Verbal Analysis

The 'Gracious' tuning, famously used by Ben Howard, offers a distinct, expansive sound that lends itself beautifully to intricate fingerpicking and atmospheric textures. It's a tuning that immediately evokes a sense of openness and allows for rich, droning harmonies. The significant drops on the lower strings (6th, 5th, and 3rd) create a resonant foundation, while the upper strings maintain a familiar E-B-E interval, providing anchor points for melodic lines and chord voicings.

This tuning isn't designed for conventional 'cowboy chords' but rather encourages exploration of unique voicings and suspended qualities. It allows for a captivating interplay between the low, dropped notes and the higher, more stable strings, resulting in a sound that feels both grounded and ethereal. Expect to find yourself discovering new chord shapes that resonate with surprising depth and sustain, perfect for creating complex, ambient soundscapes.

Technical Analysis: D-G-D-E-B-E

This tuning transforms the standard E-A-D-G-B-E setup into D2-G2-D3-E3-B3-E4. Let's break down the intervals and implications:

• Open String Voicing: When strummed open, the tuning produces the notes D, G, D, E, B, E. This chord contains the notes D, G, B, and E. These notes strongly suggest a G major chord (G-B-D) with an added E (the 6th or major 13th) or an E minor chord (E-G-B) with an added D (the minor 7th). This makes it versatile for playing in either G major or E minor keys, leaning into rich, suspended, or extended harmonies without requiring complex fingerings.
• Lower Strings (D-G-D): The bottom three strings (6th, 5th, 4th) form a D-G-D interval. This creates a powerful Dsus4 sound or an inverted G major triad (G in the bass). It provides a deep, resonant base for the tuning, perfect for droning or rhythmic percussive patterns.
• Upper Strings (E-B-E): The top three strings (3rd, 2nd, 1st) are tuned to E-B-E. This interval forms a clear E5 power chord, making it easy to play E minor or E major related chord voicings on these strings. It offers a bright, ringing quality that contrasts with the lower, darker tones.
• Unique Intervals: The intervals from low to high are a Perfect 4th (D-G), Perfect 5th (G-D), Major 2nd (D-E), Perfect 5th (E-B), and Perfect 4th (B-E). This non-linear interval structure is what gives the tuning its distinctive character, moving away from conventional stacked thirds or fourths.

This tuning excels in creating open, ringing textures and suspended chords. It's particularly well-suited for fingerstyle playing where individual string attack and sustain can be exploited. Chords like open E minor or G major can be easily implied or constructed by adding just a few fingers, leveraging the resonant open strings.

How to Tune 'Gracious'

To achieve the 'Gracious' tuning, you will adjust your guitar from standard E-A-D-G-B-E as follows. Please take care when tuning, especially with significant changes:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2. This is a moderate drop, well within safe limits for a standard gauge string.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2. Another moderate drop, safe for standard string gauges.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to D3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3. This is a noticeable drop but still generally safe for most standard gauge strings.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E4.

Important Note on String Gauge: For changes exceeding 4 semitones (either up or down), it is generally advisable to consider using a different gauge string to ensure optimal tension, intonation, and string longevity. For this 'Gracious' tuning, all string movements are within the generally safe range for standard gauge strings, but always listen to your guitar and exercise caution during tuning.

String 6: D2

String 5: G2

String 4: D3

String 3: E3

String 2: B3

String 1: E4