Tuning Analysis: E7sus4

This intriguing Guitar tuning, aptly named E7sus4, is recognized as one of the tunings employed by Brendan Webb from the band Sandpit. It offers a unique sonic landscape, diverging significantly from standard EADGBe tuning.

Verbal Analysis

The most striking feature of this tuning is its open chord sound. The open strings immediately form an E7sus4 chord (E, A, B, D), providing a rich, resonant foundation that's instantly playable. This means you can strum all open strings and achieve a full, complex chord, perfect for drone-based music, atmospheric soundscapes, or simply as a powerful starting point for songwriting. The triple A notes (A2, A2, A3) create a strong, almost pedal-like sustain, while the lowest D string adds a deep, brooding bass. This combination results in a weighty, expansive sound that feels both grounded and ethereal.

The parallel A notes on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th strings make it very accessible to create full voicings with minimal effort, often with just a single finger barring across multiple strings. This tuning is ideal for players looking to explore unique harmonic textures, slide guitar, or those who appreciate the immediacy of open chord tunings. It encourages experimentation with arpeggios that highlight the sus4 and minor 7th intervals, giving a distinct modern or alternative rock feel, fitting with its origin in Sandpit.

Technical Analysis

The open string configuration is D2-A2-A2-A3-B3-E4 (low to high).

• String 6 (Low E): Tuned down a whole step to D2.
• String 5 (A): Remains A2.
• String 4 (D): Tuned down a perfect fourth to A2.
• String 3 (G): Tuned up a whole step to A3.
• String 2 (B): Remains B3.
• String 1 (High E): Remains E4.

The resultant open string notes of D-A-A-A-B-E, when re-ordered and analyzed from an E root, clearly spell out E (string 1), B (string 2), A (string 3), A (string 4), A (string 5), and D (string 6). This gives us E (root), A (perfect 4th), B (perfect 5th), D (minor 7th) – precisely the notes of an E7sus4 chord.

The presence of three A notes across the middle strings provides a massive, resonant unison/octave sound for the 4th of the E7sus4. This not only adds to the chord's richness but also offers excellent opportunities for creating powerful drone effects. Moving beyond the open chord, barres across any fret will naturally produce various inversions or voicings of suspended chords or 7sus4 chords, making it easy to create complex harmonies with simple fingerings. The wide interval between the low D and the open A strings (a perfect 5th) also lends itself well to heavy, driving riffs.

How to Tune to E7sus4

To achieve the E7sus4 tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these precise adjustments for each string:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The note remains A2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 5 semitones to A2. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change. For optimal playability and string tension, using a heavier gauge string for this particular string is advised.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 2 semitones to A3.
• String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The note remains B3.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The note remains E4.

Always tune carefully and ensure your guitar's neck relief is properly adjusted after significant tuning changes.

Open String Notes

• String 6 (lowest): D2
• String 5: A2
• String 4: A2
• String 3: A3
• String 2: B3
• String 1 (highest): E4