Tuning Analysis: D#A#FGA#F (Emelie)

This unique guitar tuning, known as "Emelie" from TikTok, offers a distinct sonic palette, moving beyond conventional open chords to inspire creative and modern melodic and harmonic structures. It's an excellent choice for players looking to experiment with fresh sounds and textures.

Technical Analysis: Open Notes and Intervals

The open strings are tuned as follows, from lowest (6th) to highest (1st): D#3 A#3 F3 G3 A#4 F4. Let's break down the harmonic content:

• The lowest string is D#3, establishing a strong root foundation.
• The 5th string, A#3, forms a perfect fifth with the root (D#), creating a powerful and stable drone.
• The 4th string, F3, is a minor third above D#, strongly implying a D# minor tonality.
• The 3rd string, G3, introduces an augmented fourth (or diminished fifth) interval relative to D#, adding a unique tension or a modal flavor. While not a typical chord tone for D# minor, it hints at possibilities like D# Lydian or Dorian scales.
• The 2nd string, A#4, is an octave higher than the 5th string, reinforcing the perfect fifth and adding brightness to the upper register.
• The 1st string, F4, is an octave higher than the 4th string, reinforcing the minor third and completing the upper voicing.

The overall collection of notes in this open tuning is D#, F, G, A#. This can be interpreted as a D# minor chord (D#, F, A#) with an added G, creating a rich, slightly dissonant, and evocative sound. Enharmonically, this is equivalent to Eb, F, G, Bb, which could be an Eb major chord (Eb, G, Bb) with an added F (an Ebadd4 or Ebadd11), offering a brighter, more expansive feel.

Chordal and Melodic Opportunities

While not a standard open major or minor chord, this tuning provides a strong foundation for:

• D# minor (or Eb Major) Based Music: The inherent D# minor triad (D#, F, A#) means that playing songs in D# minor will feel natural. If interpreted enharmonically as Eb, Eb major chords and scales will also be readily accessible.
• Drone and Ambient Textures: The prominent D# and A# (root and fifth) on the lower strings are ideal for creating sustained drones, especially when combined with the higher notes for melodic layering.
• Unique Open Chord Voicings: The combination of F3-G3-A#4 on strings 4, 3, and 2 creates a distinctive cluster that can be fingerpicked for arpeggios or strummed for unconventional chord voicings. Barre chords will transform drastically, offering new harmonic possibilities not found in standard tuning.
• Modal Explorations: The inclusion of the G (A4 relative to D#) opens doors for exploring modes like D# Dorian or D# Phrygian, allowing for more complex melodic lines and harmonies.

This tuning is perfectly suited for players looking to develop unique soundscapes, explore modern harmonic ideas, or recreate the specific sound heard from Emelie's original performance.

How to Tune

To achieve the D#A#FGA#F (Emelie) tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), follow these adjustments:

• 6th String (Low E to D#): Tune down 1 semitones to D#3.
• 5th String (A to A#): Tune up 1 semitones to A#3.
• 4th String (D to F): Tune up 3 semitones to F3. Please exercise caution when tuning up significantly, as it increases string tension.
• 3rd String (G to G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to G3.
• 2nd String (B to A#): Tune down 1 semitones to A#4.
• 1st String (High E to F): Tune up 1 semitones to F4.

Always use a reliable tuner and check intonation after tuning, especially for larger pitch changes.

Open String Notes

String 6 (lowest): D#3
String 5: A#3
String 4: F3
String 3: G3
String 2: A#4
String 1 (highest): F4