This unique tuning, aptly named the C Minor-Major 7 Tuning, creates a rich and sophisticated harmonic landscape on your guitar. Originating as a custom creation, it offers a distinct tonal palette, perfect for genres requiring a touch of jazz, film scoring, or progressive sounds. As described in its conception, it follows a similar pattern to an F minor major 7 tuning, transposed to the key of C.

Verbal Analysis

Plunging your guitar into this C minor-major 7 tuning immediately evokes a sense of introspection and mystery. The open strings resonate with a dark yet elegant character, thanks to the combination of a minor third and a major seventh. It's a tuning that begs for exploration beyond conventional chord shapes, inviting you to discover new voicings and melodic possibilities. The repeated G and C notes across different octaves provide a strong harmonic anchor and create a lush, ringing quality when strummed open. This tuning is particularly well-suited for fingerstyle playing, arpeggios, and atmospheric textures where individual note clarity and sustained harmonies are desired.

Technical Analysis

The open notes of this tuning are meticulously arranged to spell out a C minor-major 7 chord: C2 - G2 - B2 - G3 - C4 - D#5 (Low to High).

• C (Root) on the 6th string
• G (Perfect 5th) on the 5th string
• B (Major 7th) on the 4th string
• G (Perfect 5th) on the 3rd string
• C (Root) on the 2nd string
• D# (Minor 3rd, enharmonically Eb) on the 1st string

This arrangement provides an immediate, full C minor-major 7 chord when strummed open, making it an excellent base for composing within that harmonic framework. The repetition of the root (C) and the fifth (G) across octaves offers a powerful drone effect and harmonic stability. The close proximity of the M7 (B) and the root (C) on adjacent strings (4th and 2nd) allows for interesting melodic interplay and two-note voicings. While the open tuning directly forms a C minor-major 7, many other chords become readily accessible due to the intervallic relationships. For instance, by fretting around the open C and G notes, you can easily find various voicings of C minor, G major, or G minor. The tuning's unique structure encourages exploring shapes that deviate from standard tuning, potentially unlocking new sonic pathways and challenging conventional fingerings.

To achieve the C Minor-Major 7 Tuning, you will adjust your strings from standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning as follows. Please take care, especially with significant tuning changes, and ensure your guitar is properly intonated afterwards.

How to Tune

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2. This is a significant drop; for optimal performance and string tension, especially if you plan to use this tuning frequently, considering a heavier gauge string for your low E might be beneficial.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• 3rd String (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to G3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 1 semitones to C4.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 1 semitones to D#5.

Always tune carefully and stretch your strings after making significant adjustments to help them settle into the new tension.