapes. While traditional barre chords might be challenging, the open strings themselves form beautiful, resonant voicings. Sliding partial chords along the neck, or utilizing the open strings as drones against fretted notes, will yield expressive results. The melancholic quality arises from the suspended nature of the open chord, providing a sense of yearning or unresolved harmony often found in emo music.

How to Tune:

To achieve the "Midwest Emo" tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), follow these steps carefully. Please be mindful of string tension, especially when tuning strings up.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones from E2 to D2.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from A2 to A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 2 semitones from D3 to E3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 3 semitones from G3 to E3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 2 semitones from B3 to A3.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from E4 to E4.

Note: Tuning strings up more than a few semitones increases tension. Always exercise caution and consider a heavier gauge string set if you plan to use tunings with significant upward changes for extended periods. This tuning includes a 2-semitone upward change on the 4th string; ensure your guitar's neck and strings can handle the adjustment.

6th String: D2

5th String: A2

4th String: E3

3rd String: E3

2nd String: A3

1st String: E4