This unique and rich open tuning transforms your guitar into an Open A# Major 7th chord (A#maj7). The open strings resonate with the notes A#, F, A#, D, A, D, from lowest to highest. As the original creator described, this tuning was discovered by "fooling around" and created an immediate impression, highlighting the unexpected beauty that can arise from experimentation.

Technical Analysis:

The open notes are A#2, F2, A#3, D3, A3, and D4. These notes collectively form an A# Major 7th chord (A#, D, F, A). The tuning features a strong root (A#) on the 6th and 4th strings, and a prominent Major 3rd (D) on the 3rd and 1st strings. The Perfect 5th (F) on the 5th string and the Major 7th (A) on the 2nd string complete the harmony.

The repeated A# and D notes across different octaves create a full, resonant, and harmonically rich sound when strummed open. This particular voicing provides a deep foundation with sparkling higher notes, making it versatile for various musical styles.

Playability and Chord Possibilities:

• Open Chord Playability: Strumming all strings open immediately gives you a lush A#maj7 chord, perfect for sustained chords, ambient textures, or as a starting point for songwriting.
• Barre Chords: Due to its open major 7th structure, simple barre chords up and down the neck will easily translate into major 7th chords in different keys. For example, a single fret barre at the 1st fret would produce a Cmaj7 chord.
• Harmonic Exploration: The distribution of notes makes it intuitive to find complementary harmonies. The strong root-fifth relationship on the lowest strings (A# and F) provides a solid bass for melodies and chord voicings above it.
• Implied Chords: By selectively muting or fretting, you can imply other chords. For instance, muting the 6th string and playing the remaining open strings could suggest an Fmaj7 with an A bass (F - A# - D - A - D), which is an inversion of Dm7/F or Fmaj7. Experiment with simple fingerings to discover new harmonic possibilities.
• Genre Suitability: This tuning's inherent richness makes it suitable for genres like ambient, folk, blues, or even some forms of jazz and rock where a full, resonant sound is desired.

How to Tune to Open A#maj7:

To achieve this Open A#maj7 tuning, you will need to adjust your guitar strings from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) as follows. Please proceed with caution, especially with significant pitch changes, and consider string gauge recommendations.

• String 6 (Low E to A#2): Tune down 6 semitones to A#2. Caution: Tuning down 6 semitones is a significant change. A heavier gauge string is advised for optimal tension and tone.
• String 5 (A to F2): Tune down 4 semitones to F2. Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a substantial change. A heavier gauge string is advised for optimal tension and tone.
• String 4 (D to A#3): Tune down 4 semitones to A#3. Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a substantial change. A heavier gauge string is advised for optimal tension and tone.
• String 3 (G to D3): Tune down 5 semitones to D3. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change. A heavier gauge string is advised for optimal tension and tone.
• String 2 (B to A3): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• String 1 (High E to D4): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.