Grizzlybear's Sleeping-Ute Tuning in DGBEGB is a deeply resonant and somewhat melancholic open tuning, as its name might suggest. All strings are tuned down significantly from standard EADGBe, creating a rich, slacker tension perfect for atmospheric soundscapes, blues, and folk music. This tuning offers a unique harmonic landscape that lends itself well to drone playing, slide guitar, and expressive fingerstyle, allowing for a haunting and full-bodied sonic experience.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to D2 G2 B2 E3 G3 B3. This creates a complex harmonic structure:

• The lowest three strings (D-G-B) form the notes of a G major triad (G-B-D) but with D as the root, effectively creating a G major chord in its second inversion (G/D).
• The top three strings (E-G-B) form an E minor triad (E-G-B).
• When strummed open, the full tuning (D-G-B-E-G-B) results in a chord containing the notes D, E, G, and B. This can be interpreted as a G major 6th chord (G-B-D-E) or an E minor chord with a D in the bass (Em/D), providing a versatile and slightly ambiguous quality.
• The presence of repeated G and B notes across octaves (G2, G3 and B2, B3) contributes to a full, chiming sustain and a sense of depth. The intervals between strings include several minor thirds (B3-G3, G3-E3, B2-G2) and perfect fourths (E3-B2, G2-D2), which can make certain chord shapes and melodic patterns intuitive to find and play.

Open Chords and Playability

This tuning is particularly inviting for:

• Open Strumming: The open strings provide a rich, ready-made Gmaj6 or Em/D chord, perfect for immediate melodic exploration without complex fingerings, offering a lush, open sound.
• Slide Guitar: The prevalence of minor third and perfect fourth intervals makes this tuning highly suitable for slide playing, allowing for sweeping glissandos and evocative blues or folk melodies with ease.
• Barre Chords: Simple barre chord shapes can be easily adapted. For example, barring all strings at the 2nd fret yields notes E-A-C#-F#-A-C#, which is a rich A major chord variant, while barring at the 3rd fret produces F-Bb-D-G-Bb-D, offering interesting harmonic possibilities that are within easy reach.
• Drone Effects: The low D string provides a strong foundation for droning, allowing higher strings to ring out with melodic variations and creating a resonant, sustained backdrop.

How to Tune to Grizzlybear's Sleeping-Ute (DGBEGB)

This tuning requires significant adjustments from standard EADGBe. Please proceed with caution, especially with the higher strings, as they will be significantly slacker. Tuning is relative to standard EADGBe:

String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
String 4 (D): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
String 2 (B): Tune down 4 semitones to G3.
String 1 (High E): Tune down 5 semitones to B3.

Important Note: For String 2 (B to G3, down 4 semitones) and String 1 (High E to B3, down 5 semitones), the string tension will be significantly reduced. For optimal playability and to maintain intonation, a heavier gauge string set is highly recommended, especially for these two strings, when tuning this far down. This will help prevent buzzing, provide better tone and sustain, and ensure the guitar remains playable.