The "EAEG#AE" Tuning: Joey Eppard's "Balloon" Sound

This distinctive guitar tuning, famously utilized by Joey Eppard in the song "Balloon," offers a unique sonic character. It significantly deviates from standard EADGBe, opening up new harmonic possibilities and a resonant open sound that is central to Eppard's innovative approach.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes for this tuning, from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st) string, are E2-A2-E3-G#4-A3-E4. Let's break down its structure:

• Open Chord Voicing: An open strum of all six strings produces a rich Eadd4/Eadd11 chord (E-A-E-G#-A-E). This provides a bright, somewhat melancholic, and expansive sound right from the open position.
• Root & Fifth Foundation: The 6th (E2) and 5th (A2) strings remain at their standard pitches, providing a solid E-A perfect fourth or A-E perfect fifth relationship, which is common and gives a familiar low-end feel.
• Octave E Notes: The tuning features E notes across multiple octaves (E2, E3, E4), contributing to a full and resonant 'E' tonality.
• Unique G#4: The 3rd string is tuned to G#4, which is an octave higher and a semitone up from standard G3. This G# is the major third of an E major chord, adding a distinct brightness and harmonic clarity to the open E-based voicing.
• Harmonic Intervals: The interval between the 4th (E3) and 3rd (G#4) strings is an octave and a major third. This wide and somewhat unusual interval between adjacent strings allows for striking melodic and arpeggiated figures that stand out. The 2nd and 1st strings (A3-E4) form a perfect 5th, further enhancing the open chord's resonance and providing a familiar interval for melodic work.

Open Chords & Harmonies

The EAEG#AE tuning naturally lends itself to a variety of evocative sounds:

• Eadd4/Eadd11: As noted, a full open strum is an Eadd4 or Eadd11 chord, offering a suspended-like quality.
• E Major Triads: By muting the 5th and 2nd (A) strings, you can easily emphasize the E-G# relationship, forming E major chords.
• A Suspended/Open Chords: The presence of two A strings (5th and 2nd) allows for strong A-based drone chords, particularly when played against the E notes.
• Melodic Opportunities: The distinct intervals, especially the wide E-G# interval, encourage unique melodic phrasing and arpeggios that would be challenging in standard tuning. Barre chords will take on new voicings and shapes due to the altered string intervals.

How to Tune

To set your guitar to the EAEG#AE tuning, start from standard EADGBe tuning and follow these steps. Always tune with care, particularly when increasing string tension, and check your intonation after tuning:

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note for this string is E2.
• String 5 (A String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note for this string is A2.
• String 4 (D String): From its standard D3, tune up 2 semitones. This will bring the string to E3. This is a moderate increase in tension.
• String 3 (G String): From its standard G3, tune up 1 semitones. This will bring the string to G#3. (Note: While the instruction is to tune up 1 semitone, the target note for this string in the full tuning is specified as G#4. Achieving G#4 from standard G3 would involve tuning up 13 semitones, which is an extremely significant increase in tension. Such a change would likely require a much lighter gauge string to prevent breakage and excessive neck stress. If you follow the +1 semitone instruction, the resulting note will be G#3.)
• String 2 (B String): From its standard B3, tune down 2 semitones. This will bring the string to A3. This is a moderate decrease in tension.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note for this string is E4.

General Caution: Always be attentive to your guitar's neck and the string gauges you are using when making significant tuning adjustments. Tuning up many semitones can place considerable stress on your instrument. If you intend to use this tuning frequently or aim for the higher G#4 on the 3rd string, it is highly recommended to consult with a guitar technician and consider specialized string sets to ensure the longevity and playability of your instrument.

The notes for the EAEG#AE tuning, from the 6th (low E) string to the 1st (high E) string, are:

String 6: E2

String 5: A2

String 4: E3

String 3: G#4

String 2: A3

String 1: E4