This captivating guitar tuning, famously associated with the enigmatic folk artist Nick Drake, offers a uniquely melancholic and intricate soundscape. While it feels somewhat familiar to standard tuning, it introduces distinct harmonic shifts that open up new creative avenues, particularly for fingerstyle players seeking rich, complex voicings.

Verbal Analysis

The overall character of this tuning is a descent from standard, with the majority of strings tuned down by a semitone. This generally creates a slightly slacker feel and a darker, richer resonance. However, the true sonic signature comes from the highest string remaining at standard E while the second string drops to A#. This creates a prominent tritone (augmented 4th/diminished 5th) interval between the 2nd and 1st strings. This interval is historically known for its tension and often used in blues and jazz to create a sense of yearning or unresolved harmony, lending a sophisticated edge to the tuning. The lower five strings, primarily in perfect fourths and a major third, provide a stable yet slightly shifted foundation.

Technical Analysis

The tuning notes are precisely: D#3 G#3 C#4 F#4 A#4 E4.Analyzing the intervals from lowest to highest string reveals:

• 6th to 5th (D# to G#): A Perfect 4th (5 semitones).
• 5th to 4th (G# to C#): A Perfect 4th (5 semitones).
• 4th to 3rd (C# to F#): A Perfect 4th (5 semitones).
• 3rd to 2nd (F# to A#): A Major 3rd (4 semitones).
• 2nd to 1st (A# to E): A Tritone (Augmented 4th / Diminished 5th) (6 semitones).

This configuration means that while many standard chord shapes might feel physically familiar to the hand, they will produce entirely different and often unexpected voicings due to the shifted root notes and, crucially, the dissonant tritone on the top two strings. The presence of multiple sharp notes (D#, G#, C#, F#, A#) across the lower five strings suggests a tonality that might lean towards keys like Eb minor or Ab minor, or offer a distinct modal flavor.

Open Chords and Voicings

Playing all six strings open (D# G# C# F# A# E) creates a complex, open voicing that doesn't immediately resolve into a simple major or minor chord. It hints at a richer, more extended harmony. Due to the unique interval structure, particularly the tritone on the high strings, standard open chord shapes will yield unique results:

• Tritone Implications: The A# - E interval on the 2nd and 1st strings will make any open strum or chord utilizing these strings sound harmonically intriguing, possibly bluesy, jazzy, or even unsettling, depending on the context. This interval is excellent for creating tension and release.
• Shifted Shapes: Familiar standard tuning shapes (e.g., an 'E' shape or an 'A' shape) will produce chords rooted a semitone lower than in standard tuning on the lowest five strings, but with the added twist of the high E. For example, what would be an 'E' shape in standard tuning (E A D G B E) might now be a D# based chord with a tension-filled top.
• Fingerstyle Exploration: This tuning is ripe for fingerstyle exploration. The tritone allows for creating melodic lines that resolve or diverge in interesting ways. Open string drones can be used against fretted notes to create rich textures. Experimenting with suspended chords, jazz voicings, and modal harmony will likely yield rewarding results. The open D#, G#, C#, F#, A# on the lower strings could form the basis for various Eb/D# based chords, or their relative minors.

How to Tune

To achieve the Nick Drake tuning, you will adjust your strings from standard EADGBe as follows. Always tune carefully and be mindful of string tension. Please note that for string movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, considering a different string gauge is advisable to prevent breakage or excessive slack, though this is not applicable for this specific tuning's movements.

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

6th String: D3#

5th String: G3#

4th String: C4#

3rd String: F4#

2nd String: A4#

1st String: E4