The "A7 sus2" tuning is a captivating modification of standard guitar tuning, described by its creator as a "modified open A tuning" that is "way more flexible than the straight open tuning." It presents a rich, resonant soundscape, ideal for blues, folk, and ambient styles, offering both a familiar anchor and exciting new harmonic possibilities.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning immediately stands out with its deep, open resonance. The low A (A1) on the 6th string sets a profound foundation, creating a drone-like quality when strummed open. The overall feel is open, expansive, and slightly ambiguous due to the suspended 2nd, which avoids a direct major or minor tonality in the open chord. This makes it incredibly versatile, allowing a player to easily imply different moods and scales by simply adding a few fretted notes. It encourages slide playing and allows for rich, ringing sustained chords. The tuning's inherent flexibility makes it a creative playground for exploring new voicings and melodic patterns, moving beyond the constraints of standard tuning. It's particularly well-suited for songwriting where a unique sonic texture is desired.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to A1-E2-A2-E3-G3-B3. This configuration technically forms an A7sus2 (or Aadd9no3) chord, comprising the root (A), perfect fifth (E), minor seventh (G), and major second/ninth (B). The presence of the A and E notes across multiple octaves (A1, A2; E2, E3) creates a powerful, full-bodied drone that underpins any melodic exploration.

Key intervals from the root (A) are:

• String 6 (A1): Root
• String 5 (E2): Perfect 5th
• String 4 (A2): Octave (Root)
• String 3 (E3): Octave Perfect 5th
• String 2 (G3): Minor 7th
• String 1 (B3): Major 2nd (or 9th)

The absence of a major or minor third in the open tuning is what grants it significant flexibility. This means that a simple barre across any fret will yield a dominant 7th suspended 2nd chord (e.g., barre at the 3rd fret gives a C7sus2). More intriguingly, the tuning allows for an "easy shift to E minor," as described. By fretting the 6th, 5th, 4th, and 1st strings at the 7th fret, while leaving the 3rd (G3) and 2nd (B3) strings open, you achieve a full open E minor chord (E-B-E-G-B-E), creating a resonant and powerful E minor harmony that can serve as a strong tonal center. This capability makes the tuning remarkably versatile for moving between dominant 7th suspended sounds and clear minor tonalities.

Open String Notes

String 6 (Low E string in standard tuning): A1
String 5 (A string in standard tuning): E2
String 4 (D string in standard tuning): A2
String 3 (G string in standard tuning): E3
String 2 (B string in standard tuning): G3
String 1 (High E string in standard tuning): B3

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve the "A7 sus2" tuning from standard EADGBe, carefully adjust each string as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 7 semitones to A1. (Note: A movement of -7 semitones is significant; consider using a heavier gauge string to maintain tension and tone.)
• String 5 (A): Tune down 5 semitones to E2. (Note: A movement of -5 semitones is significant; consider using a heavier gauge string to maintain tension and tone.)
• String 4 (D): Tune down 5 semitones to A2. (Note: A movement of -5 semitones is significant; consider using a heavier gauge string to maintain tension and tone.)
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 4 semitones to G3. (Note: A movement of -4 semitones is at the limit; consider a heavier gauge string for optimal performance.)
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 5 semitones to B3. (Note: A movement of -5 semitones is significant; consider using a heavier gauge string to maintain tension and tone.)

Important: Extreme changes in string tension can affect your guitar's intonation and neck relief. For tunings that involve movements of 4 or more semitones (either up or down), it is often recommended to use a different gauge string set to ensure proper playability and instrument health.