Tuning Analysis: Oops! All E!

Verbal Description

Prepare for an orchestral wall of sound with the aptly named "Oops! All E!" tuning. This highly unconventional setup transforms your extended-range guitar into a magnificent drone instrument, where every single open string resonates with a powerful E note, spanning an incredible range of octaves. Imagine the resonant depth of a grand piano's lowest E combined with the shimmering clarity of its highest, all at your fingertips. It creates an immediate, immersive sonic landscape, perfect for crafting ambient soundscapes, massive, sustained chords, or driving, low-end riffs that demand attention.

Technical Analysis

This tuning is designed for a 9-string guitar, where all strings are tuned to various octaves of the note E. The open string notes, from the lowest (String 9) to the highest (String 1), are E0, E1, E2, E2, E3, E3, E3, E4, E4. This unison E tuning means that simply strumming all open strings creates a colossal E chord, rich with harmonics and deep resonance. This specific arrangement simplifies many aspects of playing while opening up unique compositional possibilities.

Chordal Implications & Playability

• Open Chord: The most immediate and striking feature is the inherent open E chord. Strumming all strings provides an incredibly full, resonant, and powerful E sound that can serve as a constant drone or the foundation for an entire piece.
• Simplified Barre Chords: This tuning excels at facilitating simple barre chords. By fretting all strings at a single fret, you instantly create a major chord with the root being the note at that fret. For instance, barring at the 1st fret yields an F chord, the 3rd fret a G chord, and so on. This makes harmonic progressions based on root movement incredibly straightforward.
• Drone and Modal Playing: The pervasive E drone makes this tuning ideal for exploring modal compositions centered around E, or for generating atmospheric textures where the sustained open E provides a continuous harmonic anchor.
• Melody & Riff Work: While standard chord shapes are largely inapplicable, the tuning encourages melodic and riff-based playing, allowing for creative use of single notes or partial harmonies against the powerful open E resonance.
• Challenges: Traditional complex chord voicings from standard tuning will not translate directly and would require significant re-fingerings or adaptation to partial chords. This tuning fundamentally redefines the guitar's harmonic landscape, pushing players towards new creative solutions.

How to Tune

Achieving this unique E-unison tuning requires careful and precise adjustment of each string. Please pay close attention to the specified semitone movements. For strings requiring adjustments exceeding 4 semitones (up or down), we strongly advise considering a different string gauge to ensure optimal tension, tuning stability, and to prevent potential string breakage or excessive looseness.

• String 9 (Lowest): Tune down 9 semitones to E0. (Warning: Tuning down significantly; a thicker string gauge is advised for optimal performance and tension.)
• String 8: Tune down 2 semitones to E1.
• String 7: Tune up 5 semitones to E2. (Warning: Tuning up significantly; a lighter string gauge is advised for optimal performance and tension.)
• String 6: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E2.
• String 5: Tune up 7 semitones to E3. (Warning: Tuning up significantly; a lighter string gauge is advised for optimal performance and tension.)
• String 4: Tune up 2 semitones to E3.
• String 3: Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• String 2: Tune up 5 semitones to E4. (Warning: Tuning up significantly; a lighter string gauge is advised for optimal performance and tension.)
• String 1 (Highest): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E4.

The open notes for the Oops! All E! tuning are as follows (from lowest to highest string):

• String 9: E0
• String 8: E1
• String 7: E2
• String 6: E2
• String 5: E3
• String 4: E3
• String 3: E3
• String 2: E4
• String 1: E4