Analysis of Yvette Young's Sea Dragon 7-String Tuning

This is a highly distinctive and influential tuning, famously used by Yvette Young of Covet, notably in tracks like "Sea Dragon" and on the album "Effloresce." Designed for a 7-string guitar, it diverges significantly from standard tunings, offering a unique sonic palette perfect for instrumental, progressive, and math-rock genres.

Verbal Analysis

At its core, this tuning provides a rich, expansive, and somewhat dissonant landscape that encourages open voicings, percussive techniques, and intricate melodic lines. The lower four strings (A-D-A-D) establish a powerful, droning foundation, reminiscent of drop tunings but with an extended range and a distinctive intervallic structure. This creates a resonant base perfect for heavy, rhythmic passages and sustained open notes.

The higher strings (F#-B-E) introduce a brighter, more melodic contrast. Together, the open strings A1-D2-A2-D3-F#4-B3-E4 form a complex set of intervals. While not resolving to a simple open major or minor chord, the notes A, B, D, E, F# are present. This collection suggests an A major sound with added 2nd (B) and 4th (D), or perhaps an A Lydian mode (A B C# D E F# G#) without the C# and G#. It lends itself to suspended sounds, arpeggiated figures, and polyphonic textures, characteristic of Yvette Young's style. Chords built upon these open strings will often have an open, ringing quality, fostering creativity beyond conventional chord shapes. The repeated A and D across multiple strings facilitate easy octaves and power chord shapes, while the unique placement of F#, B, and E provides melodic interest and harmonic tension that can be beautifully resolved or left suspended.

Technical Analysis

This tuning is specifically configured for a 7-string guitar. From the lowest string to the highest, the notes are: A1, D2, A2, D3, F#4, B3, E4. Comparing this to a standard 7-string tuning (B1 E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4), it's clear that this is a highly customized setup. The lowest B string is dropped to A, the E string is dropped to D, and the G string is dropped to F#. The A, D, B, and high E strings maintain their positions relative to a standard 6-string's A, D, B, E, but their specific octaves and surrounding intervals are drastically altered by the other string changes. This re-tuning creates a deep, resonant low end with the A1, while allowing for complex voicings and tapping techniques across the entire range of the instrument.

How to Tune

To achieve this specific 7-string tuning, follow these steps from a standard 7-string tuning (B1 E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4):

• 7th String (B1): Tune down 2 semitones to A1. (Movement: -2 semitones)
• 6th String (E2): Tune down 2 semitones to D2. (Movement: -2 semitones)
• 5th String (A2): Keep as is; no change to A2. (Movement: 0 semitones)
• 4th String (D3): Keep as is; no change to D3. (Movement: 0 semitones)
• 3rd String (G3): Tune down 1 semitone to F#4. (Movement: -1 semitone)
• 2nd String (B3): Keep as is; no change to B3. (Movement: 0 semitones)
• 1st String (E4): Keep as is; no change to E4. (Movement: 0 semitones)

Note on String Gauges: For this particular tuning, all string movements are within a reasonable range (maximum of 2 semitones down). This means that a standard set of 7-string guitar strings should generally work without requiring immediate gauge changes. However, for any tuning changes exceeding 4 semitones up or down, it is typically advisable to consider a different string gauge to ensure optimal tension, intonation, and string longevity. Always check your guitar's intonation after any tuning change.

7th String: A1

6th String: D2

5th String: A2

4th String: D3

3rd String: F#4

2nd String: B3

1st String: E4