The Open E Minor with Low A and B tuning for an 8-string guitar is a rich and resonant open tuning, extending the classic Open E minor chord with powerful lower drone notes. This tuning is designed to offer a deep harmonic foundation, making it particularly suitable for styles requiring extensive bass presence and open-string resonance.

Technical Analysis

This 8-string guitar tuning provides a layered E minor tonality. From the 6th string (E2) upwards, the notes E2, B2, E3, G3, B3, E4 clearly form an E minor chord (E-G-B) across several octaves, ensuring a full and harmonically satisfying sound. The lowest strings, A1 and B1, are positioned to function as powerful drone or pedal tones, enriching the harmonic texture and providing a robust low end. The overall open tuning can be perceived as an E minor chord extended with a significant B and A in the bass.

Chordal Opportunities and Playability

This tuning offers immediate access to a rich E minor sound and opens up various chordal possibilities:

• Open E Minor: Strumming all strings open yields a powerful E minor chord (A1, B1, E2, B2, E3, G3, B3, E4) with a deep, resonant bass foundation.
• 5th Fret Bar (Am): As hinted in the tuning's description, barring all strings at the 5th fret (or utilizing a partial capo) transforms the open E minor into a form of A minor. This creates the notes D2, E2, A2, E3, A3, C4, E4, A4. This configuration produces a vibrant A minor chord (A-C-E) with strong lower extensions (D2, E2) and provides a multi-octave span of A notes from A2 to A4.
• Easy Minor Chords: The inherent minor structure makes it straightforward to form other minor chords simply by barring at different frets. For example, a bar at the 7th fret would yield a B minor tonality.
• Drone and Bass Lines: The low A1 and B1 strings are ideal for creating sustained drone notes or intricate bass lines, anchoring the harmony and rhythm beneath melodies played on the higher strings.
• Melodic Playing: The consistent E minor chord structure across the open strings facilitates improvisation within the E minor scale, with many desirable notes naturally falling within easy reach.

How to Tune

To achieve the Open E Minor with Low A and B tuning, begin from an assumed standard 8-string tuning (F#1, B1, E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4):

• String 8 (Lowest): Tune from F#1 up 3 semitones to A1. Caution: Tuning up 3 semitones is a substantial change; it is advisable to use a heavier gauge string to accommodate the increased tension and prevent potential string breakage or guitar damage.
• String 7: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). This string remains B1.
• String 6: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). This string remains E2.
• String 5: Tune from A2 up 2 semitones to B2.
• String 4: Tune from D3 up 2 semitones to E3.
• String 3: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). This string remains G3.
• String 2: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). This string remains B3.
• String 1 (Highest): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). This string remains E4.

Always tune slowly and carefully, especially when increasing string tension.

Here are the specific notes for each string in this tuning, from lowest to highest:

• String 8: A1 (Lowest String)
• String 7: B1
• String 6: E2
• String 5: B2
• String 4: E3
• String 3: G3
• String 2: B3
• String 1: E4 (Highest String)