Sevendust A# Tuning: A Deep Dive

This aggressive Sevendust A# Tuning is tailor-made for heavy, low-end riffing, characteristic of the band's distinctive sound. As indicated by its name and the artist association, this tuning is famously utilized by Sevendust, particularly on tracks like "Waffle" and "Enemy." It's a profoundly detuned approach, taking a C# standard tuning framework and further dropping the lowest string to a guttural A#.

Technical Analysis

The tuning setup is as follows, from the lowest to highest string: A#2, F#3, B2, E3, G#4, C#5. This configuration presents a highly unconventional and dynamic pitch landscape, with significant jumps and even inversions between adjacent strings. Let's break down the intervals between the strings:

• The leap from the 6th string (A#2) to the 5th string (F#3) is a substantial Compound Major 6th (20 semitones), creating a very wide interval.
• Unusually, the 4th string (B2) is tuned a Perfect 5th lower (7 semitones down) than the 5th string (F#3). This inversion means adjacent strings do not always ascend in pitch, which is a rare characteristic for guitar tunings and significantly impacts conventional chord shapes.
• From the 4th string (B2) to the 3rd string (E3), there's a Perfect 4th (5 semitones up).
• The jump from the 3rd string (E3) to the 2nd string (G#4) is another large interval, a Compound Major 3rd (16 semitones up).
• Finally, the 2nd string (G#4) to the 1st string (C#5) forms a Perfect 4th (5 semitones up).

This unique interval structure makes conventional chord shapes extremely challenging, if not impossible, across all strings. However, certain interesting voicings can be found within segments of the tuning:

• Focusing on the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings (B2, E3, G#4), an open E Major chord (B E G#) is present.
• The 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings (E3, G#4, C#5) yield an open C# Minor chord (E G# C#).

The extreme detuning of the lower strings, combined with these unusual string-to-string relationships, suggests a tuning primarily geared towards single-note riffs, fragmented voicings, and perhaps percussive or atonal textures rather than traditional chordal playing. It perfectly embodies the aggressive and experimental nature often found in Sevendust's sound, where the low A# provides a foundation for exceptionally heavy, resonant power, but the overall tuning demands a unique approach to technique and composition.

How to Tune Your Guitar

This tuning involves significant detuning across all strings. Please ensure your guitar is properly intonated after tuning. Due to the extreme drop on the lowest string and the unusual nature of the entire tuning, a heavier gauge string set is highly recommended, especially for the 6th string, to maintain optimal tension and tone.

• 6th String: Tune down 6 semitones to A#2. (Warning: This is a significant drop beyond 4 semitones. A thicker gauge string is highly recommended for optimal tension and tone.)
• 5th String: Tune down 3 semitones to F#3.
• 4th String: Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• 3rd String: Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• 2nd String: Tune down 3 semitones to G#4.
• 1st String: Tune down 3 semitones to C#5.

String 6 (Lowest): A#2

String 5: F#3

String 4: B2

String 3: E3

String 2: G#4

String 1 (Highest): C#5