About the Coldplay "See You Soon" Tuning

This is the unique and atmospheric guitar tuning specifically used for Coldplay's song "See You Soon." It transforms the guitar into a deeply resonant instrument, ideal for creating the ethereal and spacious soundscapes characteristic of the band's style. The tuning deviates significantly from standard, offering a rich harmonic palette and encouraging open voicings that provide immediate musical depth and character.

Technical Analysis

• Instrument Type: Guitar
• Original Song/Tuning Reference: "See You Soon" by Coldplay
• Tuning Notes (from low E string to high E string): F#3, G2, D3, D3, B3, D4
• Open Chord Analysis: The unique pitches present in this open tuning are F#, G, B, and D. When arranged harmonically (G-B-D-F#), these notes clearly outline a G Major 7th chord. However, with the lowest string tuned to F#3, the open strum results in a sophisticated F# bass over a G Major 7th chord (F#/Gmaj7), creating a rich, suspended, or leading-tone quality.
• Key Features:
  • The 5th string (G2) is tuned significantly lower than the 6th string (F#3), creating an inverted bass register that contributes to a distinctive, spread voicing.
  • The repeated D notes on the 4th and 3rd strings provide excellent drone opportunities and harmonic stability.
  • The presence of G, B, and D notes across strings 5 through 1 ensures an open G major triad is readily available and resonant.

Chords and Playability

This tuning inherently offers a complex harmonic foundation for creative playing:

• Open G Major 7th (F#/Gmaj7): Strumming all open strings yields an F# in the bass supporting a Gmaj7 chord, perfect for lush, ambient pads and introspective passages.
• G Major: A simple open G major chord (G-B-D) is highly accessible using strings 5 through 1, providing a strong, resonant core.
• D Major: The presence of D notes across multiple strings (D3, D3, D4) and the F#3 on the 6th string makes various D major voicings (D-F#-A) easily reachable, especially if an A note is fretted.
• B Minor: The notes B, D, and F# are all present in the tuning, facilitating the formation of B minor chord shapes and arpeggios.

While standard barre chords will require re-learning, this tuning excels in open-string melodies, drone-based compositions, and intricate fingerpicking. The unusual string order and intervals invite experimentation and lead to unique melodic and harmonic developments.

How to Tune for "Coldplay See You Soon Open Gmaj7/F#"

To achieve the "Coldplay See You Soon Open Gmaj7/F#" tuning, adjust your guitar strings from standard EADGBe tuning as follows:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 2 semitones to F#3.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to D3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 5 semitones to D3.
  Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change; a different gauge string may be advised for optimal tension and tone.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.

Please note that extreme string tension changes (typically more than 4 semitones up or down from standard pitch) can affect string longevity and guitar setup. Consider using a different gauge string for strings with significant alterations.

The open string notes for this tuning are:

• 6th string (lowest pitch): F#3
• 5th string: G2
• 4th string: D3
• 3rd string: D3
• 2nd string: B3
• 1st string (highest pitch): D4