The "alan gogoll" tuning for guitar offers a distinctive and resonant soundscape. While the original description is simply "wet," the technical analysis reveals a unique arrangement of notes that creates a rich, open texture.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning departs significantly from standard EADGBe, creating an open voicing that leans towards an intriguing harmonic palette. The low E string provides a solid foundation, while the combination of E, A, C#, E, B, E across the open strings does not immediately form a conventional major or minor chord. Instead, it presents a complex, suspended, or perhaps even an Emaj6add4 sound due to the presence of A (4th) and C# (6th) over an E bass, alongside the perfect 5th (B). This creates a bright yet slightly ambiguous quality, allowing for creative melodic and harmonic exploration.

The open tuning strongly features the notes of an A Major triad (A, C#, E) on strings 5, 4, and 3, which can be easily leveraged by strumming these strings or forming inversions. The overall sound encourages a fingerstyle approach to bring out the individual voicings, or can be strummed for a full, shimmering effect. The presence of the root E and its octaves (low E and high E) anchors the tuning, providing familiarity amidst its unique character.

Technical Analysis

• Open Notes: E2 A2 C#4 E3 B3 E4
• This tuning maintains the low E and A strings in standard pitch relative to each other, but then introduces significant changes on the D and G strings.
• The notes E, A, C#, E, B, E are present. This includes:
  • E (Root)
  • A (Perfect 4th relative to E)
  • C# (Major 6th relative to E)
  • B (Perfect 5th relative to E)
• An open A Major chord (A, C#, E) is readily available on strings 5, 4, and 3.
• Chords that might be within reach or easily formed due to this shape include variations of E chords (Eadd4, E6, Emaj6), or voicings around A major, especially when the low E string is used as a drone or bass note. Barre chords based on the A major shape on strings 5, 4, 3 can be moved up the neck to create other major chords easily.

How to Tune

To achieve the "alan gogoll" tuning, start from standard EADGBe tuning and follow these adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E to E2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 5 (A to A2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 4 (D to C#4): Tune down 1 semitones.
• String 3 (G to E3): Tune down 3 semitones. Note: Tuning down 3 semitones is a moderate change; monitor string tension carefully.
• String 2 (B to B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (High E to E4): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

String 6: E2 (Low E)

String 5: A2 (A String)

String 4: C#4 (D String tuned down)

String 3: E3 (G String tuned down)

String 2: B3 (B String)

String 1: E4 (High E String)