Tuning Analysis: E Sus2 (EBEBEF#)

The E Sus2 tuning, also known by its string notes EBEBEF#, is a truly distinctive and challenging open tuning that offers a rich, resonant soundscape. As described in its essence, it shares a structural kinship with tunings like DADGAD, featuring multiple instances of the root note and its fifth, but introduces a unique character through its 'odd string out'. It is also noted to be essentially the same as CGCGCD capoed at the 4th fret, offering a familiar reference point for many players.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning creates an expansive, drone-like quality with its repeated E and B notes across the lower strings, providing a solid, open foundation. The high F# adds a bright, suspended, and slightly ethereal quality, making it ideal for creating atmospheric textures, modal explorations, and intricate fingerstyle pieces. Players will find that the open strings themselves form an Esus2 chord (E, B, F#), giving an immediate sense of openness and harmonic possibility. This allows for easy drone chords and rich sonic backdrops with minimal effort. Its character is open to both major and minor tonalities, depending on how it's voiced and what melodic lines are played over it. The very nature of a suspended second (Sus2) means the traditional major or minor third is omitted, leading to a sound that feels both unresolved and harmonically flexible, perfect for evocative soundscapes or modern compositions.

Technical Analysis

• Open Notes: From the lowest (6th) string to the highest (1st) string, the tuning is E2, B2, E3, B3, E4, F5#.
• Chordal Structure: Strumming all open strings yields an Esus2 chord (E, B, F#). This chord comprises three E notes (root), two B notes (perfect fifth), and one F# note (major second/ninth). The absence of a major or minor third (G# or G natural) contributes significantly to its suspended and versatile nature, allowing it to imply different harmonic contexts.
• Intervals: The intervals from the lowest E are: Root (E), Perfect 5th (B), Octave (E), Perfect 5th (B), Octave (E), Major 9th (F#). This arrangement heavily emphasizes the root and fifth, creating a powerful drone, with the major ninth adding a distinctive, bright sparkle.
• Chord Voicings: Due to the open Esus2 chord, barre chords across all six strings will naturally yield variations of sus2 chords across the fretboard. The consistent E-B-E-B pattern on the lower four strings makes finding harmonically rich voicings relatively intuitive for drone-based playing and power chords. The high F# can be used as a leading tone, an expressive melodic note, or as a vibrant harmonic extension.

How to Tune Your Guitar to E Sus2 (EBEBEF#)

To achieve the E Sus2 tuning, you will need to adjust several strings from standard E Standard tuning (E A D G B E). Please be mindful of the significant tension changes on some strings.

• 6th String (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Target Note: E2.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 2 semitones. This moves the A to B. Target Note: B2.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 2 semitones. This moves the D to E. Target Note: E3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 4 semitones. This moves the G to B. Target Note: B3. Caution: Tuning this string up by 4 semitones is a significant tension increase. For frequent use of this tuning, a lighter gauge string is advised to prevent undue stress.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 5 semitones. This moves the B to E. Target Note: E4. Warning: Tuning this string up by 5 semitones is a very substantial tension increase. It is highly recommended to use a lighter gauge string for this position to prevent string breakage and potential neck damage, especially if this tuning is used regularly.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 2 semitones. This moves the E to F#. Target Note: F5#.