Verbal Analysis

Inspired by Tom Winter's captivating song "Sarah Rose," this tuning is truly distinctive and clearly crafted to unlock unique sonic textures, including the "cool harmonics" mentioned by its discoverer. It's an adventurous setup that departs significantly from standard tuning, particularly with its dramatic alterations to the A and B strings. This promises an open, resonant sound that encourages exploration beyond conventional chord shapes, lending itself to fingerstyle and melodic playing with a bright, yet grounded, character.

Technical Analysis

The open string configuration for this tuning is E2 C3 D3 G3 B2 D4. When stacked and reordered (C D E G B), these notes form a C major 9 chord with E in the bass (Cmaj9/E). This provides a rich, complex harmony with a bright yet grounded feel, offering a sophisticated starting point for composition and improvisation. The tuning features a fascinating interplay of intervals between adjacent strings:

• The interval from the 6th string (E2) to the 5th string (C3) is a Major 6th (8 semitones), creating an immediate harmonic richness.
• The 5th (C3) and 4th (D3) strings are a Major 2nd apart (2 semitones), a common and manageable interval.
• The 4th (D3) and 3rd (G3) strings are a Perfect 4th apart (5 semitones), providing another familiar interval.
• However, the leap from the 3rd string (G3) down to the 2nd string (B2) is a substantial drop of 8 semitones (a minor 6th down). This creates a wide interval that challenges conventional fingerings but opens doors for unique arpeggios and voicings, providing a distinct low-end resonance for the B note.
• Conversely, the jump from the 2nd string (B2) up to the 1st string (D4) spans 15 semitones (an octave and a minor third up). This expansive interval further contributes to the tuning's airy and resonant character, making the highest string feel particularly bright and detached from the lower registers.

While standard open chords will be largely inaccessible, this tuning is highly conducive to finding new, resonant voicings, particularly around the Cmaj9/E feel. Exploring movable chord shapes that maintain the relative intervals, especially on the D-G-D cluster (strings 4, 3, and 1), will be fruitful. The dramatically lowered B string will act as a deep drone or a unique bass note in many contexts, offering interesting counterpoints and harmonic depth.

How to Tune

To achieve the Tom Winter tuning, follow these adjustments from standard guitar tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E):

• 6th String (Low E): E2 - Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 5th String (A): C3 - Tune up 3 semitones from standard A3. Caution: Tuning up 3 semitones significantly increases string tension. Proceed carefully, or consider a lighter gauge string if you plan to keep this tuning for extended periods.
• 4th String (D): D3 - Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 3rd String (G): G3 - Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 2nd String (B): B2 - Tune down 12 semitones from standard B3. This is a full octave drop. Recommendation: For such a significant drop in pitch (-12 semitones), it is highly advisable to use a heavier gauge string for optimal tone, intonation, and playability.
• 1st String (High E): D4 - Tune down 2 semitones from standard E4.

String 6 (Low E): E2 - The lowest string remains at its standard E pitch, providing a familiar anchor and a solid bass foundation for the tuning.

String 5 (A string): C3 - Tuned up three semitones from its standard A pitch, this string introduces a C note, adding a major third to the open chord structure and brightening the overall harmony.

String 4 (D string): D3 - This string remains at its standard D pitch, serving as a common drone or a strong perfect fourth above the C on the 5th string.

String 3 (G string): G3 - This string remains at its standard G pitch, contributing a perfect fifth to the overall open C major 9 voicing.

String 2 (B string): B2 - This string is tuned a full octave down from its standard B3 pitch, creating a very low and resonant B. This is a profound change that dramatically alters the guitar's sonic landscape and playability on this string, creating a deep, unexpected voice.

String 1 (High E): D4 - Tuned down two semitones from its standard E4 pitch, this string completes the open voicing with another D note, reinforcing the open D string and adding to the chord's richness and chime.