Tuning Overview: E-B-F# Resonance

This unique tuning, which the creator aptly describes as "mad twinkly," offers a bright, open, and resonant soundscape. Its strength lies in its drone-like qualities and wide-open voicings, making it ideal for shimmering arpeggios, melodic fingerpicking, and atmospheric compositions. The open strings create a rich harmonic bed that feels both familiar and refreshingly new, inviting exploration into sounds that diverge significantly from standard tuning.

Technical Analysis

The tuning features the notes E2 B2 F#4 F#4 B3 E4 from lowest to highest string. This configuration creates a striking sonic texture:

• The two lowest strings, E2 and B2, establish a powerful Perfect 5th interval, forming a strong foundation.
• A significant feature is the unison F#4 on the 4th and 3rd strings. This creates a prominent, ringing drone that cuts through the mix, providing a central harmonic anchor.
• The open strings 1, 2, 5, and 6 (E4, B3, B2, E2) maintain a sense of familiarity, echoing parts of standard tuning but recontextualized by the F# drone. The E-B-E octaves frame the tuning, while the B's on strings 5 and 2 reinforce a B-centric feel, alongside the E.
• Overall, the open tuning could be perceived as an Esus2/B or Badd4/E chord. Specifically, it contains the root (E), the perfect 5th (B), and the major 2nd/9th (F#). With the strong presence of B and F#, it hovers between an E major sonority with a suspended 2nd and a B chord with an added 4th. This ambiguity is key to its "twinkly" and open sound.

Chords and Playability

Due to the unique intervals, many standard chord shapes will be significantly altered or unusable. However, this tuning opens doors to new harmonic possibilities:

• Open Voicings: The open strings themselves form a rich, resonant chord. Experiment with simply strumming all open strings, or using them as a pedal tone for melodic lines.
• Drone Chords: The adjacent F#4 unison on strings 3 and 4 is a powerful tool. By fretting these two strings at the same fret, you can easily create movable drone chords. For example, barring at the 2nd fret would yield G# notes, creating a G# drone.
• Accessible Chords: Simple two- or three-finger shapes that utilize the open E and B strings, combined with the movable F# drone, will be highly effective. For instance, fretting just the 4th and 3rd strings will yield various interesting suspended or power-chord like voicings when combined with the open E and B strings.
• Melodic Potential: The wide intervals and drone notes lend themselves well to arpeggiated patterns and melodies that can ring out over the sustained open strings, creating a spacious and ethereal feel.

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the E-B-F# Resonance tuning, follow these steps from the thickest (6th) string to the thinnest (1st) string, starting from standard E A D G B E tuning:

• 6th String (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Target Note: E2.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 2 semitones. Target Note: B2.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 4 semitones. Target Note: F#4. Caution: Tuning up 4 semitones can put significant tension on your string and guitar neck. Consider using a lighter gauge string for the 4th string if this tuning is to be used frequently or if your guitar is not designed for high tension.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 1 semitone. Target Note: F#4.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Target Note: B3.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Target Note: E4.

Always tune carefully and check your string tension, especially with larger movements. If you're unsure, consult a professional luthier.

String 6: E2 (Low E)

String 5: B2

String 4: F#4

String 3: F#4

String 2: B3

String 1: E4 (High E)