"Open Eb Minor Drone" is a distinctive guitar tuning, created by its author specifically for arranging a song. It establishes a powerful and somber atmosphere, rooted in an Eb minor chord across its open strings.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning immediately creates a rich, resonant drone, with the low Eb (D#) string setting a deep foundation. The open strings, Eb-Bb-Eb-F#-Bb-Eb, form an Eb minor chord (Eb, Gb, Bb), allowing for easy arpeggiation and strumming of the minor triad without fretting. The repetitive Eb and Bb notes across different octaves create a natural sustain and harmonic depth. The F# (enharmonically Gb) on the 3rd string is the characteristic minor third, giving the tuning its melancholic quality. It feels very suitable for introspective, dark, or dramatic musical passages, where the natural resonance of the open Eb minor chord can be fully exploited.

Technical Analysis

• Interval Structure: The tuning is structured as R-5-R-m3-5-R (Eb-Bb-Eb-Gb-Bb-Eb). This is a classic open minor chord voicing, facilitating easy minor chord voicings across the fretboard.
• Drone Potential: The repeated Eb and Bb notes across multiple octaves make this an excellent drone tuning. Holding these notes provides a constant harmonic bed for melodic lines.
• Chordal Possibilities:
  • Open Chords: The open strings form an Eb minor chord.
  • Barre Chords: By barring across any fret, you can easily play other minor chords (e.g., barring at the 1st fret yields E minor, 3rd fret yields F# minor).
  • Power Chords: The low Eb and Bb strings are a perfect fifth apart, enabling easy two-finger power chords by muting the middle strings or employing creative fingerings.
  • Unique Voicings: The unique arrangement of the third and fifth across the middle strings (Eb-F#-Bb) allows for interesting melodic and harmonic ideas that might be less accessible in standard tuning.
• String Tension: Compared to standard EADGBE, several strings are specified to be tuned up significantly. Careful attention to string gauge and instrument stability is advised, especially for the 5th and 4th strings, which are instructed to be tuned up by 4 semitones.

Tuning Notes (from low E to high E)

• 6th String (Low E): D#2 (Eb2)
• 5th String (A): A#2 (Bb2)
• 4th String (D): D#3 (Eb3)
• 3rd String (G): F#3 (Gb3)
• 2nd String (B): A#3 (Bb3)
• 1st String (High E): D#4 (Eb4)

How to Tune

To achieve the "Open Eb Minor Drone" tuning, please follow these specific instructions for each string. The 'Target Note' indicates the final pitch for the string, while the 'Tuning Instruction' is provided by the tuning's creator:

• 6th String (Low E): Start at Standard E2. Target Note: D#2 (Eb2). Tuning Instruction: Tune up 2 semitones.
• 5th String (A): Start at Standard A2. Target Note: A#2 (Bb2). Tuning Instruction: Tune up 4 semitones. Caution: Tuning up 4 semitones significantly increases string tension. Consider a lighter gauge string for this if you intend to keep this tuning for extended periods.
• 4th String (D): Start at Standard D3. Target Note: D#3 (Eb3). Tuning Instruction: Tune up 4 semitones. Caution: Tuning up 4 semitones significantly increases string tension. Consider a lighter gauge string for this if you intend to keep this tuning for extended periods.
• 3rd String (G): Start at Standard G3. Target Note: F#3 (Gb3). Tuning Instruction: Tune up 2 semitones.
• 2nd String (B): Start at Standard B3. Target Note: A#3 (Bb3). Tuning Instruction: Tune up 1 semitone.
• 1st String (High E): Start at Standard E4. Target Note: D#4 (Eb4). Tuning Instruction: Tune up 1 semitone.

Always tune carefully and check your string's pitch frequently with a reliable tuner to avoid breakage.