Tuning Description: Elijah (Mathew and the Atlas)

This unique guitar tuning, named "Elijah," is reportedly used for the song by Mathew and the Atlas. It presents a highly altered string configuration, moving away from standard EADGBe to create a distinctive sonic landscape. The tuning is designed to evoke a specific mood or facilitate particular chord voicings unique to the song's composition.

Verbal Analysis

"Elijah" offers a rich, resonant sound with its open strings. The lower two strings remain at standard E2 and A2, providing a familiar anchor. However, the upper strings are significantly altered in pitch and octave compared to standard, which immediately sets this tuning apart. The open strings themselves form a complex, shimmering chord that can be described as an E Major 6th with an added 4th (Emaj6(add4)). This means that simply strumming the open strings will yield a full, pleasant harmony, making it ideal for drone-like passages, atmospheric textures, and expressive fingerstyle playing. The arrangement of notes, particularly the elevated pitches of the 4th (C#4) and 3rd (G#4) strings, along with the high C#5 on the 1st string, suggests a bright, ethereal quality. Players will find that traditional chord shapes are largely unplayable, encouraging exploration of new, open voicings and melodic possibilities.

Technical Analysis

The tuning is configured as E2-A2-C#4-G#4-B3-C#5 (low to high). Let's examine the intervals relative to the lowest string, E2:

• 6th String (E2): Root
• 5th String (A2): Perfect 4th
• 4th String (C#4): Major 6th (from E2, two octaves higher than C#3)
• 3rd String (G#4): Major 3rd (from E2, two octaves higher than G#2)
• 2nd String (B3): Perfect 5th (from E2, one octave higher than B2)
• 1st String (C#5): Major 6th (from E2, three octaves higher than C#3)

The presence of E, G#, B, C#, and A creates a rich sonority. Specifically, the open notes spell out the pitches E, A, B, C#, G#. When arranged chromatically (E, G#, A, B, C#), they closely align with an E Major scale segment, minus the F# and D#. This open tuning strongly implies an E Major tonal center, despite the inclusion of the A, which adds a suspended or Lydian flavor, creating an Emaj6(add4) chord. This sophisticated harmonic structure allows for intricate melodic lines to be played over the open drone, and makes certain voicings particularly accessible:

• Open Emaj6(add4): A full strum of all strings will produce a vibrant E Major 6th chord with an added 4th, perfect for creating lush, atmospheric soundscapes.
• Drone and Melody: The E2 and A2 provide a solid low foundation, over which the higher, altered strings can be used for melodic exploration, taking advantage of the unique intervals.
• Accessible E Major voicings: Shapes that emphasize the E, G#, B, C#, and A will naturally sound consonant and full in this tuning. Experimentation with single-finger barres or simple two-finger shapes can yield surprising and beautiful results.

Due to the significant alterations in pitch, especially the higher octave positioning of the 4th, 3rd, and 1st strings relative to their standard counterparts, players should approach this tuning with an open mind, as standard chord shapes will generally not apply. This encourages a fresh perspective on the fretboard.

How to Tune Your Guitar to Elijah

To achieve the "Elijah" tuning, adjust your strings as follows. Ensure you use a reliable electronic tuner for accuracy.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune to E2. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 5th String (A): Tune to A2. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 4th String (D): Tune to C#4. This involves tuning down 1 semitone.
• 3rd String (G): Tune to G#4. This involves tuning up 1 semitone.
• 2nd String (B): Tune to B3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 1st String (High E): Tune to C#5. This involves tuning down 3 semitones.

Important Note on String Gauges: Based on the provided tuning instructions for individual string movements, none of the adjustments (-1, +1, -3 semitones) exceed four semitones up or down. Therefore, a different string gauge is generally not advised based on these specific movements. However, it's important to be aware that some of the target notes (C#4, G#4, C#5) are in significantly higher octaves than their standard EADGBe counterparts (D3, G3, E4). Always exercise caution and listen to your guitar when making drastic tuning changes, as the overall tension on the neck could be affected by these larger octave shifts.