Verbal Analysis: The EGDEGD Drone

This unique tuning, aptly named EGDEGD, creates a deeply resonant and open sound world, perfect for players looking to explore rich, drone-like textures. The repetitive structure of the open strings — E, G, D, E, G, D — lends itself beautifully to strumming full, harmonically ambiguous chords with ease. It has an earthy, almost folk-like quality, but with enough depth for blues, experimental, or even ambient soundscapes. The description "Threw this together to make a tetrachord progression easier to play" hints at its power to simplify complex melodic and harmonic ideas, allowing the player to focus on the expressive nuances of their music.

Chords become remarkably accessible in this tuning. A simple barre across any fret will instantly yield a parallel voicing, making it a fantastic choice for slide guitar or for quickly shifting harmonic centers. The blend of E, G, and D notes across octaves provides a stable foundation, allowing for melodic improvisation that will always sound 'at home' within the tuning's inherent harmony. Basic open chords like E minor, G major, or D major are easily implied or formed with minimal fretting, especially focusing on the E-G-D pattern.

Technical Analysis: An E Minor 7 / G6 Open Voicing

The EGDEGD tuning (E2 G2 D3 E3 G3 D4) is technically fascinating due to its inherent harmonic structure. The open strings, when played together, form a powerful and rich voicing that can be interpreted in several ways:

• E minor 7 (missing the 5th): The notes E, G, and D create the root, minor third, and minor seventh of an E minor 7 chord. The absence of the B (the perfect fifth) gives it an open, airy quality.
• G6 (missing the 3rd): Conversely, seeing G as the root, the notes G, D, and E form the root, perfect fifth, and major sixth, creating a G6 chord without the B (the major third).
• Repeating Pattern: The tuning essentially presents the notes E-G-D and then repeats them an octave higher (E-G-D), creating a strong sense of a stable, resonant three-note cluster that is distributed across the instrument. This makes it ideal for drone-based music or folk styles.

This repeating interval structure (starting from the low E: E-G-D-E-G-D) provides both harmonic richness and melodic potential. The proximity of the E, G, and D notes across the fretboard allows for easy access to various voicings and lead lines, particularly in the keys of E minor, G major, or D major. The open nature of the tuning makes full-string strumming immediately gratifying, and simple one-finger barres across any fret will produce consistent, harmonically related chords up and down the neck.

How to Tune Your Guitar to EGDEGD

To achieve the EGDEGD tuning from standard E A D G B E, follow these steps:

• 6th String (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains E2.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G. (A2 → G2)
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains D3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E. (G3 → E3)
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 4 semitones to G. (B3 → G3) Note: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change. If you plan to keep your guitar in this tuning for extended periods, consider using a lighter gauge string to avoid excessive slack and intonation issues.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones to D. (E4 → D4)

String 6 (Low E): E2 — This string remains at its standard pitch, providing a solid bass foundation for the tuning.

String 5 (A): G2 — Tuned down two semitones from its standard A, this string contributes a minor third to the low E, establishing the open chord's character.

String 4 (D): D3 — This string remains at its standard pitch, providing the perfect fifth to the G below it, or a minor seventh to the low E, further enriching the open harmony.

String 3 (G): E3 — Tuned down three semitones from its standard G, this string provides an octave of the low E, creating a fuller and more resonant sound across the middle range.

String 2 (B): G3 — Tuned down four semitones from its standard B, this string mirrors the G on the 5th string, but an octave higher, enhancing the overall drone quality and G tonality.

String 1 (High E): D4 — Tuned down two semitones from its standard high E, this string completes the high-end drone with another D note, providing sparkle and an octave to the D on the 4th string.