Tuning Analysis: Dreamers

The 'Dreamers' tuning for Guitar, as used by Tiny Vipers, presents a captivating and unique sonic landscape. This tuning deviates significantly from standard EADGBe, creating a rich harmonic palette ideal for atmospheric and introspective compositions. It features a blend of standard bass notes, lowered middle strings, and one dramatically raised string, leading to an open chord voicing that is both complex and resonant.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning immediately evokes a 'dreamy' quality, living up to its name. The open strings E2 A2 B2 D4# B3 E4 form a lush E major 7th chord with an added 11th (or 4th). Specifically, the notes are E (root), A (perfect 4th/11th), B (perfect 5th), D# (major 7th), B (octave B), and E (octave E). This rich harmonic structure allows for immediate, full-bodied open chords with a sense of space and melancholy, or even uplift due to the prominent major 7th (D#). The lower strings provide a solid, almost drone-like foundation, while the higher D4# introduces a bright, almost piercing quality that cuts through the mix. Guitarists can explore fingerstyle arrangements that leverage the open string resonances, creating sustained sonic textures. The intervals created by the open strings, particularly the E-A-B progression on the low strings, suggest a strong root movement, while the D4# on the third string acts as a leading tone, pulling towards an E major resolution. This tuning would be excellent for ambient music, folk with a modern twist, or introspective singer-songwriter material.

Technical Analysis

Compared to standard EADGBe tuning (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4), the 'Dreamers' tuning of E2 A2 B2 D4# B3 E4 shows several key alterations:

• String 6 (Low E): Remains at standard E2.
• String 5 (A): Remains at standard A2.
• String 4 (D): Tuned down from D3 to B2, a drop of 3 semitones. This creates a wider interval with the 5th string (A to B, a whole step up).
• String 3 (G): This is the most significant change, tuned from standard G3 to D4#. This is a remarkable jump of 8 semitones (a major sixth plus an octave displacement) from standard G3, placing it significantly higher than its usual position and even higher than the 2nd string (B3). This high D# provides the characteristic major 7th of the open chord.
• String 2 (B): Remains at standard B3.
• String 1 (High E): Remains at standard E4.

The resulting open chord E2 A2 B2 D4# B3 E4 can be identified as an Emaj7(add11) chord. This sophisticated voicing with its major seventh and added fourth creates a unique harmonic tension and release, making it highly expressive without needing to fret any notes. Other chords that become readily accessible or have interesting voicings due to this tuning include various inversions of E major 7, or even A minor-ish shapes that can take on a modal flavor due to the high D#.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'Dreamers' tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these string adjustments. Please note the specific semitone movements and proceed with care, especially for larger adjustments.

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at E2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at A2.
• String 4 (D String): Tune down 3 semitones from its standard D3 to B2.
• String 3 (G String): Tune down 4 semitones from its standard G3. This adjustment will result in E3. CRITICAL NOTE: The provided target tuning notes specify D4# for this string. Tuning G3 down 4 semitones leads to E3, not D4#. Achieving D4# from G3 would require tuning UP 8 semitones. Please verify your intended target note for this string, as following the 'string_movements' data strictly will result in E3. Extreme caution should be exercised if attempting to tune a standard G string up 8 semitones, as this is a very significant tension increase (exceeding +4 semitones) and may require a different string gauge to prevent breakage.
• String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at B3.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at E4.

Important String Gauge Advisory: For any string movement exceeding 4 semitones up or down, it is generally recommended to consider using a different string gauge to maintain proper tension and prevent string breakage or damage to your instrument. The significant difference noted for string 3 should be approached with extreme caution.

Open String Notes:

• String 6 (Low E): E2 - Standard E, providing a solid bass foundation.
• String 5 (A): A2 - Standard A, maintaining a familiar anchor point.
• String 4 (D): B2 - Tuned down from standard D3, offering a distinctive lower register.
• String 3 (G): D4# - Dramatically tuned up from standard G3, this note is the major seventh of E, creating a bright and leading harmonic.
• String 2 (B): B3 - Standard B, providing a familiar high-mid range.
• String 1 (High E): E4 - Standard E, completing the high end with an octave E.