The 'Evergreen Resonance' tuning, famously adopted by Ben Howard for tracks like 'Time is Dancing' and 'Evergreen', offers an expansive and atmospheric soundscape. It's characterized by deep, resonant bass strings and a bright, shimmering top end, anchored by a unique unison G. This open tuning is ideal for fingerstyle arrangements, arpeggiated patterns, and percussive techniques, generating a rich, almost piano-like sonic texture that lends itself beautifully to ambient folk and indie genres.

Technical Analysis

This tuning configures the guitar strings to the notes D2 G2 C3 G3 G3 D4, from thickest to thinnest. Compared to standard E tuning, this represents a significant overall drop across most strings, creating a distinctly open and suspended harmonic foundation. Key features include the low D drone, the prominent C in the mid-range, and most notably, the unison G notes on the 3rd and 2nd strings (G3 and G3). These unison Gs provide a powerful resonant core, facilitating easy access to open Gsus2 or Cadd9 voicings. When strummed openly, the tuning inherently forms a complex, suspended chord, resembling a Cadd9/D (C-G-D over a low D bass) or a Dsus4add9 (D-G-C-G-G-D). This combination delivers a dreamy, ringing quality. The non-standard intervals across the strings encourage exploration of fresh chord shapes and unique voicings, moving beyond conventional patterns to unlock new creative avenues perfect for ambient, folk-inspired, and percussive playing styles.

How to Tune

• String 6 (Low E string): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• String 5 (A string): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• String 4 (D string): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• String 3 (G string): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to G3.
• String 2 (B string): Tune down 4 semitones to G3.
• String 1 (High E string): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.

Important Note on String Gauge: The 2nd string requires a significant drop of 4 semitones. For this substantial decrease in tension, it is highly advisable to consider using a heavier gauge string for the 2nd string to ensure proper tension, intonation, and maintain playability. A standard gauge string might feel too loose or suffer from intonation issues at such a low tuning.

String 6: D2

String 5: G2

String 4: C3

String 3: G3

String 2: G3

String 1: D4