The Ethereal Sparkle tuning, originally named Patrick C Gillooly, transforms your standard guitar into a vibrant soundscape, living up to its self-described "dreamy twinkly emo" vibe. This is a highly resonant and complex open tuning, making it fantastic for atmospheric textures, intricate fingerstyle, and evocative melodic lines.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning immediately presents a rich, full-bodied chord when played open. The arrangement of notes creates a bright, shimmering quality perfect for introspective or expansive musical pieces. The repetition of A# across two strings (5th and 2nd) adds a particular shimmer and harmonic density, while the high F# on the 6th string provides a strong root with an interesting voicing. It encourages open string playing, allowing for ringing arpeggios and sustained chords. You'll find it lends itself well to genres like emo, indie, post-rock, and ambient music where lush, evolving soundscapes are desired. The inherent harmony makes it easy to find pleasing melodies and chord voicings with minimal effort.

Technical Analysis

This is a non-standard guitar tuning with the notes from low E (6th string) to high E (1st string) as follows: F#3 A#3 C#4 G#4 A#4 D#5.

When played open, these notes form an F#maj6(add9) chord:

• F#3 (6th string) - Root
• A#3 (5th string) - Major 3rd
• C#4 (4th string) - Perfect 5th
• G#4 (3rd string) - Major 2nd (9th)
• A#4 (2nd string) - Octave of Major 3rd
• D#5 (1st string) - Major 6th (13th)

The intervals between adjacent strings are:

• 6th to 5th string (F#3 to A#3): Minor 3rd (3 semitones)
• 5th to 4th string (A#3 to C#4): Minor 3rd (3 semitones)
• 4th to 3rd string (C#4 to G#4): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
• 3rd to 2nd string (G#4 to A#4): Major 2nd (2 semitones)
• 2nd to 1st string (A#4 to D#5): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)

The significant open F#maj6(add9) chord provides a harmonious base. Moving this shape up and down the fretboard by barring will produce transposed versions of this rich chord. The combination of perfect and minor/major intervals allows for interesting melodic runs and harmonic extensions. Chords that are easily within reach include various F# Major voicings, and the strong open F# Major triad on strings 6, 5, and 4 makes it easy to form power chords or open 5ths by muting the 3rd string. The consistent major third (A#) on the 5th and 2nd strings, along with the 9th (G#) and 6th (D#), creates a lush, extended harmonic palette that's ripe for exploration, particularly in styles that favor intricate arpeggios and suspended sounds.

How to Tune (from Standard E-A-D-G-B-e)

Please note that all string movements are relative to standard guitar tuning (E-A-D-G-B-e).

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 2 semitones to F#3.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 1 semitones to A#3.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitones to C#4.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 1 semitones to G#4.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 1 semitones to A#4.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 1 semitones to D#5.

Important: All string movements in this tuning are within 2 semitones (up or down). This generally falls within a safe range for standard guitar string gauges, so you should not require a different gauge string. Always tune carefully and gradually.

Open Tuning Notes

• 6th String: F#3
• 5th String: A#3
• 4th String: C#4
• 3rd String: G#4
• 2nd String: A#4
• 1st String: D#5