The Open E Suspension 13 Tuning

This unique tuning, originally dubbed "Experiment 2 Tuning," lives up to its creator's intent by effectively "combining extended chords" into rich, open voicings. It centers around an E root, but immediately breaks from traditional major or minor tonalities by omitting the 3rd, instead emphasizing a complex suspended sound with a blend of minor 7th, 9th, and 13th intervals.

Verbal Analysis:

The Open E Suspension 13 tuning offers a vibrant and harmonically ambiguous soundscape. With the low E and B providing a solid foundation, the high F#s and C# inject a shimmering, almost bell-like quality. The presence of the D (minor 7th) adds a bluesy, dominant edge, while the C# (major 13th) brightens the overall sound. This tuning avoids a clear major or minor feel due to the absence of a G or G#, creating a versatile canvas for modern, ambient, or fusion styles. It's likely to inspire open, droning textures and complex arpeggios, moving away from conventional chord shapes.

Technical Analysis:

• The open strings are tuned to E2 B2 F4# D3 F4# C5#.
• From the root E (6th string), the intervals are: Perfect 5th (B), Major 9th (F#), Minor 7th (D), and Major 13th (C#). The 4th and 2nd strings are both tuned to F4#, creating a strong, resonant 9th.
• This configuration results in an E(no 3rd)add9addb7add13 chord when played open. The lack of a major or minor third (G or G#) gives it a suspended quality, allowing it to fit into various harmonic contexts.
• The significant jump in pitch from B2 (5th string) to F4# (4th string) — spanning an octave and a tritone (or 17 semitones) — suggests that traditional chord voicings will be challenging, but also opens up opportunities for unique melodic and arpeggiated figures.
• The higher register F4# and C5# on the upper strings provide a bright, almost piano-like top end, which can be exploited for sparkling lead lines or atmospheric textures.

Open and Reachable Chords:

The open tuning itself presents a rich E suspended chord with extensions. Moving just one or two frets can yield interesting results:

• Open E Sus13: E2 B2 F4# D3 F4# C5# (The tuning itself) - a broad, open, and resonant sound.
• A minor/dominant sound: By fretting the 6th string at the 5th fret (A) and exploring surrounding open strings, you might find interesting A minor 7 or A dominant 7 voicings, leveraging the D and F# notes.
• D major/Lydian shapes: Utilizing the open D string (3rd) as a root, and the F#s, could lead to D major or D Lydian type sounds (D F# C#).
• Suspended/Modal voicings: The absence of a third makes this tuning highly adaptable for modal playing. Experiment with moving a single finger across various strings at the same fret to uncover new suspended 2nd, 4th, or 7th chords. For instance, playing all strings at the 2nd fret (F# C# G# E G# D#) would create a very bright F# chord.

Tuning Notes for Open E Suspension 13

• String 6 (Low E): E2
• String 5 (A): B2
• String 4 (D): F4#
• String 3 (G): D3
• String 2 (B): F4#
• String 1 (High E): C5#

How to Tune:

To achieve the Open E Suspension 13 tuning, adjust your strings from standard tuning (EADGBe) as follows. Please exercise caution, especially with significant pitch changes, and consider string gauge recommendations for optimal playability and string longevity:

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) - Target Note: E2
• String 5 (A): Tune up 2 semitones from A to B2.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 4 semitones from D to F4#. Caution: Tuning up 4 semitones significantly increases string tension. If this tuning is used frequently, consider a lighter gauge string for the 4th string to prevent breakage or excessive stress on the instrument.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 5 semitones from G to D3. Recommendation: Tuning down 5 semitones will result in considerable slack if using a standard gauge. For better playability and intonation, a heavier gauge string for the 3rd string is strongly advised.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 5 semitones from B to F4#. Recommendation: Similar to string 3, tuning down 5 semitones will create a very loose string. A heavier gauge string for the 2nd string is strongly advised for optimal performance.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 3 semitones from high E to C5#.