Perfect
Ed Sheeran · ÷ (Divide) · 2017
"Perfect" is an all-acoustic rhythm part: a small-body steel-string, capo at the first fret, close-mic'd and recorded live with the vocal — no amp and no pedals in the chain. Sheeran's documented studio guitars in this period were his signature Little Martin and a pair of custom Martin 00-28VS koa models, with Lowdens and a nylon-string also in the room, so the exact instrument on the take isn't confirmed. If you're amplifying it, aim for a clean, bright, lightly compressed acoustic sound with the bass trimmed and just a hint of reverb.
Where these numbers come from: worked out from the documented rig and the sound of the record
Tuning
Standard tuning, no capo · Capo at fret 1
Standard tuning with a capo at fret 1 puts the record's Ab major key under G, Em7, Cadd9 and D shapes; the take is in 12/8, and a second acoustic (played by co-producer Will Hicks) doubles the part in places.
Guitar
- Martin LX1E Ed Sheeran Signature · Fishman (Isys T / Sonitone) · mic'd — onboard pickup not used
- Martin 00-28VS (custom, koa) · Fishman Matrix Infinity · mic'd at the studio
Amp
None — mic'd acoustic straight to console
There is no guitar amp on this record: Will Hicks says he recorded Sheeran's guitar and vocal simultaneously at the writing session, and engineer Joe Rubel describes the Divide-era acoustic approach as simply close-miking Ed's Martins and Lowdens with condensers (a pair of sE4400a mics is documented for earlier Sheeran sessions).
Amp
Acoustic combo (e.g. AER Compact 60)
Practical live/amplified translation for a piezo-equipped small-body acoustic: bass pulled back to keep the capo'd strum from getting boomy, treble up for string chime, a touch of reverb for the record's roomy ballad feel.
Tone character
bright small-body acoustic · fully clean, no dirt · open-string chime · close-mic'd and compressed · gentle 12/8 strum · light low end
Four open-position shapes (G, Em7, Cadd9, D) with a capo at the first fret; the work is in keeping an even, softly accented 12/8 strum and hitting the Dsus4–G/B–D/F# walk-ups cleanly.
Want this on your own amp?
These are the record's settings. Tell us what you play through and we'll translate every knob to the amp you actually own — free.
Adapt it to my gearSources
- 'Perfect' Co-Producer Will Hicks Hails Ed Sheeran As 'One of the Best Songwriters of Our Generation' (Billboard)
- Recording Ed Sheeran's Divide — Joe Rubel (Sound On Sound)
- Ed Sheeran's Guitar Gear (Equipboard)
- Martin unveils Ed Sheeran Divide Signature Edition acoustic guitar (MusicRadar)
- Learn Chords to Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" on Guitar (Fender)
- Perfect chords (Ultimate-Guitar)
- Ed Sheeran – ÷ (Divide) credits (Discogs)
- The Number Ones: Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" (Stereogum)