Verbal Analysis

The "Open Em11" tuning, as its name suggests, is designed to resonate with the melancholic and expansive sound characteristic of genres like Midwest Emo. It immediately evokes a sense of depth and introspection. Strumming the open strings produces a rich, full E minor 11 chord, offering a complex harmonic foundation for intricate melodies and atmospheric textures. The significant dropping of several strings contributes to a looser feel and a darker, more resonant tonal quality, enhancing the mood of "sadness" hinted at in its description. This tuning is not merely a chord; it's a soundscape, built for expressive playing where open strings can weave into delicate arpeggios or powerful, ringing chords.

Technical Analysis

This is a 7-string guitar tuning with the notes from low to high (String 7 to String 1) set as B1 E2 G2 B2 F#4 A3 D4.

• Chord Structure: The open strings 6 through 1 (E2 G2 B2 F#4 A3 D4) collectively form a full E minor 11 chord (E, G, B, F#, A, D). The low B1 on String 7 provides a deep, resonant foundation, complementing the chord without being an integral part of its specific voicing.
• Re-entrant Tuning: A particularly striking feature is the re-entrant nature of the tuning. String 3 is tuned to F#4, which is an octave and a half higher than String 2's A3. This unusual configuration means that the 'lower' string (by number) is actually tuned to a significantly higher pitch than the adjacent 'higher' string. This creates unique melodic and harmonic possibilities, allowing for unexpected voicings and bright, mandolin-like or banjo-like textures when played across these strings.
• String Tension: Most strings (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) are significantly dropped from typical standard tuning pitches. This will result in reduced string tension for these strings, potentially leading to a slacker feel, easier bending, and a darker, more sustained tone, especially beneficial for the intended atmospheric sound.

Open Chords and Playability

The most immediate benefit of the "Open Em11" tuning is the ability to strum all open strings to achieve a rich, full E minor 11 chord. This provides an instant melancholic and complex harmony.

• Em11 Chord: Strumming all strings from 7 to 1 will give you a B power chord base with a full Em11 on top (B1 - E2 G2 B2 F#4 A3 D4).
• Barre Chords: Due to the re-entrant string configuration (F#4 on string 3 and A3 on string 2), traditional barre chord shapes will not function as expected and will require significant adaptation. However, this opens up opportunities for unique partial barre chords or clustered voicings across subsets of strings.
• Drones and Melodies: The open low B1, E2, G2, and B2 strings offer excellent drone possibilities, allowing melodies to be played on the higher, more complexly tuned strings (F#4, A3, D4) against a consistent harmonic backdrop. The re-entrant section (F#4, A3, D4) is particularly ripe for creating unexpected arpeggios and bright, chiming melodic lines.
• Rootless Chords: By selectively muting the lowest strings, various rootless voicings of E minor-based chords (e.g., Em9, Em7, E minor triad) can be easily formed. The juxtaposition of F#4 above A3 allows for striking minor 9th (Em9) and minor 11th (Em11) voicings with minimal effort.

Overall, this tuning encourages exploration beyond standard chord shapes, offering a unique sonic palette perfect for atmospheric, emotionally charged compositions.

Tuning Notes (7-String Guitar)

• String 7 (Lowest): B1
• String 6: E2
• String 5: G2
• String 4: B2
• String 3: F#4
• String 2: A3
• String 1 (Highest): D4

How to Tune to Open Em11

To achieve the Open Em11 tuning, follow these specific adjustments for each string:

• String 7 (Lowest B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Tune to B1.
• String 6 (E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Tune to E2.
• String 5: Tune down 2 semitones. Tune to G2.
• String 4: Tune down 3 semitones. Tune to B2.
• String 3: Tune down 1 semitone. Tune to F#4.
• String 2: Tune down 2 semitones. Tune to A3.
• String 1 (Highest E): Tune down 2 semitones. Tune to D4.

Note on String Gauge: All tuning adjustments are within a modest range (maximum -3 semitones). Therefore, a change in string gauge is generally not required for this tuning.