Tuning Overview: Drop Mayfield

The Drop Mayfield tuning for Guitar is a vibrant and versatile open tuning, often associated with powerful blues-rock sounds. As its description suggests, it's closely related to the "Mayfield Tuning" or "Black Keys Tuning," known for its ease of play and resonant character. This tuning sets your guitar up for a rich, full sound, particularly suitable for slide guitar, rhythmic strumming, and creating expansive soundscapes with minimal effort.

Technical Analysis

The open strings of Drop Mayfield tuning collectively form an E Major chord. The notes are E2, G#3, B2, E3, G#4, E4. This arrangement provides a strong harmonic foundation with a specific voicing of the E major chord. Looking at the intervals between consecutive strings (from lowest to highest):

• String 6 (E2) to String 5 (G#3): A Major Tenth (or a Major Third across an octave). This is a unique leap, placing a higher third above the root.
• String 5 (G#3) to String 4 (B2): A descending Perfect Fourth. This unexpected drop contributes to the tuning's unique feel, creating interesting melodic and harmonic possibilities.
• String 4 (B2) to String 3 (E3): A Perfect Fourth. This is a common interval found in many tunings.
• String 3 (E3) to String 2 (G#4): A Major Tenth (or a Major Third across an octave), mirroring the lowest interval.
• String 2 (G#4) to String 1 (E4): A descending Perfect Fourth, mirroring the interval between String 5 and 4.

This specific sequence of intervals (M10, dP4, P4, M10, dP4) gives the Drop Mayfield tuning its distinctive sonic footprint, making it particularly resonant and full, especially for slide work and open strumming.

Open Chords and Playability

With all strings strummed open, you get a full, ringing E Major chord. This characteristic is ideal for:

• Blues and Rock: The strong major chord foundation is perfect for driving riffs and open-string drones.
• Slide Guitar: As a major open tuning, it is exceptionally well-suited for slide playing. Simply laying a slide across any fret will produce a perfectly in-tune major chord. For example, a slide at the 1st fret yields F Major, 3rd fret yields G Major, 5th fret yields A Major, 7th fret yields B Major, and 8th fret yields C Major.
• Easy Chord Changes: Many major chords can be formed by simply barring across a single fret. Minor chords and other voicings will require specific finger placements but often become accessible through simple shapes relative to the open major.
• Drone Textures: The repeating E and G# notes across different octaves allow for rich, resonant drone notes, enhancing the texture of your music.

How to Tune Your Guitar to Drop Mayfield

To achieve the Drop Mayfield tuning, you will adjust your guitar strings from standard EADGBe tuning. Please take care when adjusting string tension. While this tuning generally involves moderate adjustments, it's always wise to proceed carefully.

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 5 (A): Tune down 1 semitones.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

The adjustments for this tuning are all within safe limits (no string moves more than 3 semitones from standard), meaning a standard gauge set of strings should work perfectly without needing a different gauge. Always ensure your guitar is properly intonated after changing to a new tuning for the best sound.

String 6 (Low E): E2

String 5 (A): G#3

String 4 (D): B2

String 3 (G): E3

String 2 (B): G#4

String 1 (High E): E4