Tuning Overview: Open D Major 7th Suspended 2nd

This is an 8-string open tuning, specifically named "Open D Major 7th Suspended 2nd". It offers a wonderfully rich and complex sonic landscape, moving beyond conventional open tunings to provide a unique palette for creative expression.

Verbal Analysis

Imagine a deep, resonant D chord, but with an added shimmer and a touch of melancholy or intrigue. This tuning achieves just that. The 'suspended 2nd' means the usual third of a D chord (F#) is replaced or augmented by an E note, giving it a floating, open quality. The 'Major 7th' (C#) adds a sophisticated, almost jazz-like harmonic color, making the overall sound both lush and slightly ethereal. With eight strings, this tuning provides immense depth and sustain, allowing for sweeping arpeggios and full, expansive voicings.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are configured as follows: D1 - A1 - D2 - A2 - E3 - A3 - C5# - E4 (from lowest to highest string). Let's break down the harmonic structure relative to the D root:

• D (Root): Provided by String 8 (D1) and String 6 (D2).
• A (Perfect 5th): Strongly present across String 7 (A1), String 5 (A2), and String 3 (A3), reinforcing the D harmony.
• E (Major 2nd / Suspended 2nd): Found on String 4 (E3) and String 1 (E4), creating the 'suspended 2nd' quality.
• C# (Major 7th): Located on String 2 (C5#), giving the tuning its distinctive 'Major 7th' character.

When strummed open, all eight strings combine to form a rich and complex Dsus2(maj7) chord (D - E - A - C#). This makes it incredibly easy to achieve a full, resonant chord with minimal effort. The tuning features a wide range, from the very low D1 to the bright E4, offering a broad sonic canvas.

Chordal Opportunities and Playability

• Open Chord: The most obvious is the magnificent Dsus2(maj7) simply by strumming all open strings.
• Barre Chords: By barring across any fret, you can effortlessly transpose this Dsus2(maj7) shape up or down the neck, giving you a movable Dsus2(maj7) shape (e.g., barring at the 2nd fret yields an Esus2(maj7)).
• Power Chords: The abundance of D and A notes makes it very easy to form powerful D5 (D-A) and A5 (A-E) power chords across various string sets with just one or two fingers.
• Melodic Potential: The closely spaced higher strings (E3, A3, C5#, E4) lend themselves well to melodic playing, arpeggios, and creating shimmering textures.
• Harmonic Exploration: The E and C# notes open doors for exploring voicings related to E minor, A7, or even C# diminished chords by selectively muting and adding fingers.

This tuning is ideal for ambient music, fingerstyle, and genres that benefit from rich, sustained chords and a broad harmonic palette. It encourages exploration beyond standard major/minor frameworks.

Tuning Notes & How to Tune

Open String Notes

• String 8: D1 (Lowest string)
• String 7: A1
• String 6: D2
• String 5: A2
• String 4: E3
• String 3: A3
• String 2: C5#
• String 1: E4 (Highest string)

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the "Open D Major 7th Suspended 2nd" tuning, please adjust each string as follows:

• String 8 (D1): Tune down 4 semitones. This is a significant drop, so proceed with care.
• String 7 (A1): Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 6 (D2): Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 5 (A2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 4 (E3): Tune up 2 semitones.
• String 3 (A3): Tune up 2 semitones.
• String 2 (C5#): Tune up 2 semitones.
• String 1 (E4): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Important Tuning Advice:

• When tuning strings up or down by 3 or 4 semitones, always exercise caution to avoid undue stress on the string or instrument.
• For tuning changes that exceed 4 semitones (i.e., tuning down 5 or more semitones, or tuning up 5 or more semitones), it is strongly advised to consider using a different gauge string more suited to the altered tension. This helps maintain string integrity and optimal playability.