A7sus4 for 7-String Guitar: Open and Resonant

This tuning, explicitly named "7 String A7sus4," is designed to voice an A7sus4 chord across the open strings of a 7-string guitar. It provides a rich, resonant foundation, perfect for styles ranging from jazz fusion to progressive metal, or even ambient soundscapes where a suspended dominant harmony is desired. The strategic arrangement of notes allows for both intricate chord voicings and powerful single-note lines with a consistent harmonic backdrop.

Verbal Analysis:

Imagine strumming all seven open strings and hearing a full, complex A7sus4 chord ring out. This tuning delivers just that. The open notes are A, E, A, D, G, A, E, forming the root (A), perfect fourth (D), perfect fifth (E), and minor seventh (G) of A7sus4. The multiple A's and E's provide a powerful, reinforcing drone, giving the chord immense depth and sustain. This makes it incredibly easy to establish an A7sus4 harmony without complex fingerings. Lead lines and melodies can effortlessly weave through this sonic tapestry, always feeling grounded. Due to the open D and G, suspended voicings are naturally accentuated, offering a fresh harmonic perspective compared to standard tunings. Common chords like open A minor or A major are easily accessible, often just requiring small adjustments or single finger additions. Power chords built on the lower strings will have a massive, deep sound, especially on the low A.

Technical Analysis:

This is a specialized open tuning for a 7-string guitar. The base tuning, from lowest to highest string, is A1-E2-A2-D3-G3-A3-E4. The intervals between strings are:

• String 7 (A1) to String 6 (E2): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
• String 6 (E2) to String 5 (A2): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• String 5 (A2) to String 4 (D3): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• String 4 (D3) to String 3 (G3): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• String 3 (G3) to String 2 (A3): Major 2nd (2 semitones)
• String 2 (A3) to String 1 (E4): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)

The presence of consecutive perfect fourths (E-A-D-G) in the middle strings provides a familiar melodic and harmonic framework, similar to standard tuning, while the wider intervals on the outer strings (A1-E2 and A3-E4) contribute to the unique open chord voicing and allow for rich bass and treble extension. The Major 2nd between G3 and A3 is a key element in forming the sus4 harmony. The tuning utilizes a lowered 7th string (from B to A) and 2nd string (from B to A) relative to a standard 7-string B-E-A-D-G-B-E tuning, which subtly alters string tension, potentially making bends on the 2nd string feel slightly looser. These modest adjustments (only 2 semitones down for two strings) mean that standard gauge strings should still perform well without requiring special modifications, maintaining good playability and intonation.

Tuning Details and How to Tune Your Guitar

Below are the specific notes for each string in the 7 String A7sus4 tuning, along with instructions on how to adjust your guitar from a standard 7-string tuning (B-E-A-D-G-B-E) to achieve this open chord.

• String 7 (Low A): Tune to A1. This is your lowest string, providing a deep, resonant bass foundation.
• String 6 (Low E): Tune to E2. This acts as the perfect fifth to the low A.
• String 5 (Middle A): Tune to A2. An octave higher than String 7, reinforcing the root.
• String 4 (D): Tune to D3. This is the crucial suspended fourth of the A7sus4 chord.
• String 3 (G): Tune to G3. This provides the minor seventh of the A7sus4 chord.
• String 2 (High A): Tune to A3. Another octave of the root, balancing the high end.
• String 1 (High E): Tune to E4. The highest string, completing the chord with another perfect fifth.

How to Tune:

Carefully adjust each string according to the instructions below. Always tune slowly and check your intonation. The instructions assume you are starting from a standard 7-string tuning (B-E-A-D-G-B-E).

• String 7 (Low B string): Tune down 2 semitones to A1. Exercise care when adjusting string tension.
• String 6 (E string): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 5 (A string): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 4 (D string): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 3 (G string): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2 (B string): Tune down 2 semitones to A3. Exercise care when adjusting string tension.
• String 1 (High E string): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Note: For tunings that involve movements of more than 4 semitones up or down, it is generally advised to consider using a different gauge string to maintain optimal tension and intonation. This tuning only involves minor adjustments (-2 semitones), so standard gauges should be suitable.