ABDBF#AD Guitar Tuner

ABDBF#AD | ABDBG♭AD Open Bm7 - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Open Bm7

open Bm7 (added A for a 7 string).

Tuning Analysis: Open Bm7 (7-String)

This unique 7-string guitar tuning, aptly named "Open Bm7", transforms your instrument into a deeply resonant, ready-to-play B minor 7th chord when all open strings are strummed. It's an excellent choice for players seeking a rich, dark, and harmonically complex sound straight out of the box.

Verbal Analysis:

The Open Bm7 tuning offers a full, expansive minor seventh sonority, with notes spread across a wide range, from a low A1 to a high D4. This creates a thick, almost orchestral texture. The arrangement facilitates a "drone" effect, allowing the low strings to sustain while melodies or riffs are played on the higher strings. It's particularly well-suited for genres like doom metal, progressive rock, jazz fusion, or ambient soundscapes where a deep, melancholic, and complex harmonic foundation is desired. The ability to simply barre a single fret across all or most strings to transpose the Bm7 to other minor 7th chords (e.g., barre at the 2nd fret for C#m7) makes this tuning incredibly intuitive for chordal playing, providing a consistent intervallic structure across the fretboard.

Technical Analysis:

The open strings are tuned to A1, B1, D2, B2, F4#, A3, D4. Breaking this down, we find the notes of a B minor 7th chord: B (root), D (minor third), F# (perfect fifth), and A (minor seventh). The arrangement provides:

Root (B): Present on the 6th string (B1) and 4th string (B2). This octave pairing creates a strong, foundational sense of B.
Minor Third (D): Found on the 5th string (D2) and 1st string (D4). Another strong octave relationship, reinforcing the minor quality.
Perfect Fifth (F#): Located on the 3rd string (F4#). This provides stability to the chord.
Minor Seventh (A): Present on the 7th string (A1) and 2nd string (A3). These notes define the dominant 7th quality and contribute to the rich, jazzy or bluesy feel.

The open tuning provides immediate access to a Bm7 chord. By barring a single finger across any fret, you can easily play other minor 7th chords. For example, barring at the 5th fret yields an Em7 chord (E G B D). This ergonomic advantage simplifies complex chord voicings and opens up new possibilities for riffing and lead playing, utilizing the consistent intervallic structure across the fretboard.

How to Tune:

To achieve the Open Bm7 tuning, you will need to adjust the tension of each string as follows. Please exercise caution when tuning, especially with significant semitone changes, as this can affect string tension and potentially require a different string gauge for optimal performance and safety.

7th String (A1): Tune down 2 semitones. This string will be tuned to A1.
6th String (B1): Tune down 5 semitones. This is a significant drop. For optimal tension and tone, especially if coming from standard E standard, consider using a heavier gauge string for B1.
5th String (D2): Tune down 7 semitones. This is a very substantial drop. A much heavier gauge string is strongly advised for proper tension, intonation, and playability at D2.
4th String (B2): Tune down 3 semitones. This string will be tuned to B2.
3rd String (F4#): Tune down 1 semitones. This string will be tuned to F4#.
2nd String (A3): Tune down 2 semitones. This string will be tuned to A3.
1st String (D4): Tune down 2 semitones. This string will be tuned to D4.

Note on String Gauges: For strings requiring a change of 5 semitones or more (like the 6th and 5th strings in this tuning), it is highly recommended to use a heavier gauge string to maintain adequate tension, intonation, and playability, and to prevent potential damage to the instrument or strings.

7th String (Low A): Tuned to A1

6th String: Tuned to B1

5th String: Tuned to D2

4th String: Tuned to B2

3rd String: Tuned to F4#

2nd String: Tuned to A3

1st String (High D): Tuned to D4