Tuning Overview: NorthEast Emo

The "NorthEast Emo" tuning, as described by its creator, was discovered as an exercise and immediately appreciated for its unique open chord sound and interesting note spacing. This tuning offers a rich and resonant soundscape, lending itself well to atmospheric playing, open string drones, and intricate arpeggios. With its deep, all-down tuning, it evokes a reflective and potentially melancholic mood, fitting for its genre namesake.

Technical Analysis

This is a drop tuning where all strings are significantly lowered from standard EADGBe. The open string notes are configured as: D2-F2-C3-F3-G3-C4. This creates a sonic foundation that is both deep and expansive.

Analyzing the intervals between adjacent strings reveals a distinctive pattern:

• 6th String (D2) to 5th String (F2): Minor Third (3 semitones)
• 5th String (F2) to 4th String (C3): Perfect Fifth (7 semitones)
• 4th String (C3) to 3rd String (F3): Perfect Fourth (5 semitones)
• 3rd String (F3) to 2nd String (G3): Major Second (2 semitones)
• 2nd String (G3) to 1st String (C4): Perfect Fourth (5 semitones)

The prominence of perfect fifths and fourths creates a strong, ringing resonance, while the minor third and major second add color and potential for melodic movement. The repeated F and C notes across different octaves contribute to a cohesive, drone-like quality.

Open Chords and Harmonic Possibilities

The open string configuration (D-F-C-F-G-C) forms a rich, complex voicing that is not a simple major or minor triad but rather a sophisticated suspended or extended chord, offering unique harmonic textures:

• The top three strings (C-G-C) form a clear and beautifully resonant C major triad, providing a bright and stable upper register.
• Including the 4th string, the notes (C-F-G-C) create a C major chord with an added F (the perfect fourth), effectively forming a Cmaj11 (without the 7th or 9th) or a C suspended 4 add 2. This is a powerful, full voicing that rings out.
• When all six open strings (D-F-C-F-G-C) are played, the collective harmony includes the notes C, D, F, and G. This can be interpreted as a Cmaj11 (without the 7th or 9th) with a D in the bass, or a Dm11 (without the 5th). This creates a distinct modal atmosphere, leaning towards Dorian or Lydian, with an inherent blend of tension and resonance.

This tuning is exceptionally well-suited for creating expansive soundscapes, intricate fingerstyle arpeggios, and powerful, droning chord progressions. Simple barre chords will immediately take on new, interesting voicings due to the unique intervals. For example, barring across the top four or five strings at the first fret will yield an F-based chord with a distinctive flavor. The close interval of F3-G3 on the 3rd and 2nd strings facilitates easy hammer-ons and pull-offs, allowing for expressive melodic embellishments and drone textures.

How to Tune

To achieve the "NorthEast Emo" tuning from standard EADGBe, carefully follow these instructions for each string. Please be mindful that tuning down by 4 or more semitones places less tension on the strings, which might necessitate a heavier gauge string set for optimal feel, intonation, and tone.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 4 semitones to F2. Important: This is a significant drop. Consider a heavier gauge string set if you plan to use this tuning frequently.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 4 semitones to G3. Important: This is a significant drop. Consider a heavier gauge string set if you plan to use this tuning frequently.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 4 semitones to C4. Important: This is a significant drop. Consider a heavier gauge string set if you plan to use this tuning frequently.

Open String Notes:

String 6: D2
String 5: F2
String 4: C3
String 3: F3
String 2: G3
String 1: C4