This unique 7-string guitar tuning, aptly named "Tension limitation," is a testament to experimental guitar playing, where the creator embraced practical constraints to forge a distinctive sonic landscape. As described, it was born from a desire to push boundaries when conventional solutions like fan frets were unavailable, leading to a highly unconventional and wide-ranging string configuration.

Verbal Analysis

The name "Tension limitation" directly reflects the genesis of this tuning – it's a creative response to reaching the physical limits of string tension. This suggests a bold, exploratory approach, prioritizing specific sonic textures or playing styles over traditional guitar voicings. The designer's note, "Don't have fan frets, reached limit of my string tension, decided to just do it," paints a picture of a player willing to break from convention, likely resulting in a sound that is both challenging and rewarding for those seeking new musical territories. It indicates a tuning crafted for very specific harmonic or melodic purposes, rather than broad versatility, and may require a fresh approach to the fretboard.

Technical Analysis

This is a 7-string guitar tuning with notes from low to high (String 7 to String 1): B1, D3#, A2, C4#, F4#, B3, D5#. What immediately stands out is the extremely wide and non-linear interval structure between strings. Unlike standard tunings which typically ascend or descend in relatively consistent steps, this tuning features significant jumps both up and down, creating a highly dissonant and open-ended sonic canvas.

• String 7 (B1) to String 6 (D3#): An enormous leap of 23 semitones (nearly two full octaves). This creates a massive sonic gap between the lowest two strings, offering a deep, resonant bass note alongside a much higher subsequent note.
• String 6 (D3#) to String 5 (A2): A significant drop of 7 semitones. This means the 5th string is tuned *lower* than the 6th, which is highly unusual and will completely redefine chord voicings and arpeggio patterns.
• String 5 (A2) to String 4 (C4#): Another large ascent of 16 semitones (an octave and a major third), creating another wide interval.
• String 4 (C4#) to String 3 (F4#): A standard perfect 4th interval (5 semitones), providing a familiar interval amidst the otherwise chaotic jumps.
• String 3 (F4#) to String 2 (B3): Another dramatic drop of 7 semitones, placing the 2nd string a perfect 5th *below* the 3rd string.
• String 2 (B3) to String 1 (D5#): A final large ascent of 16 semitones, ending on a very high D# note.

This intricate design results in a highly unpredictable fretboard layout. Standard chord shapes will be largely unusable, requiring players to approach the instrument with a fresh perspective, focusing on individual note relationships, drone notes, or very specific, hand-picked intervallic combinations. The wide distribution of notes across the strings suggests an emphasis on soundscapes, ambient textures, or perhaps even a melodic approach where individual string notes are used in rapid succession.

Open String Chords & Possibilities

While not designed for conventional chord strumming, the open strings (B1, D3#, A2, C4#, F4#, B3, D5#) do contain specific harmonic relationships that can be exploited:

• The notes B, D#, F# are present across String 7 (B1), String 6 (D3#), and String 3 (F4#), forming an open B Major triad. This triad is heavily spread out across three non-adjacent strings, offering a massive, resonant B Major chord, perhaps useful for arpeggiated figures or sustained drones.
• Adding String 5 (A2) to the B Major triad creates elements of a B Major 7th chord (B, D#, F#, A), although the A is in a lower octave.
• The presence of C# (String 4) and D# (String 6 and String 1) suggests possibilities for extended chords, such as B Major 9th or Lydian-inspired voicings when played selectively.
• The overall intervallic structure lends itself to exploring dissonant harmonies, large intervallic jumps in melodies, or complex arpeggios that utilize the extreme range. It's likely intended for creative exploration where the player discovers new melodic and harmonic paths unique to this tuning.

String 7: B1

String 6: D3#

String 5: A2

String 4: C4#

String 3: F4#

String 2: B3

String 1: D5#

How to Tune

To achieve the "Tension limitation" tuning, adjust your 7-string guitar as follows:

• String 7 (B1): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 6 (D3#): Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 5 (A2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 4 (C4#): Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 3 (F4#): Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 2 (B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (D5#): Tune down 1 semitone.