The tuning provided, originally named "d7sus2 lap steel", is a highly versatile and musically rich tuning designed primarily for the guitar, particularly suited for lap steel applications. It transforms the standard guitar into a powerful blues and chordal instrument, offering a wide array of harmonic possibilities.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning is a fantastic choice for blues and expressive slide playing, especially on a lap steel. The open strings resonate with a strong D-centric sound, immediately suggesting a soulful, resonant quality. What's particularly clever about this setup, as noted in its description, is how a straight bar can unlock numerous chord voicings. With a single bar across the frets, you can evoke D Major, D Minor, D7, Dm7, D9, and Dm9 chords up and down the neck, making it incredibly adaptable for various musical contexts without complex fingering.

A significant feature is the presence of an A minor triad (A3-C4-E4) on the three highest-pitched strings. This provides a beautiful, contrasting minor tonality that can be easily accessed for melodic lines or specific chordal flourishes, allowing for quick shifts in mood. Furthermore, the lower four strings (D2-A2-D3-A3) form a powerful D5 (root and fifth) power chord structure, making it perfect for driving rhythmic parts or robust power chords when played open or barred. This layered harmonic structure makes it both intuitive for open string resonance and highly functional for melodic and harmonic exploration.

Technical Analysis

This tuning sets the guitar's strings to the following notes from lowest to highest: D2 A2 D3 A3 C4 E4.

Analyzing the intervals from the lowest D string (D2):

• D2 (Root)
• A2 (Perfect 5th above D2)
• D3 (Octave above D2, or Perfect 4th above A2)
• A3 (Octave above A2, or Perfect 5th above D3)
• C4 (Minor 7th above D3, or Minor 3rd above A3)
• E4 (Major 9th above D2, or Major 3rd above C4)

The open tuning of D A D A C E forms a Dsus2(add b7, 9) chord. This is derived from the root (D), perfect fifth (A), minor seventh (C), and major ninth (E, which also functions as a suspended second). The duplication of D and A notes across octaves provides a robust and full-bodied foundation. The core structure is rooted in a D9 tuning (D A D F# A C E), from which this 6-string variant is derived, focusing on the sus2 and 9th qualities by replacing the F# with an E.

Beyond the open chord, the architecture of this tuning facilitates:

• Open Chords: The D A D A C E configuration itself is a Dsus2(b7,9) chord, offering a rich, open sound.
• Power Chords: The lowest four strings (D2 A2 D3 A3) are perfectly aligned to form a D5 power chord. This structure is ideal for aggressive rhythm playing and allows for easy transposition of power chords up the neck with a bar.
• Triads: The highest three strings (A3 C4 E4) form an A minor triad. This offers a contrasting minor harmony that can be effortlessly integrated into melodies or used for specific chord voicings, especially higher up the neck.
• Bar Chords Versatility: As stated, using a straight bar across any fret will yield a chord based on that root, maintaining the internal intervals of the open tuning. This makes it incredibly easy to transpose complex voicings, such as D Major, D Minor, D7, Dm7, D9, and Dm9, up the fretboard simply by moving the bar to the desired root.

Tuning Notes (from Low E to High E)

• String 6 (Lowest Pitch): D2
• String 5: A2
• String 4: D3
• String 3: A3
• String 2: C4
• String 1 (Highest Pitch): E4

How to Tune from Standard EADGBe

Follow these steps to adjust your guitar from standard EADGBe tuning to the d7sus2 Lap Steel tuning. Remember to tune carefully and check your pitch with a reliable tuner.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones from E2 to D2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Remains A2.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Remains D3.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 2 semitones from G3 to A3.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 1 semitone from B3 to C4.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Remains E4.

Note on String Gauges: All string movements in this tuning (ranging from -2 to +2 semitones) are within a generally safe range for standard guitar string gauges. Larger adjustments (more than 4 semitones up or down) typically recommend a change in string gauge to maintain optimal tension and prevent string breakage or intonation issues, but this is not necessary for this particular tuning.