Verbal Analysis

This tuning is famously associated with My Bloody Valentine's iconic track "Only Shallow," and it embodies the band's distinctive shoegaze sound. It's a radical departure from standard guitar tuning, creating a lush, often dissonant, and heavily layered sonic landscape. The tuning is characterized by significant shifts across most strings, with both the lowest and highest strings tuned up a semitone to F, providing a subtle, shimmering bookend. The middle strings undergo dramatic alterations, particularly the 4th string (D string) which is dropped by a significant amount, and the 5th string (A string) which is raised substantially. The 2nd string (B string) remains at its standard pitch, acting as a stable reference point amidst the swirling changes. This setup encourages open, sustained chords and drones, perfect for textural playing and heavy effects usage.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes for this tuning are F2-C3-A2-E3-B3-F4. Analysing the intervals between adjacent strings (from lower-pitched string to higher-pitched string, in order of string number) reveals a unique harmonic landscape:

• String 6 (F2) to String 5 (C3): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
• String 5 (C3) to String 4 (A2): Note that String 5 (C3) is tuned higher than String 4 (A2). The interval from the lower note (A2) to the higher note (C3) is a Minor 3rd (3 semitones). This pitch inversion is a signature element of the tuning.
• String 4 (A2) to String 3 (E3): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
• String 3 (E3) to String 2 (B3): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
• String 2 (B3) to String 1 (F4): Tritone (6 semitones)

The prominent Perfect 5ths, particularly across strings 4, 3, and 2 (A2-E3-B3), establish a strong, resonant drone foundation. The unique pitch inversion between strings 5 and 4, combined with the dissonant tritone at the top (B3-F4), creates a rich harmonic tension and complexity that is characteristic of the shoegaze sound.

Open Chords and Reachable Shapes

While not immediately resolving to a simple major or minor triad when strummed open, the full open tuning (F-C-A-E-B-F) contains elements of an F major chord (F, A, C) and an E minor chord (E, B). The open strings can be perceived as a complex Fmaj7(#11) or Fmaj7(b5) with added B. More practically:

• Strumming the lowest three strings (F2-C3-A2) provides a rich F major triad in root position.
• The middle strings A2-E3-B3 form an A(add9) voicing, offering a bright, open sound.
• The abundance of perfect fifths (F-C, A-E, E-B) makes power chords incredibly resonant and easy to achieve by simply barring or using minimal fingerings across these string sets.
• The tuning's structure encourages experimenting with two or three-finger chord shapes that exploit the open drones, creating vast, sustained textures rather than traditional chord voicings.

How to Tune: My Bloody Valentine- Only Shallow

To achieve the "My Bloody Valentine- Only Shallow" tuning, begin from standard EADGBe tuning. Please note the significant string movements required for some strings; a different string gauge may be advisable for movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone from E2 to F2. (Tune up 1 semitones)
• String 5 (A): Tune up 3 semitones from A2 to C3. (Tune up 3 semitones)
• String 4 (D): Tune down 5 semitones from D3 to A2. (Tune down 5 semitones). Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a substantial drop. Consider using a heavier gauge string to maintain tension and intonation, or proceed with care.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones from G3 to E3. (Tune down 3 semitones)
• String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change from B3. (Keep as is; no change (0 semitones))
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 1 semitone from E4 to F4. (Tune up 1 semitones)