Verbal Description: E Major Suspended Drone

The 'E Major Suspended Drone' tuning, as described by its creator, is a custom tuning designed to sound pleasing to the ear. Our analysis reveals a distinct and captivating sonic landscape. This tuning creates a bright, open, and resonant sound, perfect for explorations in ambient music, intricate fingerstyle, or tracks that benefit from a rich, sustained harmony.

The presence of an E root combined with the B (perfect 5th) and F# (major 9th) on the lower strings establishes a solid, foundational drone. The upper strings, B, C#, and D#, introduce a beautiful suspended and ethereal quality. The lack of a major third (G#) in the open strings prevents it from being a straightforward E major chord, instead giving it a more ambiguous, modal, and expansive feel. The D# (major 7th) adds sophistication, hinting at jazz or fusion textures, while the C# (major 6th/13th) contributes to its rich, complex voicing. This tuning is ideal for creating shimmering arpeggios, sustained drones, and unique melodic lines that float above a consistent harmonic bed.

Technical Analysis: E Major Suspended Drone

This tuning sets the guitar strings to the following notes, from lowest to highest: E2 B2 F3# B3 C4# D5#.

When analyzed from the lowest E string, the intervals create a rich, extended chord voicing:

• String 6 (E): Root (E)
• String 5 (B): Perfect 5th (B)
• String 4 (F#): Major 9th (F#)
• String 3 (B): Octave of the Perfect 5th (B)
• String 2 (C#): Major 13th (C#)
• String 1 (D#): Major 7th (D#)

The open strings collectively form a complex, open-voiced Emaj7(sus2,add9,add13) chord without the major third (G#). This results in a highly resonant and somewhat suspended harmony, perfect for introspective and atmospheric music.

Open String Chords and Harmonic Possibilities:

• Open Chord Voicing: The open strings ring out as an E chord with major 7th, 9th, and 13th extensions, but notably lacking the major 3rd (G#). This creates a sophisticated, suspended sound, allowing for both major and minor tonalities to be implied over the open strings depending on melodic context.
• Drone Potential: The repeated B notes on strings 5 and 3, combined with the low E and F#, provide an excellent foundation for sustained drones, particularly in the key of E.
• Arpeggiation: The wide intervals and distinct note choices are fantastic for fingerstyle arpeggios, allowing individual notes to ring out and create cascading harmonies.
• Chord Shapes: Standard barre chord shapes will produce entirely new, complex voicings. For instance, a barre across all strings at the 2nd fret would yield an F#maj7(sus2,add9,add13) sound. Exploration of familiar shapes will lead to unexpected and inspiring results.
• Higher Strings Harmony: The top three strings (B3 C4# D5#) present notes from a B major arpeggio (B D# F#) and a Bsus2 (B C# F#). This allows for easy access to Bsus2 sounds or melodic phrases within the B major tonality in the higher register.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve the 'E Major Suspended Drone' tuning, follow these precise adjustments from standard EADGBe tuning:

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The note remains E2.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 2 semitones. The note moves from A2 to B2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 8 semitones. The note moves dramatically from D3 to F3#.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 4 semitones. The note moves from G3 to B3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 10 semitones. The note moves dramatically from B3 to C4#.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 1 semitone. The note moves from E4 to D5#.

Important Note on String Gauges: When adjusting your tuning, particularly with significant changes, string tension is altered. Please take extreme care. Tuning up 3 or 4 semitones (like String 3) requires caution. For changes exceeding 4 semitones in either direction (e.g., String 4 down 8 semitones, String 2 down 10 semitones), it is strongly advised to consider using a different string gauge to prevent string breakage or damage to your instrument's neck and bridge tension. These particular movements are substantial and a lighter gauge may be beneficial for the lowered strings, and a heavier gauge for string 3 if the pitch stability becomes an issue or neck relief changes too much.