Verbal and Technical Analysis of 'open amaj7' Tuning

The 'open amaj7' tuning, as its name suggests, is a captivating and rich open tuning designed to resonate with an A major 7th chord. As described in the original JSON, it's a 'low open maj7 tuning for baritone guitar (or not baritone if you're feeling brave)'. This highlights its significantly lowered pitch compared to standard tuning, making it ideal for the extended range of a baritone instrument, but also accessible for adventurous players on a standard guitar, albeit with potential considerations for string tension and feel.

Technically, the open strings are tuned to A1, E2, A2, C#4, E3, G#5. When these notes are played together, they form a clear and ringing A major 7th chord (A – C# – E – G#). The tuning provides a very full, almost orchestral sound due to the wide intervallic spread across the strings, especially with the lowest A1 and the highest G#5 spanning multiple octaves. The repetition of A (A1, A2) and E (E2, E3) notes throughout the tuning creates a strong, resonant foundation, giving the chord a powerful and sustained character.

The inherent low register, particularly with the bottom A1, makes this tuning exceptionally well-suited for ambient soundscapes, drone music, and heavy, resonant textures. It offers a unique voice that can be both ethereal and deeply grounding.

Open Chords and Creative Possibilities

• The most immediate benefit is the open A major 7th chord itself. Strumming all strings open produces a beautiful, complex harmony that can serve as a lush starting point for compositions.
• By simply barring across all strings at any fret, you can easily transpose the A major 7th chord into other major 7th chords (e.g., barring at the first fret yields A#maj7, at the second fret Bmaj7, etc.). This makes moving chord shapes up and down the neck intuitive and rewarding.
• The lowest strings (A1, E2, A2) create a powerful A octave with a perfect fifth (E), which is excellent for deep bass lines, rhythmic drones, or robust power chords by barring the top three low strings.
• Due to the strong harmonic resonance of the open strings, single-note melodies played on the higher strings will ring out beautifully against the sustained bass notes. This encourages melodic improvisation within the A major 7th framework.
• Experimenting with partial chords is also highly effective. For instance, playing only the top three or four strings can yield different voicings of the Amaj7 or related chords.
• While the tuning is open Amaj7, slight adjustments by fretting just one or two notes can open up new harmonic territories. For example, fretting the C# (3rd string) down to C natural would introduce an A minor 7th sound, or fretting the G# (1st string) down to G natural would create an A dominant 7th.

Tuning Notes & How to Tune

Tuning Notes

Here are the target notes for each string in this 'open amaj7' tuning:

• String 6 (low E string): A1
• String 5 (A string): E2
• String 4 (D string): A2
• String 3 (G string): C#4
• String 2 (B string): E3
• String 1 (high E string): G#5

How to Tune

To achieve the 'open amaj7' tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps carefully:

• String 6 (low E string): Tune down 7 semitones to A1. Caution: Tuning down 7 semitones is a significant change; a heavier gauge string may be advisable to maintain tension and intonation.
• String 5 (A string): Tune down 5 semitones to E2. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change; a heavier gauge string may be advisable to maintain tension and intonation.
• String 4 (D string): Tune down 5 semitones to A2. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change; a heavier gauge string may be advisable to maintain tension and intonation.
• String 3 (G string): Tune down 6 semitones to C#4. Caution: Tuning down 6 semitones is a significant change; a heavier gauge string may be advisable to maintain tension and intonation.
• String 2 (B string): Tune down 7 semitones to E3. Caution: Tuning down 7 semitones is a significant change; a heavier gauge string may be advisable to maintain tension and intonation.
• String 1 (high E string): Tune up 4 semitones to G#5.

Note on String Gauge: For any string tuning change exceeding 4 semitones (either up or down), it is generally recommended to consider using a different string gauge. This helps ensure optimal string tension, improves intonation stability, and can prevent potential string breakage or damage to your instrument. This tuning involves several significant pitch alterations, especially large down-tunings, making string gauge selection particularly important.