EG#BEEE Guitar Tuner

EG#BEEE | EA♭BEEE Open E Tuning Variation - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Open E Tuning Variation

Variation of open E tuning with dropped strings instead raised.

The "Open E Major Dropped Tuning" is a distinctive variation of the classic Open E tuning, notable for its emphasis on lowering string tension rather than raising it. As the name suggests, this tuning immediately presents an E Major chord when all strings are strummed open, creating a rich and resonant sound ideal for blues, slide guitar, and folk music.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning offers a powerful, full-bodied E Major chord with a strong root presence across multiple octaves. The lower strings are significantly dropped, contributing to a slacker feel and potentially facilitating deep, resonant riffs. The presence of E on the 6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings provides a strong foundation and allows for various drone possibilities. The unique voicing, with G#3 on the 5th string and B2 on the 4th, gives it a characteristic flavor, where the major third (G#) is pitched higher than the fifth (B), creating an interesting harmonic spread. It's a tuning that invites exploration of open string harmonies and slide techniques.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes are E2-G#3-B2-E3-E3-E4, from low to high. This configuration explicitly forms an E Major triad (E, G#, B) across the guitar neck. The intervals from the lowest E (E2) are:

6th String (E2): Root
5th String (G#3): Major Third (+15 semitones from E2)
4th String (B2): Perfect Fifth (+7 semitones from E2)
3rd String (E3): Octave Root (+12 semitones from E2)
2nd String (E3): Octave Root (+12 semitones from E2)
1st String (E4): Two Octave Root (+24 semitones from E2)

The repetition of E across four strings at various octaves (E2, E3, E3, E4) creates a highly resonant and sustained E Major chord. The tuning allows for easy major barre chords simply by fretting all strings at any given fret. For instance, fretting all strings at the 1st fret yields F Major, at the 2nd fret F# Major, and so on. Other chords, like minor chords, can be formed by altering the major third (G# on the 5th string) – for example, fretting the 5th string at the 3rd fret (A) to get an E Minor flavor on higher strings, or using a finger to flatten the G# to G. Dominant 7th chords would involve adding a flattened 7th (D for E7).

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the "Open E Major Dropped Tuning," adjust your strings from standard EADGBe tuning as follows. Please exercise caution, especially with significant downward tuning, as string tension will decrease. For string movements exceeding 4 semitones (either up or down), a different string gauge may be advisable to maintain optimal playability and intonation.

6th String (Low E - E2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
5th String (A): Tune down 1 semitone to G#3.
4th String (D): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
3rd String (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
2nd String (B): Tune down 7 semitones to E3. Caution: Tuning down 7 semitones is a significant change. A lighter gauge string for this position may improve playability and intonation.
1st String (High E - E4): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

The open string notes for this tuning are as follows:

String 6 (Low E): E2 (The lowest E note on a standard guitar).
String 5 (A string tuned down): G#3 (A G sharp note, positioned one octave above the G# that would form the major third of E2 in a lower register).
String 4 (D string tuned down): B2 (The perfect fifth of E2, one octave above the lowest B note).
String 3 (G string tuned down): E3 (An E note, one octave higher than the low E string).
String 2 (B string tuned down): E3 (Another E note, unison with the 3rd string, one octave higher than the low E string).
String 1 (High E): E4 (The highest E note on a standard guitar, two octaves above the low E string).