This distinctive tuning, designed for use with a capo on the 1st fret, produces a vibrant and expansive E-based harmony. It's a fantastic choice for musicians aiming to explore contemporary, rich sonorities and craft lush, intricate soundscapes, drawing inspiration from innovative artists like Jacob Collier.

Verbal Analysis

When played with a capo on the 1st fret, the open strings ring out with a bright, suspended, and highly resonant quality. This makes it exceptionally well-suited for detailed fingerstyle arrangements, creating ambient textures, and even percussive guitar techniques, thanks to its wide interval voicings and natural sustain. A key characteristic is the absence of a conventional major or minor third in its fundamental open voicing. This grants the tuning significant harmonic flexibility, allowing the player to subtly imply various tonal qualities over a strong, clear E, B, F# foundation.

Technical Analysis

With the capo positioned on the 1st fret, the open strings sound as E3, B3, F#3, B4, C#4, F#4 (from the lowest to the highest string). This arrangement creates an E-based chord where the intervals relative to the root (E) are: Perfect Fifth (B), Major Ninth (F#), Perfect Fifth (B, an octave higher), Major Sixth (C#), and Major Ninth (F#, an octave higher). Technically, this can be precisely described as an E6(add9) chord, notably lacking an explicit major or minor third. This harmonic ambiguity makes it highly adaptable and inspiring for composition and improvisation. The inclusion of two B notes and two F# notes across different octaves contributes to a deep, ringing resonance and full-bodied sound. While familiar chord shapes will require re-learning, the open strings themselves offer a rich and unique harmonic palette, naturally lending themselves to drone-based melodies and arpeggiated figures.

Chordal Opportunities

• The open tuning itself forms a beautiful E6(add9) without a 3rd, providing a modern, ethereal, and open sound.
• By simply fretting a G# (major third) or G (minor third) on the appropriate strings, you can effortlessly derive full E Major 6(add9) or E Minor 6(add9) chords, respectively.
• Applying a simple barre across various frets will unveil entirely new chord voicings, often preserving the distinctive 6th and 9th intervals that give this tuning its unique character.
• The natural resonance created by the repeated B and F# notes across octaves makes this tuning exceptionally well-suited for creating sustained drones and exploring modal harmonies.

Important Note: This tuning is designed to be used with a capo on the 1st fret. The notes listed below are the actual physical tuning of the strings before the capo is applied. The sounding notes with the capo will be one semitone higher.

Physical Tuning Notes (Capo Off):

• String 6 (Low E String): D3# (E♭3)
• String 5 (A String): A3# (B♭3)
• String 4 (D String): F3
• String 3 (G String): A4# (B♭4)
• String 2 (B String): C4
• String 1 (High E String): F4

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe):

• String 6 (Low E String): Tune down 1 semitone from standard E3 to D#3 (E♭3).
• String 5 (A String): Tune up 1 semitone from standard A3 to A#3 (B♭3).
• String 4 (D String): Tune up 3 semitones from standard D4. This movement will result in F4. Please note that the target note in the provided tuning notes for this string (F3) is an octave lower than the F4 derived from this movement. Users should verify their intended octave for this string based on their preference for string tension and tonal range.
• String 3 (G String): Tune up 3 semitones from standard G4 to A#4 (B♭4).
• String 2 (B String): Tune up 1 semitone from standard B3 to C4.
• String 1 (High E String): Tune up 1 semitone from standard E4 to F4.

Important Tuning Considerations:

When adjusting string tension, especially when tuning up multiple semitones, always proceed with caution to avoid string breakage. Tuning up 3 semitones (as for strings 4 and 3) requires careful attention. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down from standard pitch, it is generally recommended to consider a different string gauge to ensure optimal string tension, prevent damage, and maintain proper intonation.