The 'Worship in E' tuning provides a beautiful, open, and resonant sound, perfectly suited for ambient and praise & worship music styles. As described in its name, the open notes are designed to be highly versatile, allowing them to interweave seamlessly with melodies and harmonies across multiple keys. This characteristic makes it exceptionally forgiving and inspiring for improvisation and songwriting, allowing players to focus more on musical expression rather than complex fingerings.

Technical Analysis

This tuning configures the guitar strings to F#3-G#3-C#4-G#4-C#5-G#5 (low to high). Analysing the open string notes:

• The lowest three strings (F#-G#-C#) form an F#sus2 chord, or more accurately, a G#sus2 chord with an F# in the bass (G# C# G# F#).
• The core of the tuning is built around a G# major triad (G#, C#), repeated across multiple octaves, with the F# bass providing a strong root or a rich sus2 quality.
• The open strings ring out as a lush G#sus2/F# or an F#sus2 voicing, which is inherently open and harmonically rich.
• This arrangement facilitates droning and sustained chords, where the open strings act as sympathetic resonators, enhancing the overall sound. It's excellent for creating expansive soundscapes and melodic lines that resonate against the open chord.

Open Chords & Shapes

With the open strings forming a G#sus2/F#, simple fingerings can yield complex harmonic results:

• Open Chord: Strumming all open strings produces a rich G#sus2/F# sound.
• Barre Chords: By barring across all six strings at any fret, you can easily transpose the core G#sus2/F# shape. For example, barring at the 2nd fret would create an A#sus2/G# sound.
• Two-Finger Chords: Experiment with fretting just the lowest string or the lowest two strings while letting the others ring open to discover unique voicings.
• The parallel fifths and octaves (C# and G#) make power chords and suspended chords extremely accessible across the fretboard with minimal effort.

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the 'Worship in E' tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), follow these adjustments:

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

Important Note: Tuning the 1st string up 4 semitones (from E to G#) is a significant change. While possible, exceeding 4 semitones up or down from standard pitch often benefits from using a different gauge string to avoid excessive tension or slack and to ensure optimal playability and string longevity. Always tune carefully and be mindful of your guitar's limits.

String 6: F#3 (Low F sharp)

String 5: G#3 (Low G sharp)

String 4: C#4 (Middle C sharp)

String 3: G#4 (Middle G sharp)

String 2: C#5 (High C sharp)

String 1: G#5 (High G sharp)