Verbal Description

This unique tuning, originally described as sounding "very good" and "ideal for tapping," creates a rich and resonant open Dsus4 chord with an added minor seventh. The lowered tension across most strings makes it feel quite slinky and responsive, lending itself beautifully to percussive techniques like tapping and fingerstyle playing. Its deep, full sound provides an excellent foundation for atmospheric pieces, drones, or exploring new melodic patterns that deviate from standard tuning habits.

Technical Analysis

The Open Dsus4 Minor 7th tuning sets the strings to the notes D2-G2-D3-G3-A3-C4. This arrangement forms a Dsus4 chord (D-G-A) with a prominent minor seventh (C). The intervallic structure from low to high is Root (D), Perfect 4th (G), Octave (D), Octave (G), Perfect 5th (A), and Minor 7th (C) relative to the lowest D. The presence of two D-G perfect fourths (strings 6-5 and 4-3) creates a harmonically strong foundation and offers interesting opportunities for symmetrical voicings across the neck.

Chordal Opportunities

• Open Strings: Strumming all open strings yields a powerful Dsus4(add b7) chord, which has a naturally suspended, yet bluesy or jazzy character due to the minor seventh.
• Barre Chords: Barring all strings at any fret will easily produce different suspended 7th chords. For instance, a barre at the 2nd fret will give you an Esus4(add b7) chord, maintaining the same intervallic structure. This makes transposing ideas straightforward.
• Two-String Voicings: The repeated D-G intervals on the lower strings (6-5 and 4-3) allow for easy access to perfect fourths, which are excellent for creating droning effects or power-chord-like sounds with a more open voicing.
• Upper String Melodies: The G-A-C notes on strings 3-2-1 provide a natural minor third between A and C, opening up possibilities for melodic lines and chord fragments within the D minor key, or even hinting at G major. The proximity of A and C also allows for easy access to partial Am, C, or Gsus2 shapes by adding just one or two more fretted notes.

Current Tuning Notes (Low to High)

String 6 (Low E): D2
String 5 (A): G2
String 4 (D): D3
String 3 (G): G3
String 2 (B): A3
String 1 (High E): C4

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

• String 6 (Low E to D2): Tune down 2 semitones. This brings your Low E string down to D2.
• String 5 (A to G2): Tune down 2 semitones. This brings your A string down to G2.
• String 4 (D to D3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Your D string remains D3.
• String 3 (G to G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Your G string remains G3.
• String 2 (B to A3): Tune down 2 semitones. This brings your B string down to A3.
• String 1 (High E to C4): Tune down 4 semitones. This brings your High E string down to C4. Tuning a string down by 4 semitones involves a significant tension change, and while generally manageable, it's wise to be mindful of your guitar's neck relief. If you plan to use this tuning frequently, or if your instrument shows signs of strain, considering a slightly heavier gauge string for the first string might be beneficial.