Photograph
Ed Sheeran · x (Multiply) · 2014
The rhythm bed is a small-bodied Martin steel-string, mic'd close and compressed hard, not amped — capo at the 2nd fret playing D, Bm, A and G shapes to sound in E. The picking hand does most of the work: light muted brushes with the back of the index finger, accents on the backbeat, opening up only as the choruses arrive. If you're plugging in, keep gain low, pull a little bass out to stop the boom, and add just a touch of treble for pick attack and 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 2
Capo 2 with D–Bm–A–G shapes sounds the record's E–C#m–B–A; capo 4 with C–Am–G–F gives the identical result, and live Sheeran sometimes drops the G string to E (E A D E B E) and plays it with no capo.
Guitar
- Martin LX1E "Little Martin" · Fishman under-saddle (studio track was mic'd)
- Electric guitar (Tyler Johnson, background texture) · neck pickup
Amp
Acoustic combo or PA/DI channel (no guitar amp on the record)
The album acoustic was captured with condenser mics into the console, not through an amp; these values are a starting point for matching that sound on an acoustic amp or PA, and Sheeran's earlier sessions with Jake Gosling used a pair of sE4400a condensers on the guitar. Discogs credits Ed Sheeran with acoustic guitar and Tyler Johnson with electric; the specific acoustic used at Jeff Bhasker's session is not documented, and around 2014 Sheeran also had custom Martin 00-28VS guitars alongside the Little Martins.
Tone character
bright small-body strum · palm-muted and percussive · tight, controlled low end · softened mids under vocal · compressed, close-mic'd intimacy
Four repeating open shapes behind a capo, but the whole feel depends on a steady palm-muted, accented strum with the picking hand kept quiet under the vocal.
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
No published source — the settings below are estimated by ear.