Tuning Description: PM EWEG (Peter Mulvey's "Every Word Except Goodbye")

This intriguing tuning, named "PM EWEG" by its creator, is inspired by Peter Mulvey's song "Every Word Except Goodbye." The designer suggests placing a capo on the 2nd fret, which significantly alters the tonal landscape and opens up new harmonic possibilities.

Verbal Analysis

At first glance, the open strings create a rich and somewhat dissonant texture. The lowest three strings (F#3, A#3, C#4) form a clear F# Major triad. However, the 3rd string drops to an F3, creating a strong minor second interval with the 6th string's F#3. This juxtaposition of F# Major and F natural suggests a bluesy, jazzy, or even modal quality, likely intended for melodic exploration or creating interesting suspended and resolved harmonies. The upper strings, A#4 and E4, further color the sound, with the E4 creating a major 7th tension against the F# root. This is not a tuning designed for simple open chord strumming in the traditional sense, but rather for intricate fingerstyle, arpeggios, or specific voicings that leverage its unique intervallic relationships.

When capoed at the 2nd fret, the tuning transforms into G#3, C4, D#4, G3, C5, F#4. Here, the lowest three strings establish a G# Major triad (G#3, C4, D#4). Again, the 3rd string (G3) creates that characteristic major 7th interval with the root G#3, providing a unique tension that begs for resolution or specific melodic phrasing. The overall sound is lush, complex, and full of harmonic tension, ideal for expressive and evocative playing.

Technical Analysis

Compared to standard EADGBe tuning, PM EWEG involves significant and varied shifts across almost all strings. The open notes are F#3, A#3, C#4, F3, A#4, E4.

• String 6 (Low E to F#3): Tuned up two semitones from E to F#, resulting in F#3.
• String 5 (A to A#3): Tuned up one semitone from A to A#, resulting in A#3.
• String 4 (D to C#4): Tuned down one semitone from D to C#, resulting in C#4.
• String 3 (G to F3): Tuned down two semitones from G to F, resulting in F3.
• String 2 (B to A#4): Tuned down one semitone from B to A#, resulting in A#4.
• String 1 (High E to E4): Remains at E4, same as standard.

The intervallic structure from low to high is:

• F#3 - A#3: Major 3rd (4 semitones)
• A#3 - C#4: Minor 3rd (3 semitones)
• C#4 - F3: This is a very significant drop. F3 is an octave and a major 3rd below C#4 (down 15 semitones from C#4 to F4, then another octave down to F3). This wide interval creates a unique depth.
• F3 - A#4: Augmented 5th / Minor 6th (a wide jump upwards of 17 semitones)
• A#4 - E4: Diminished 5th (A#4 to E4 is down 6 semitones, a tritone interval)

This reveals a highly asymmetrical and spread-out tuning across the octaves, especially the dramatic drop from the 4th to the 3rd string, followed by a large upward leap. This wide range and complex intervallic structure will encourage open string drones and melodic lines rather than traditional chord shapes. For instance, an F# Major triad (F#3, A#3, C#4) is readily available on the lowest three strings. However, introducing the F3 on the third string immediately adds a unique tension (a minor 2nd below F#3, or a major 7th below G3 if capoed), suggesting a Gdim/F# or an F# major chord with a dissonant added tone. Open chords will be unconventional and heavily influenced by the spread-out nature of the notes, offering rich harmonic textures for the adventurous player.

How to Tune

To achieve the PM EWEG tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps carefully:

• String 6 (Standard E): Tune up 2 semitones to reach F#3.
• String 5 (Standard A): Tune up 1 semitone to reach A#3.
• String 4 (Standard D): Tune down 1 semitone to reach C#4.
• String 3 (Standard G): Tune down 2 semitones to reach F3.
• String 2 (Standard B): Tune down 1 semitone to reach A#4.
• String 1 (Standard E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones), remaining at E4.

Note: Standard string gauges should be suitable for these moderate tuning adjustments (all movements are within +/- 2 semitones). Always tune carefully to avoid string breakage.

String 6: F#3
String 5: A#3
String 4: C#4
String 3: F3
String 2: A#4
String 1: E4