Open Em 7 String Tuning Analysis

This tuning, explicitly named "Open Em 7 String" in its definition, transforms your 7-string guitar into a resonant soundscape centered around the E minor chord. As described, it is "not too far off standard tuning," making it an accessible option for those looking to explore open tunings without a drastic overhaul of their instrument setup.

Verbal Analysis: The Sound of Open Em

Imagine strumming your 7-string guitar and immediately hearing a full, rich E minor chord ring out. That's the essence of this tuning. The open strings are set to B-E-G-B-G-B-E, creating a powerful E minor triad across multiple octaves. This provides a deep, moody, and resonant foundation perfect for genres like blues, folk, metal, or any style that benefits from a strong minor tonality. The abundance of open minor third (G) and perfect fifth (B) intervals makes for a very harmonically pleasing and easy-to-play experience, especially for drone-based music or slide guitar where minimal fretting can yield complex harmonic textures.

Technical Analysis: Structure and Chordal Possibilities

The technical structure of Open Em 7 String tuning (B1-E2-G2-B2-G3-B3-E4) is built upon the E minor triad (E-G-B). The lowest string is B1, providing a solid bass foundation. The E2, G2, B2, G3, B3, E4 strings stack up these notes, creating a rich voicing of Em. Key observations:

• Root and Octaves: The E note appears on String 6 (E2) and String 1 (E4), providing a two-octave spread for the root.
• Minor Third: The G note is present on String 5 (G2) and String 3 (G3), giving the tuning its minor quality.
• Perfect Fifth: The B note, the perfect fifth of E, is found on String 7 (B1), String 4 (B2), and String 2 (B3). This strong presence of the fifth adds depth and harmonic stability.
• "Not Too Far Off Standard": Compared to standard 7-string tuning (B1-E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4), only two strings are altered: String 5 is lowered from A2 to G2 (down 2 semitones), and String 4 is lowered from D3 to B2 (down 3 semitones). This minimal adjustment makes it relatively quick to switch to and from standard tuning, allowing for easy experimentation.

Open Chord Voicings & Barre Chords:

• Open E minor: As noted, simply strumming all open strings produces a full E minor chord.
• Barre Chords: By barring all strings at any fret, you can easily create minor chords. For example, barring at the 1st fret yields an F minor chord, at the 2nd fret an F# minor, and so on. These barre shapes will mirror the open Em chord structure up the neck.
• Other Chords: With slight fretting, major chords can be formed. For instance, to get an E Major chord, you would need to raise the G notes to G# (fretting String 5 at 1st fret and String 3 at 1st fret). Suspend chords (Esus4, Esus2) are also readily accessible by manipulating the G notes or using open Bs. The wide range and the repeating intervals also make it conducive for creating interesting voicings with minimal finger movement.

How to Tune to Open Em 7 String

To achieve the Open Em 7 String tuning, follow these specific adjustments from your standard 7-string tuning (B-E-A-D-G-B-E). The instructions indicate the exact movement required for each string:

• String 7 (Lowest): Target note B1. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 6: Target note E2. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 5: Target note G2. Tune down 2 semitones from A2.
• String 4: Target note B2. Tune down 3 semitones from D3.
• String 3: Target note G3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2: Target note B3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (Highest): Target note E4. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Important Note on String Gauges: Tuning down 2 or 3 semitones for Strings 5 and 4 generally falls within the acceptable range for standard string gauges, maintaining good playability and intonation. However, for changes exceeding -4 or +4 semitones (or 'fret_movements' values outside this range), it is generally advised to consider using a different string gauge to ensure optimal string tension, intonation, and string longevity. This tuning's adjustments are moderate, so standard gauges should be suitable.