Amaj7 Guitar Tuning Analysis

This unique guitar tuning, labeled as "Amaj7" by its creator, offers a rich harmonic landscape, particularly suited for genres described as "hopeless" or "melancholic emo." It is an open chord tuning, meaning when all strings are strummed open, they produce a full chord. The creator notes it as a "DAEAC#E variation," though the resultant open string notes are C# A E G# C# E.

Technical Analysis

The tuning's open strings are set to C#₃ A₂ E₃ G#₄ C#₅ E₄ (low to high). These notes collectively form an A Major 7th chord (A - C# - E - G#), specifically voiced with the Major 3rd (C#) as the lowest note. This makes it an A Major 7th chord in 1st inversion (C#/Amaj7).

• String 6 (Low E to C#): Tuned down a Major 3rd (3 semitones).
• String 5 (A to A): Remains at its standard pitch.
• String 4 (D to E): Tuned up a Major 2nd (2 semitones).
• String 3 (G to G#): Tuned up a minor 2nd (1 semitone).
• String 2 (B to C#): Tuned up a Major 2nd (2 semitones).
• String 1 (High E to E): Remains at its standard pitch.

The open tuning provides a rich, resonant chord, allowing for easy exploration of harmonic ideas within the A Major 7th framework. The low C# offers a strong, foundational bass note, while the high E string maintains a familiar reference point.

Verbal & Musical Observations

The "Amaj7" tuning immediately presents a sophisticated and slightly melancholic character when strummed open, living up to its description. The inherent Major 7th quality adds a jazz-like complexity, which can be harnessed for emotive, atmospheric soundscapes. The arrangement of notes, particularly the C# in the bass, provides a strong sense of grounding while simultaneously creating tension with the higher G# and E notes.

Because this is an open tuning, a simple barre across any fret will instantly yield a Major 7th chord. For example, barring all strings at the 2nd fret will produce a B Major 7th chord, while barring at the 5th fret will give a D Major 7th. This makes transposing chord progressions incredibly intuitive.

Beyond full barres, the tuning lends itself well to fingerstyle playing, allowing individual notes of the A Major 7th chord to ring out or create arpeggiated patterns. The repeated C# and E notes across octaves provide strong anchors, while the G# offers a bright, leading tone. Experimenting with partial chords by fretting only a few strings can lead to interesting voicings, such as an E Major triad on the top three strings (G# C# E at frets 0, 0, 0 on strings 3, 2, 1 respectively, which forms E/G#). The lower strings (C# A E) also form an A major triad (in 1st inversion).

This tuning could be particularly effective for creating introspective melodies or for use in slow, emotionally charged pieces where the resonance and harmonic depth of the open strings can truly shine.

How to Tune

To achieve the Amaj7 tuning from standard E Standard tuning, follow these adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#₃.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to A₂.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 2 semitones to E₃.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 1 semitone to G#₄.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 2 semitones to C#₅.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E₄.

Please note: All string movements are within a safe range (< 4 semitones up or down). However, always tune carefully and monitor string tension.

String 6: C#₃
String 5: A₂
String 4: E₃
String 3: G#₄
String 2: C#₅
String 1: E₄