Original Tuning Name: E B E A C E

Description from Creator: The E B E A C E tuning is a Jake Edward Lee original.

Verbal Analysis

The 'E B E A C E' tuning, attributed to the legendary guitarist Jake E. Lee, presents a truly unique and adventurous soundscape. It maintains the low and high E strings at their standard pitch, providing familiar anchors for rhythm and melody. However, the internal strings are significantly altered, creating a bright, open, and somewhat dissonant character that lends itself to a distinctive harmonic palette. The most striking feature is the incredibly high C5# on the 2nd string, which would cut through a mix with a piercing clarity, likely for melodic emphasis or exotic harmonic texture. This tuning suggests a focus on open string resonance and drone capabilities, especially with the repeated E notes across the 6th, 4th, and 1st strings. It invites exploration of open voicings and potentially slide guitar techniques to leverage its unique intervals.

Technical Analysis

This tuning sets the guitar's open strings to E2 B2 E3 A3 C5# E4. Let's break down the intervals and implications:

• String 6 (E2) and String 1 (E4): Remain at standard pitch, providing a stable, familiar foundation at both ends of the guitar's range.
• String 5 (B2): A Perfect 5th above the 6th string's E2.
• String 4 (E3): A Perfect 4th above string 5 (B2), and an Octave above string 6 (E2). This creates a strong low E-power chord (E-B-E).
• String 3 (A3): A Perfect 4th above string 4 (E3).
• String 2 (C5#): This is the most unconventional aspect. Relative to string 3 (A3), this creates a Major 3rd interval, but *two octaves higher* than a standard A3-C#4 relationship. This pitch (C5#) is exceptionally high for a guitar's 2nd string and requires extreme tension, making it a point of critical consideration for string gauge and guitar setup.
• String 1 (E4): This note forms a Diminished 6th downwards from the C5# on string 2. The drastic leap from an extremely high C# down to a standard high E creates a very wide interval, challenging traditional fingering and opening up new harmonic possibilities.

Compared to standard tuning (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4), this tuning involves significant alterations to the inner strings, creating a distinct sonic fingerprint.

Open Chords and Harmonic Possibilities

The open strings E2 B2 E3 A3 C5# E4 present several intriguing harmonic voicings and opportunities for exploration:

• Open E Power Chord: The lowest three strings (E2-B2-E3) perfectly form a robust E5 power chord, providing a powerful, resonant foundation for riffs and rhythm playing.
• A Major Sound (with a twist): The strings A3, C5#, E4 contain the notes of an A major triad (A, C#, E). However, the C5# is two full octaves higher than where a C# would typically fall in an open A major chord (C#4). This creates an extremely bright, almost bell-like, and widely voiced A major harmony that would sound strikingly different from conventional voicings.
• Droning E: The repeated E notes across the 6th, 4th, and 1st strings (E2, E3, E4) are ideal for creating rich, sustained drones, allowing for melodic or harmonic movement on other strings against a constant E backdrop.
• Unconventional Voicings: The radical jump in pitch to C5# and then the descent to E4 on the higher strings means that traditional chord shapes will be significantly altered or rendered unusable. This tuning inherently encourages new fingerings and shapes, pushing players to discover unique and experimental voicings, potentially exploring open clusters or widely spaced chords that leverage the extreme range.

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the 'Jake E. Lee's Soaring C# Tuning' from standard E A D G B E, carefully follow these string movements. Please pay particular attention to the warnings regarding string tension and gauge, especially for string 2.

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). (From standard E2 to E2)
• String 5 (A): Tune up 2 semitones. (From standard A2 to B2)
• String 4 (D): Tune up 2 semitones. (From standard D3 to E3)
• String 3 (G): Tune up 2 semitones. (From standard G3 to A3)
• String 2 (B): Tune up 2 semitones. (From standard B3 to C#4)

  Critical Discrepancy Note: The target note listed in the tuning's notes (and original name) for String 2 is C5#. However, the tuning instruction (fret_text) for this string specifies only a 2-semitone increase from standard B3, which results in C#4. To reach C5# from a standard B3 would require a substantial upward tuning of 15 semitones (more than an octave). Tuning a standard B-string up 15 semitones is highly dangerous, almost certainly leading to string breakage, potential damage to the guitar's bridge, nut, or neck, and intonation issues. If C5# is indeed your intended target, a specialized, ultra-light gauge string designed for such high tension is absolutely necessary. For the purpose of these instructions, we strictly follow the provided 2-semitone movement, resulting in C#4. If C5# is desired, a professional setup with appropriate string gauge is strongly advised.

• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). (From standard E4 to E4)

Important Note on String Gauge: Generally, when string movements exceed 4 semitones (either up or down) from standard, it is strongly advised to consider using a different gauge string. This helps maintain optimal string tension, improves intonation, and prevents string breakage or potential damage to your instrument. The significant upward tuning of several strings in this configuration, particularly the extreme implications if targeting C5# for String 2, makes string gauge selection paramount. Always err on the side of caution and consider consulting a guitar technician for significant tuning changes.

String 6 (Low E): E2

String 5 (A): B2

String 4 (D): E3

String 3 (G): A3

String 2 (B): C5#

String 1 (High E): E4