Tuning Overview: Alkhabeth

The "Alkhabeth" tuning is a distinctive 7-string setup, explicitly designed for the aggressive and resonant soundscapes found in Black and Death Metal genres, as described by its creator. This tuning ventures into incredibly low registers, establishing a foundation that is both crushing and harmonically complex.

Technical Analysis: Open Voicing and Intervals

From the lowest (7th) to the highest (1st) string, the "Alkhabeth" tuning is configured as: C2 - D2 - A2 - D3 - F3 - A3 - D4.

This arrangement creates several interesting harmonic possibilities:

• The open strings notably form a strong D minor chord (D-F-A-D) across the top six strings (D2-A2-D3-F3-A3-D4, strings 6 through 1), offering a rich, resonant minor tonality without fretting. This makes it incredibly easy to execute sweeping minor arpeggios or sustained minor chord voicings.
• The lowest string, C2, acts as a powerful pedal tone. When combined with the open D minor chord, it can evoke a dark, almost D minor 7th (without the explicit 5th) quality, or function as a bVII (minor seventh) root for massive, dissonant power chords. This C-D interval in the bass provides a heavy, growling foundation.
• The intervals across the strings are varied, encouraging diverse playing styles:
  • String 7 (C2) to String 6 (D2): Whole Step (2 semitones) - a dissonant or expansive bass interval.
  • String 6 (D2) to String 5 (A2): Perfect Fifth (7 semitones) - ideal for open power chords.
  • String 5 (A2) to String 4 (D3): Perfect Fourth (5 semitones) - standard guitar interval, great for riffs.
  • String 4 (D3) to String 3 (F3): Minor Third (3 semitones) - contributes to the D minor quality.
  • String 3 (F3) to String 2 (A3): Major Third (4 semitones) - completes the D minor triad.
  • String 2 (A3) to String 1 (D4): Perfect Fourth (5 semitones) - another standard interval for melodic work.

Playability and Chords

The prevalence of fourths and fifths, particularly on the D2-A2-D3 strings (6-5-4), makes this tuning highly conducive to rapid, heavy power chord riffs. The open D minor chord across the middle and upper strings means that simply strumming across strings 6-1 will yield a powerful D minor sound, with the low C adding a monstrous resonance. Barre chords are easily adaptable, especially those based around the D minor shape. Due to the wide interval jump between D2 and A2 on strings 6 and 5, creative fingerings might be required for certain voicings, but this also opens up possibilities for unique chord shapes and dissonances. The low C string provides an excellent pedal tone for rhythmic chugging and provides a huge range for scale runs down to C2.

Tuning Notes

Here are the specific notes for each string in the Alkhabeth tuning, from the thickest (7th) to the thinnest (1st):

• 7th String (Low C): C2
• 6th String: D2
• 5th String: A2
• 4th String: D3
• 3rd String: F3
• 2nd String: A3
• 1st String (High D): D4

How to Tune to Alkhabeth

To achieve the Alkhabeth tuning, follow these instructions for each string. Please proceed with caution, especially when tuning up.

• 7th String: Tune up 1 semitone to reach C2.
• 6th String: Tune down 2 semitones to reach D2.
• 5th String: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) for A2.
• 4th String: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) for D3.
• 3rd String: Tune down 2 semitones to reach F3.
• 2nd String: Tune down 2 semitones to reach A3.
• 1st String: Tune down 2 semitones to reach D4.