The Nick Drake tuning is a subtle yet profound alteration of standard guitar tuning, often associated with the melancholic and intricate fingerstyle compositions of the legendary British singer-songwriter. It's a tuning that invites exploration of open, resonant sounds and unique harmonic textures.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning provides an ethereal and open sound, particularly suited for fingerstyle playing where ringing open strings can underpin melodic phrases. The single change from standard tuning — the 3rd string (G) tuned down to E — creates a strong sense of a drone and allows for rich, sustained chords that might otherwise be challenging in standard. It promotes a feeling of an E-centric harmony, making it ideal for pieces in E minor or related modes. Players will find familiar chord shapes transformed, opening new creative avenues for songwriting and accompaniment.

Technical Analysis

The tuning configuration is E-A-D-E-B-E (from low to high). This is essentially standard E-A-D-G-B-E with the G string dropped by three semitones to E. This creates:

• A unison with the 1st (high E) string, adding to the resonance.
• An octave with the 6th (low E) string, reinforcing the tonic E.

Here are the notes for each string in this unique tuning:

• String 6 (Low E): E2
• String 5 (A): A2
• String 4 (D): D3
• String 3 (E): E3
• String 2 (B): B3
• String 1 (High E): E4

How to Tune

To achieve the Nick Drake tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-E, follow these specific string adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The note remains E2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The note remains A2.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The note remains D3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones. The note changes from G3 to E3. This adjustment is within a safe range for standard guitar strings.
• String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The note remains B3.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The note remains E4.

Given that only one string is altered by a moderate amount (-3 semitones), this tuning is generally safe for standard gauge strings. No special string gauge is typically required for this adjustment.