The Tone Barre 2 tuning for a 7-string Guitar presents a unique and highly musical landscape, drawing inspiration from the white keys of the piano. This tuning, with its lowest note at C2, is a fascinating variant on a fourths-based system, offering a broad harmonic palette that deviates from standard guitar tunings.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning creates an open and expansive sound where all seven open strings together form the complete C Major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B. This makes it incredibly intuitive for playing in the key of C Major, allowing for rich, resonant open chords and easy melodic exploration within this key. The name "Tone Barre" suggests that this tuning might facilitate barre-like fingerings to create diverse voicings, though the specific intervals introduce interesting challenges and opportunities that go beyond typical standard tuning barre chords. It is particularly well-suited for styles where open, ringing tones and clear melodic lines are desired, such as folk, ambient music, or even certain forms of jazz and classical guitar where extended ranges are appreciated. The wide spread of notes across the fretboard also encourages wider stretches and more open voicings, offering a distinct sonic texture.

Technical Analysis

The tuning notes for the 7-string guitar are specifically: C2-F2-B2-E3-A3-D4-G4, listed from the lowest (7th) to the highest (1st) string. Let's examine the intervals between adjacent strings:

• String 7 (C2) to String 6 (F2): Perfect Fourth (P4)
• String 6 (F2) to String 5 (B2): Augmented Fourth / Tritone (A4)
• String 5 (B2) to String 4 (E3): Perfect Fourth (P4)
• String 4 (E3) to String 3 (A3): Perfect Fourth (P4)
• String 3 (A3) to String 2 (D4): Perfect Fourth (P4)
• String 2 (D4) to String 1 (G4): Perfect Fourth (P4)

While largely based on perfect fourths, the prominent Augmented Fourth (tritone) between the F2 and B2 strings adds a distinct flavor, breaking the pattern of consistent fourths and requiring unique chord shapes in that specific area. However, the most remarkable technical aspect is that the combined open notes (C, D, E, F, G, A, B) represent the complete C Major scale spread across the strings. This makes the tuning incredibly diatonic to C Major, making it a powerful tool for compositions within this key.

Open String Chords

Due to the diatonic nature of the open strings to C Major, many common chords in this key are readily available as open voicings, offering rich, full sounds. The wide range also allows for interesting inversions and extended voicings:

• C Major: C2 (string 7), E3 (string 4), G4 (string 1)
• D Minor: D4 (string 2), F2 (string 6), A3 (string 3)
• E Minor: E3 (string 4), G4 (string 1), B2 (string 5)
• F Major: F2 (string 6), A3 (string 3), C2 (string 7)
• G Major: G4 (string 1), B2 (string 5), D4 (string 2)
• A Minor: A3 (string 3), C2 (string 7), E3 (string 4)
• B Diminished: B2 (string 5), D4 (string 2), F2 (string 6)

The largely consistent fourths intervals also mean that certain fingerings for power chords or diatonic shapes can be transferred relatively easily across most of the strings, though careful attention must be paid to the F2-B2 tritone interval. This tuning encourages exploration of wider, more spacious voicings and can simplify playing complex arpeggios within the C Major framework.

Tuning Notes Overview

The target notes for each string in the "Tone Barre 2" tuning are as follows (from lowest to highest pitch):

• 7th String (Lowest): C2
• 6th String: F2
• 5th String: B2
• 4th String: E3
• 3rd String: A3
• 2nd String: D4
• 1st String (Highest): G4

How to Tune

To achieve the "Tone Barre 2" tuning for a 7-string Guitar, starting from a common B Standard tuning (B1-E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4), follow these precise adjustments for each string. All movements are 'up' (tightening the string).

• 7th String: Tune up 1 semitone. From B1 to C2.
• 6th String: Tune up 1 semitone. From E2 to F2.
• 5th String: Tune up 2 semitones. From A2 to B2.
• 4th String: Tune up 2 semitones. From D3 to E3.
• 3rd String: Tune up 2 semitones. From G3 to A3.
• 2nd String: Tune up 3 semitones. From B3 to D4.
• 1st String: Tune up 3 semitones. From E4 to G4.

All tuning adjustments are within a range that is generally safe for standard gauge guitar strings. For optimal playability and string longevity, always tune carefully and check intonation after adjustments. While these movements are generally safe, always listen to your guitar and proceed with caution when significantly altering string tension.