Tuning: E F# A Fingerstyle Drone

This unique guitar tuning, originally named "E B E F# A e" and described as "Great for Fingerstyle tuning on guitar", is specifically designed to inspire resonant and expressive playing. Its distinct open string voicings provide a rich harmonic canvas, making it particularly well-suited for fingerstyle arrangements and open-string drone techniques.

Technical Analysis

Compared to standard EADGBe tuning, this setup features several notable changes that reshape the guitar's sonic possibilities:

• The 6th (low E) and 1st (high e) strings remain at their standard E pitches, providing familiar anchor points.
• The 5th string is raised a whole step from A to B, creating an open E power chord with the 6th string.
• The 4th string is raised a whole step from D to E, further reinforcing the E tonality and establishing a clear root-fifth-octave relationship across the lower strings (E-B-E).
• The 3rd string is lowered a semitone from G to F#. This introduces a major second (or 9th) interval relative to the low E, adding a sophisticated, suspended quality to the open chord.
• The 2nd string is lowered a whole step from B to A, introducing a perfect fourth (or 11th) interval, which contributes to the tuning's characteristic open and modal sound.

The resulting open string notes are E2 B2 E3 F4# A3 E4. When strummed open, this tuning produces a rich, extended E chord with a strong suspended character. Specifically, it can be heard as an Eadd9sus4, providing both the major second (F#) and perfect fourth (A) against the root E. This combination lends itself beautifully to ambient textures, modal progressions, and, as its description suggests, intricate fingerstyle patterns where open strings can ring out as drones.

Due to the open E-B-E power chord foundation, simple barre chords across the fretboard become movable voicings of this Eadd9sus4 structure. For instance:

• A full barre at the 1st fret yields an Fadd9sus4 (F-C-F-G-Bb-F).
• A full barre at the 2nd fret yields an F#add9sus4 (F#-C#-F#-G#-B-F#).

The open fifth string B and fourth string E create a strong dominant and tonic relationship, while the F# and A add interesting harmonic tension and colour.

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the "E F# A Fingerstyle Drone" tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps:

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 5 (A string): Tune up 2 semitones to B. (This moves from A2 to B2).
• String 4 (D string): Tune up 2 semitones to E. (This moves from D3 to E3).
• String 3 (G string): Tune down 1 semitone to F#. (This moves from G3 to F#3).
• String 2 (B string): Tune down 2 semitones to A. (This moves from B3 to A3).
• String 1 (High e): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Important Note on String Gauges: When tuning strings up or down by more than 4 semitones (four half-steps), it is generally advisable to consider using a different gauge string to avoid excessive tension or slack, which could damage your instrument or affect playability. In this tuning, all string movements are within the safe range for standard light or medium gauge strings.