DGDGBF Guitar Tuner

DGDGBF Open G Seventh - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Open G Seventh

open g seventh tuning i found online. some nice chords to be found.

Open G Seventh Tuning Analysis

This intriguing tuning, known as 'Open G Seventh,' transforms your standard Guitar into a versatile instrument for blues, rock, and slide playing. As described in its origin, it's a popular choice for finding 'some nice chords,' and its open configuration indeed provides a rich sonic foundation.

Verbal Analysis

The Open G Seventh tuning immediately presents a full G7 chord when strummed open, offering a powerful, resonant sound perfect for driving rhythms or laying down a bluesy foundation. This tuning encourages a more intuitive, less 'chord-shape-dependent' style of playing, allowing for creative exploration and improvisation, especially with slide guitar. The unique feature of the second string (B) being tuned down an entire octave adds a profound depth, giving the G7 a thicker, almost piano-like voicing. This makes it incredibly easy to transpose G7 shapes up and down the neck by simply barring, opening up a world of melodic and harmonic possibilities with minimal effort.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to D2-G2-D3-G3-B2-F4 (low to high). When played open, these notes perfectly form a G7 chord:

Root: G (string 5 and 3)
Major Third: B (string 2)
Perfect Fifth: D (string 6 and 4)
Minor Seventh: F (string 1)

This configuration makes playing a G7 chord effortless, requiring no fretting. Other seventh chords can be easily achieved by barring across all six strings at a higher fret; for example, barring at the 5th fret yields a C7 chord. The consistent intervals between the low D, G, and high D (octaves and fifths) and the two G strings (octaves) create a powerful drone capability.

A critical point in this tuning is the significant alteration of the strings from standard EADGBe tuning:

The low E string (string 6) is lowered by 2 semitones to D2.
The A string (string 5) is lowered by 2 semitones to G2.
The D string (string 4) remains at D3.
The G string (string 3) remains at G3.
The B string (string 2) is lowered a remarkable 12 semitones (a full octave) from a standard B3 to B2. This extreme drop in pitch will drastically reduce string tension. For optimal playability, tone, and to prevent string floppiness, it is highly advisable to use a significantly heavier gauge string for the second string, as standard gauge B strings are unlikely to perform well at this low tension.
The high E string (string 1) is raised by 1 semitone to F4, slightly increasing its tension.

While the majority of string movements are within safe limits, the -12 semitone adjustment on the B string is exceptional and warrants careful attention regarding string choice to maintain good intonation and feel.

How to Tune

To achieve the Open G Seventh tuning, follow these specific adjustments from standard EADGBe tuning:

String 6 (Low E to D2): Tune down 2 semitones.
String 5 (A to G2): Tune down 2 semitones.
String 4 (D to D3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
String 3 (G to G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
String 2 (B to B2): Tune down 12 semitones. (This is an extreme pitch drop; a heavier gauge string is strongly recommended for this string to ensure proper tension and tone.)
String 1 (High E to F4): Tune up 1 semitones. (Proceed with caution when tuning up; ensure your string can handle the increased tension.)

String 6: D2

String 5: G2

String 4: D3

String 3: G3

String 2: B2

String 1: F4