The "Stay With Me" tuning, utilized by Eddie Van Der Meer for his fingerstyle cover, transforms the standard guitar into a resonant and expressive soundscape. This unique tuning provides a rich harmonic foundation, centered around an open Eb Major 7th chord, offering a distinctive palette for intricate fingerstyle arrangements.

Technical Analysis

Departing from the standard EADGBe, this tuning features the notes D# G D G A# D (from low to high string). The open strings collectively form a clear Eb Major 7th chord (Eb-G-Bb-D), with D# acting as Eb and A# as Bb. This creates a beautifully complex and melancholic or soulful open voicing, ideal for the emotive nature of the "Stay With Me" piece. The presence of multiple G and D notes provides strong harmonic anchors and opportunities for droning, while the intervals between the strings (e.g., the minor third between D# and G, or G and A#) open up easy access to various minor and modal voicings. Chords like G minor, D minor, and especially Eb major are readily accessible with minimal fretwork, making it highly suitable for expressive arpeggios and melodic lines.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Stay With Me" tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps:

• Low E String (6th): Tune down 1 semitone from E to D#3.
• A String (5th): Tune down 2 semitones from A to G2.
• D String (4th): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains D3.
• G String (3rd): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains G3.
• B String (2nd): Tune down 1 semitone from B to A#4.
• High E String (1st): Tune down 2 semitones from E to D4.

All string movements are minor, so standard string gauges should be sufficient without undue tension concerns. Always tune carefully and check intonation.

6th String: D#3

5th String: G2

4th String: D3

3rd String: G3

2nd String: A#4

1st String: D4