Tuning Analysis: Open E Drone Major

This guitar tuning, also known by its original designation "E (no 5)", is excellently suited for creating expansive soundscapes, particularly in genres like post-rock where sustained notes and ambient textures are key. Its open, resonant quality makes it ideal for drone passages, slide guitar, and rich, percussive strumming.

Verbal Description:

Imagine a vast, open sound that fills the room with a sense of grandeur and space. This tuning offers exactly that. Strumming all open strings immediately presents a full, vibrant E Major chord, creating an instant feeling of uplift and spaciousness. The repeated notes across the mid-range strings allow for powerful, sustained drones and an almost symphonic quality, perfect for layering with effects like delay and reverb. It encourages a melodic approach, where individual notes sing out against a rich harmonic backdrop, making it a joy for both rhythmic and lead playing.

Technical Analysis:

• Structure: The tuning is E2-G#3-E3-G#4-G#4-E4. This arrangement forms an open E Major chord (E-G#-B) without the fifth (B). The absence of the fifth can sometimes give it a more open, less resolved sound, making it versatile for both major and slightly ambiguous contexts.
• Voicing: The roots (E) are distributed across strings 6, 4, and 1, providing a strong foundation. The major thirds (G#) are prominently featured on strings 5, 3, and 2, including a unison G#4 on the 3rd and 2nd strings. This creates a thick, resonant texture, especially in the higher registers.
• Intervals: The unique intervals (e.g., a major 10th between E2 and G#3, and between E3 and G#4, or minor 6th between G#3 and E3, and G#4 and E4) contribute to its characteristic open sound.
• Chords within Reach:
  • Open E Major: By simply strumming all six open strings, you get a full, resonant E Major chord.
  • Barred Major Chords: Due to its open major structure, barring any fret will instantly produce a major chord up the neck (e.g., barring the 1st fret gives F Major, 2nd fret for F# Major, 3rd fret for G Major, and so on). This makes transposition incredibly easy and effective for rhythmic accompaniment.
  • Drones and Melodies: The unison G#4 on strings 3 and 2 is a powerful feature for creating drone notes or sustained melodic lines where one G# can be held while the other moves, adding depth and complexity.
  • Implied Minors/7ths: While primarily major, specific single-note alterations or partial chords can imply minor or dominant 7th harmonies, adding color without losing the overall resonance. For example, fretting the G# strings to G natural would instantly create an Em chord quality.

Notes Description:

Open String Pitches:

• String 6 (Low E): E2
• String 5 (A): G#3
• String 4 (D): E3
• String 3 (G): G#4
• String 2 (B): G#4
• String 1 (High E): E4

How to Tune:

Tune your guitar to the target notes specified below, starting from standard EADGBe tuning. Remember to be cautious when adjusting string tension. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, a different string gauge is generally advised to prevent breakage or poor intonation. Note that while the semitone movements described below are relative, some strings may require significant initial pitch adjustment from their standard octave to reach the precise target note.

• String 6 (Low E) to E2: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 5 (A) to G#3: Tune down 1 semitones.
• String 4 (D) to E3: Tune up 2 semitones.
• String 3 (G) to G#4: Tune up 1 semitones.
• String 2 (B) to G#4: Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 1 (High E) to E4: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).