The 'Drop C 7 M3' Tuning: A Seven-String Harmonically Rich Powerhouse

This tuning for a 7-string guitar, officially named 'Drop C 7 M3', offers a unique and complex sonic landscape. It masterfully blends a heavy, extended-range low end with familiar, melodically rich treble strings, creating a versatile palette for diverse musical expressions.

Verbal Analysis

At its core, the 'Drop C' on the lowest (7th) string provides a formidable foundation, perfect for aggressive riffing, crushing power chords, and deep, resonant drones commonly found in metal, djent, and progressive genres. The overall description of 'G Major Thirds with Drop C and GBE in treble' hints at a sophisticated harmonic approach. While not every adjacent string forms a major third, the presence of these intervals (G2-B2, G3-B3) suggests a tuning designed to facilitate certain open chord voicings and arpeggios that resonate with a major tonality. The 'GBE in treble' refers to the three highest strings (G3, B3, E4), which closely mirror the highest strings of a standard guitar, providing a comfortable and familiar territory for lead playing, melodies, and conventional chord shapes in the upper register. The tuning promises a powerful, full-bodied sound that can swing from brutal lows to soaring, articulate highs.

Technical Analysis

This is a 7-string guitar tuning with the following open string notes:

• String 7 (lowest): C2
• String 6: G2
• String 5: B2
• String 4: D4#
• String 3: G3
• String 2: B3
• String 1 (highest): E4

Let's examine the intervals between adjacent strings:

• C2 (String 7) to G2 (String 6): A Perfect 5th (7 semitones). This wide interval contributes to the deep, resonant low end.
• G2 (String 6) to B2 (String 5): A Major 3rd (4 semitones). This creates a harmonious interval, contributing to the 'G Major Thirds' concept.
• B2 (String 5) to D4# (String 4): A very wide interval of an Augmented 9th / Major 3rd + Octave (16 semitones). This creates a striking, almost harp-like leap in pitch, offering unique harmonic possibilities but making standard chord shapes across these strings unconventional.
• D4# (String 4) to G3 (String 3): A descending interval of an Augmented 4th (or Diminished 5th) (8 semitones down). This is highly unusual and will create interesting dissonances or unexpected melodic turns when strummed openly.
• G3 (String 3) to B3 (String 2): A Major 3rd (4 semitones). Another 'Major Third' interval, providing a familiar and harmonically pleasing step.
• B3 (String 2) to E4 (String 1): A Perfect 4th (5 semitones). This matches the interval found between the B and high E strings in standard tuning, facilitating easy transfer of many treble-string chord shapes and scales.

Open Chords and Harmonic Opportunities:

• The lowest three strings (C2 G2 B2) form a C Major triad in 2nd inversion (G B C) or a Gsus2 with a low C root, providing a rich, open foundation.
• The highest three strings (G3 B3 E4) form an open G Major triad (G-B-E), offering a familiar and bright sound in the upper register.
• The 'Drop C' on the 7th string (C2) allows for easy one-finger power chords (e.g., barring across the 7th and 6th strings for C5 power chord).
• The D4# on String 4 acts as a unique melodic or harmonic pivot, creating unusual voicings and extended chord possibilities, though it breaks traditional shapes due to its extreme jump in pitch and subsequent descent to G3.

How to Tune 'Drop C 7 M3' from Standard 7-String (B1 E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4)

To achieve the 'Drop C 7 M3' tuning, follow these specific string adjustments from a standard 7-string tuning (B1 E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4). Remember that tuning up significantly can increase string tension, so proceed with care.

• String 7 (Low B to C2): From B1, tune up 1 semitone to C2.
• String 6 (Low E to G2): From E2, tune up 3 semitones to G2. (Note: This is a moderate tension increase; consider string gauge if frequently changing.)
• String 5 (A to B2): From A2, tune up 2 semitones to B2.
• String 4 (D to D#3): From D3, tune up 1 semitone to D#3. Important Discrepancy Note: While the instruction specifies tuning up 1 semitone to D#3, the target tuning for String 4 is D4# (an octave higher). Reaching D4# from D3 would require tuning up 13 semitones, which is an extreme tension increase and would necessitate a much lighter gauge string or could damage your instrument. Please be aware that following the 'tune up 1 semitone' instruction will result in D#3, not D4#. For D4#, a specialized string setup is essential.
• String 3 (G to G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2 (B to B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (High E to E4): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

As a general guideline, tuning up more than 4 semitones or down more than 4 semitones often suggests that a different string gauge would be advisable for optimal playability and to prevent string breakage or neck damage.

The open string notes for the 'Drop C 7 M3' tuning are:

• String 7: C2
• String 6: G2
• String 5: B2
• String 4: D4#
• String 3: G3
• String 2: B3
• String 1: E4