The Chromatic E Drone tuning presents a truly unique and intricate sonic landscape, diverging significantly from standard guitar tunings. It's designed to inspire exploration into rich, often melancholic, and harmonically complex soundscapes. This tuning is particularly well-suited for ambient soundscapes, fingerstyle pieces that leverage its open string resonance, or experimental genres seeking distinctive textures. The unusual octave jumps and the non-sequential pitch order of the high strings offer a wealth of creative possibilities for composers and improvisers.

Technical Analysis:

• Open String Voicing: The open strings are tuned to E2 B2 D3 G4# C5# E4. This arrangement creates a complex harmony. The low E2 provides a deep, resonant foundation.
• Harmonic Structure:
  • The three highest-pitched notes (G4#, C5#, E4) collectively form a C# minor triad (C# E G#) in an inversion, with E as the lowest note of the triad, creating a poignant and expressive upper register.
  • The lower strings (E2, B2, D3) lay a foundation that can be interpreted as an E minor 7th chord without the G, or an E suspended chord with a flat 7th.
  • Collectively, the open strings contain the notes E, B, D, G#, C#. If E is considered the root, this forms an E major 6th chord with an added minor 7th (Emaj6/b7 or Emaj13 omit 11), a sophisticated jazz-like voicing.
• Unusual Pitch Order: A striking feature of this tuning is that the 1st string (E4) is tuned lower than both the 2nd string (C5#) and the 3rd string (G4#). This inverted pitch relationship on the high strings will produce unique intervallic relationships and allows for drones and counter-melodies that are unachievable in standard tuning.
• Chordal Opportunities:
  • The open C# minor triad on the inner strings (G4#, C5#, E4) makes C# minor chords and melodies very accessible and resonant.
  • With the low E drone, E major and E minor related chords will also find natural resonance, especially shapes that incorporate the B and D.
  • The inherent tension from the D natural (b7 to E) and the C# (M6 to E) allows for rich harmonic extensions and sus-type chords.

How to Tune:

To achieve the Chromatic E Drone tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), follow these precise string adjustments:

• 6th String (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 5th String (A): Tune up 2 semitones to B. (Note: Tuning up 2 semitones is a moderate change. Always tune slowly and carefully.)
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 1 semitone to G#.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 2 semitones to C#. (Note: Tuning up 2 semitones is a moderate change. Always tune slowly and carefully.)
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Important Note: While none of these individual string movements exceed the advised 4-semitone limit that might require a different string gauge, always exercise caution when tuning up. Tune slowly and check your guitar's intonation after tuning.