Tuning Analysis: Doubled E minor

The "Doubled E minor" tuning is an intriguing and resonant setup for the Guitar, designed to provide a rich, full sound primarily centered around the E minor chord. As its name suggests, this is an open E minor tuning where the notes E, G, and B are present across the strings, but with a unique twist: each of these notes is effectively "doubled" on adjacent strings.

Verbal Description

Imagine strumming your guitar and immediately hearing a deep, open E minor chord ring out with exceptional fullness. That's the core experience of the Doubled E minor. The strategic pairing of identical notes on neighboring strings creates a natural chorus effect, making open chords sound exceptionally lush and thick. This tuning is fantastic for drone-based music, fingerstyle arpeggios that want a rich harmonic foundation, or for slide playing where the open chord can be easily moved. Songwriters looking for a melancholic or introspective sound will find this tuning particularly inspiring. The doubled notes also mean that simple riffs or melodies will instantly have more body and presence, giving a powerful weight to individual notes.

Technical Analysis

• Instrument: Guitar
• Base Notes: E2, E2, G3, G3, B3, B3 (from thickest to thinnest string)
• Chordal Structure: The open strings collectively form an E minor triad (E-G-B). Playing all strings open will yield a powerful E minor chord, providing an immediate harmonic foundation for your music.
• Unique Doubling: The distinguishing feature is the deliberate doubling of each pitch across adjacent strings:
  • Strings 6 & 5 are both tuned to E2.
  • Strings 4 & 3 are both tuned to G3.
  • Strings 2 & 1 are both tuned to B3.
  This arrangement significantly enhances the resonance and harmonic depth, making the guitar sound much larger and more orchestral than a standard 6-string instrument.
• Chord Possibilities:
  • Open E minor: This chord is instantly available by simply strumming all open strings, offering a full and resonant sound.
  • Barre Chords: Moving a single finger across a fret will effectively create a harmonically rich barre chord. For example, barring all strings at the 3rd fret will produce a G minor chord (G-G-Bb-Bb-D-D). The doubled notes ensure these barre chords also sound incredibly thick and powerful.
  • Intervals & Voicings: The tuning naturally provides robust minor thirds (E-G, G-B) and perfect fifths (E-B), making it conducive to a variety of styles, including blues, folk, and rock, where these intervals are prevalent. The close voicing of the doubled strings makes sustained chords extremely powerful and evocative.

How to Tune Your Guitar for Doubled E minor

Please exercise caution, especially with significant upward tuning, as it can increase string tension considerably. For string movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, considering a different gauge string is often advised to maintain optimal tension and prevent string breakage or neck damage.

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at E2.
• String 5 (A String): Tune down 5 semitones to E2. This is a significant drop; for a permanent setup, a heavier gauge string is advised.
• String 4 (D String): Tune up 5 semitones to G3. This is a significant rise; for a permanent setup, a lighter gauge string is advised.
• String 3 (G String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at G3.
• String 2 (B String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Stays at B3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 5 semitones to B3. This is a significant drop; for a permanent setup, a heavier gauge string is advised.

String 6 (Low E): Tuned to E2. This is the same as the standard low E string.

String 5 (A String): Tuned to E2. This creates a unison with the low E string, adding significant depth and resonance to the bass register.

String 4 (D String): Tuned to G3. This represents the minor third of the E minor chord, providing a foundational harmonic element in the middle register.

String 3 (G String): Tuned to G3. This string stays at its standard pitch, creating a powerful unison with the 4th string, enhancing the minor third's presence.

String 2 (B String): Tuned to B3. This string stays at its standard pitch, representing the perfect fifth of the E minor chord.

String 1 (High E): Tuned to B3. This creates a unison with the 2nd string, significantly thickening the perfect fifth and adding brightness to the top end of the tuning.