Verbal Analysis

This captivating tuning, famously utilized by the legendary Leo Kottke for his piece "The Quiet Man," offers a truly unique sonic palette. It's a significant departure from standard tuning, inviting players to explore new harmonic territories and voicings. The arrangement of notes creates a rich, resonant soundscape, characterized by deep bass tones and intriguing intervals that lend themselves beautifully to intricate fingerstyle compositions. Keeping the low and high E strings at their standard pitch provides familiar anchors, while the manipulated inner strings open up a world of fresh melodic and harmonic possibilities.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes for this tuning are E2 C3 G3 C3 A3 E4. This configuration results in a series of distinct intervals:

• The 6th string (E2) to 5th string (C3) forms a minor sixth.
• The 5th string (C3) to 4th string (G3) forms a perfect fifth.
• The 4th string (G3) to 3rd string (C3) forms a perfect fourth.
• The 3rd string (C3) to 2nd string (A3) forms a major sixth.
• The 2nd string (A3) to 1st string (E4) forms a perfect fifth.

This array of intervals, particularly the wide major sixth between the 3rd and 2nd strings, creates a distinctive voicing not found in conventional tunings. The presence of two E's (6th and 1st strings) and two C's (5th and 3rd strings) across the strings creates a strong, almost drone-like quality, emphasizing a tonal center that hovers between E and C.

Open Chords and Voicings

While not immediately forming a simple major or minor triad with all open strings, this tuning presents a wealth of unique harmonic opportunities:

• The open strings E C G C A E suggest a complex chord, potentially an E minor add6 add9 (no 3rd) or a highly voiced C Major with an E bass and an added 6th and 2nd.
• An open C Major triad (C-E-G) is readily available by playing the 5th (C3), 6th (E2), and 4th (G3) strings, or by using the 5th (C3), 3rd (C3), and 4th (G3) strings.
• Similarly, a strong G power chord or elements of G Major can be emphasized using the 4th (G3) string as a root.
• The open high E and low E provide strong octave foundations, enabling rich melodic lines over sustained open notes.
• The unusual intervals encourage exploration of dissonances and rich, open voicings that are difficult to achieve in standard tuning. Barring across a single fret, for instance, will produce distinctive cluster chords; for example, fretting all strings at the 5th fret yields the notes A F C F D A.

This tuning is ideal for fingerstyle guitarists seeking to expand their harmonic vocabulary and create intricate, resonant textures.

Open String Notes

• String 6 (Low E): E2
• String 5 (A string): C3
• String 4 (D string): G3
• String 3 (G string): C3
• String 2 (B string): A3
• String 1 (High E): E4

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

Please note: Tuning strings significantly can impact string tension and potentially affect the instrument's setup. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, considering a different gauge string is advisable for optimal playability, string longevity, and to minimize stress on your guitar neck.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune from E2 to E2. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 5 (A string): Tune from A2 to C3. Tune up 3 semitones.
• String 4 (D string): Tune from D3 to G3. Tune up 5 semitones. (Care is advised; a heavier gauge string might be beneficial for this significant upward movement.)
• String 3 (G string): Tune from G3 to C3. Tune down 7 semitones. (Care is advised; a lighter gauge string might be beneficial for this significant downward movement, as it will be much looser.)
• String 2 (B string): Tune from B3 to A3. Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 1 (High E): Tune from E4 to E4. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).