The 'Lift Tuning' is a distinctive guitar tuning, notably associated with Radiohead's song "Lift". This tuning transforms the standard guitar into a resonant soundscape, offering unique harmonic possibilities and a bright, expansive character that evokes a sense of lightness and depth.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning immediately establishes an ethereal and open sound, largely due to the rich E major tonality that emerges from the open strings. The lower E and A strings remain at their standard pitches, providing a familiar and solid foundation. The middle and high strings are significantly altered, creating shimmering intervals and a sense of 'lift', much like the song it's named after. There's a strong presence of major 7th and 9th intervals, contributing to a sophisticated and somewhat melancholic yet hopeful sound. Players will find that arpeggios and open string drones take on a new, intricate quality, inviting exploration beyond conventional chord shapes.

Technical Analysis

The open notes of the Lift Tuning are E2 A2 E3 F4# B3 D5#. When played open, these strings collectively form a complex and beautiful Emaj7(add4, add9) chord. Breaking it down:

• E2 (6th string): The root note, providing a deep foundation.
• A2 (5th string): A perfect 4th above E, adding a characteristic open or suspended quality.
• E3 (4th string): An octave of the root E, reinforcing the fundamental.
• F4# (3rd string): A major 2nd (or 9th) above E, adding richness and brightness.
• B3 (2nd string): A perfect 5th above E, solidifying the chord structure.
• D5# (1st string): A major 7th above E, giving the tuning its distinct 'maj7' character and high-end sparkle.

The tuning features an octave relationship between the 6th and 4th strings (E2-E3). The presence of both the A (4th) and F# (9th) alongside the Emaj7 framework results in a rich harmonic palette suitable for both intricate arpeggios and expansive strumming. This tuning is not simply a dropped tuning but a re-voicing of several strings to achieve a specific, complex harmonic sound. The intervals create a wide, ringing quality, especially useful for ambient or melodic playing.

Potential Chords & Voicings

• Open Emaj7(add4, add9): The full open string chord creates a lush, resonant sound, serving as a powerful harmonic base for compositions.
• E Power Chords: The E2, A2, E3 strings (6th, 5th, 4th) naturally form an E5 power chord when played open, which can be easily moved up the neck for other power chords.
• Drone Tones: The low E strings (6th and 4th) can act as powerful drones, allowing for melodies and chords to be played on higher strings against a consistent root.
• Simplified Major/Minor Chords: Barring across certain frets can quickly yield variations of E major or related chords, taking advantage of the unique open string intervals. The B3 (2nd string) provides a strong 5th which facilitates easy chord construction around it.
• Unique Voicings: Due to the unusual intervals (e.g., F4# on the 3rd string), standard chord shapes will be transformed, opening up new and inspiring voicings that are difficult to achieve in standard tuning.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'Lift Tuning' from standard E-A-D-G-B-E, follow these specific adjustments for each string. Please pay close attention to the instructions for the 3rd and 1st strings, as their target pitches require careful consideration regarding string tension.

• 6th String (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note is E2.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note is A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 2 semitones from standard D3. The target note for this string is E3. This is a moderate tension change.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 1 semitone from standard G3. This specific instruction would normally result in an F#3. However, the target note for this string, as specified in the tuning, is F4#. Reaching F4# from a standard G3 string would entail an extreme upward tension increase (approximately 11 semitones total), significantly exceeding safe limits for a standard gauge string. Therefore, a much lighter gauge string is absolutely essential for this string, and extreme caution must be exercised to prevent string breakage or neck damage if attempting to reach this pitch.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note is B3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 1 semitone from standard E4. This specific instruction would normally result in a D#4. However, the target note for this string, as specified in the tuning, is D5#. Similar to the 3rd string, reaching D5# from a standard E4 string implies an extreme upward tension increase (approximately 11 semitones total). A much lighter gauge string is absolutely essential for this string, and extreme care is necessary to avoid over-tightening and potential instrument damage.

Important Note on String Gauge: For strings requiring a change of 4 or more semitones, or for strings like the 3rd and 1st in this tuning where the target note is an octave higher than the direct semitone adjustment, it is highly recommended to use a different gauge string to match the desired tension. This is crucial for instrument health and playability. Always tune slowly and listen carefully.

Here are the notes for each string in the Lift Tuning:

Low E string (6th string): E2

A string (5th string): A2

D string (4th string): E3

G string (3rd string): F4#

B string (2nd string): B3

High E string (1st string): D5#