The See You Soon Tune

This unique tuning, known as the "See You Soon Tune," is famously used by Coldplay to play their song "See You Soon," often with a capo at the 2nd fret. It transforms the standard guitar into a resonant soundscape, perfectly suited for the melancholic and atmospheric feel of the song.

Verbal Analysis

When played open, this tuning immediately presents a rich Em7 (E minor seventh) chord, with the notes E, G, B, and D beautifully layered across the strings. The doubling of the D note (D3 on the 4th and 3rd strings, and D4 on the 1st string) creates a full, sustained drone quality, characteristic of open tunings. This Em7 voicing provides a foundation that is inherently moody and expressive, ideal for creating introspective and flowing melodies. The presence of the root (E), minor third (G), perfect fifth (B), and minor seventh (D) across the open strings offers a full, complex harmonic canvas. Players will find that arpeggios and fingerstyle patterns will effortlessly evoke a contemplative atmosphere. Due to the inherent minor third relationships, chords like G major (G-B-D) are easily accessible across the D-B-D strings (strings 4, 3, 2, 1) and other open voicings, as well as various suspended chords and modal harmonies, will be within easy reach.

Technical Analysis

The tuning deviates significantly from standard EADGBe, with the following notes from lowest to highest:

• Low E String (6th): E2
• A String (5th): G2
• D String (4th): D3
• G String (3rd): D3
• B String (2nd): B3
• High E String (1st): D4

Analyzing the intervals from low to high:

• E2 to G2: Minor 3rd
• G2 to D3: Perfect 4th
• D3 to D3: Unison
• D3 to B3: Minor 3rd
• B3 to D4: Minor 3rd

The unison D3 on the 4th and 3rd strings provides a powerful drone, while the repeated minor third intervals (E-G, D-B, B-D) throughout the tuning contribute to its inherent minor seventh tonality. This arrangement creates a compact and harmonically rich voicing, allowing for intricate fingerings and melodic exploration with fewer complex stretches than standard tuning.

How to Tune

To achieve the "See You Soon Tune," adjust your guitar strings from standard EADGBe as follows:

• 6th String (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Tune to E2.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones. Adjust from A to G2.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Tune to D3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 5 semitones. Adjust from G to D3. Caution: This is a significant drop of 5 semitones. If you plan to use this tuning frequently, consider using a lighter gauge string for the 3rd string to prevent excessive slack and potential intonation issues.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Tune to B3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones. Adjust from High E to D4.

Always tune carefully and use a reliable tuner to ensure accuracy and string safety.