Welcome to a unique exploration of the guitar's sonic landscape with the "Open E-Major Tuning." This custom tuning, described by its creator as having a "melancholic sound," transforms the guitar into an instrument perfectly voiced for the key of E Major when played open. Despite its inherent major tonality, the specific arrangement and voicings of the notes can indeed evoke a reflective or expressive quality, inviting new melodic and harmonic possibilities.

Technical Analysis

This tuning for a standard Guitar reconfigures the strings from the conventional EADGBe setup to a rich E2-G3#-B2-G4#-B3-E4 configuration. This arrangement inherently forms an E Major chord across all open strings, making it a classic 'open' tuning. The notes present are E (root), G# (major third), and B (perfect fifth), voiced across multiple octaves:

• String 6: E2 (Root)
• String 5: G3# (Major Third)
• String 4: B2 (Perfect Fifth)
• String 3: G4# (Major Third, an octave above String 5)
• String 2: B3 (Perfect Fifth, an octave above String 4)
• String 1: E4 (Root, two octaves above String 6)

The intervals are strategically placed to provide a full, resonant E Major chord with a wide sonic spread, from the deep E2 bass to the shimmering E4 high note. The juxtaposition of the low B2 (String 4) with the G3# (String 5) creates a unique low-mid voicing that contributes to its distinct character. The presence of the major third (G#) and perfect fifth (B) at various octaves creates a harmonic landscape that is both full and melodically inspiring.

Open Chords and Playability

This tuning greatly simplifies playing in the key of E Major and offers intuitive access to related harmonic structures:

• Open E Major: A complete, resonant E Major chord is achieved by simply strumming all open strings. This is the fundamental characteristic of an open major tuning, offering immediate gratification and a rich sound.
• Barre Chords: By placing a single finger across all strings (a barre) at any fret, you can effortlessly play other major chords. For example, a barre at the 1st fret yields F Major, at the 2nd fret F# Major, and so on. This makes transposing major chord progressions very straightforward.
• Melodic Potential: The open strings provide a strong harmonic foundation, allowing for melodic lines to be played on individual strings, particularly the higher E, B, and G# notes, which can sing over the sustained open chord.
• Creative Voicings: The specific arrangement, especially the lower B2 (String 4) and the higher G4# (String 3), opens up possibilities for unique inversions and arpeggios that might not be as intuitive or readily available in standard tuning, encouraging experimental play.
• Minor Chords: While not as immediately accessible as major chords, minor chords (e.g., E minor by lowering the G# notes to G natural) can be formed with specific fingerings, often requiring fretting multiple strings to achieve the desired minor third.

How to Tune

To achieve the Open E-Major Tuning from standard EADGBe (E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4), follow these string adjustments carefully:

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target open note for this string is E2.
• String 5 (A String): Tune down 1 semitones. The target open note for this string is G3#. (Note: While the instruction is to tune down 1 semitone, this refers to the target note G3#. Tuning a standard A2 string down 1 semitone would typically result in G#2. The target G3# suggests an octave adjustment from a different starting pitch or string gauge.)
• String 4 (D String): Tune down 3 semitones. The target open note for this string is B2. (This aligns perfectly with tuning a standard D3 down 3 semitones.)
• String 3 (G String): Tune up 1 semitones. The target open note for this string is G4#. (Note: While the instruction is to tune up 1 semitone, this refers to the target note G4#. Tuning a standard G3 string up 1 semitone would typically result in G#3. The target G4# suggests an octave adjustment from a different starting pitch or string gauge.)
• String 2 (B String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target open note for this string is B3.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target open note for this string is E4.

Important Tuning Advice: Exercise caution when adjusting string tension. Generally, for movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, it is advised to consider a different gauge string to prevent potential damage to your guitar or string breakage. In this specific tuning, the largest adjustments described are -3 semitones (String 4) and +1 semitone (String 3), which are well within safe limits for standard string gauges.

String 6: E2 (The lowest open string, providing the fundamental root of the E Major chord, creating a strong bass foundation).

String 5: G3# (A full major third above the low E, contributing significantly to the chord's brightness and harmonic richness).

String 4: B2 (The perfect fifth of the E Major chord, set at a low octave to provide a deep, resonant harmonic counterpoint).

String 3: G4# (Another major third, pitched a full octave higher than String 5, adding sparkle, clarity, and higher register melodic options).

String 2: B3 (The perfect fifth again, positioned an octave above String 4, further enriching the chord and offering mid-range melodic possibilities).

String 1: E4 (The highest open string, completing the E Major chord as a high root note, providing brilliance and a strong lead voice).