Overview: Open E Major 7th Tuning

This unique guitar tuning, creatively dubbed 'Twinkle Daddy 2.0' in its original description, presents a resonant Open E Major 7th chord structure across the strings. It offers a bright, full, and expansive sound, making it particularly well-suited for slide guitar, ambient soundscapes, and powerful open chord strumming. The tuning's characteristic open Major 7th interval provides a rich harmonic foundation, offering versatility for various genres, from blues and rock to more experimental or jazz-influenced styles.

Technical Analysis

The tuning E-B-D#-E-B-E arranges the strings as follows (from low E to high E):

• E (Root): The lowest string anchors the tuning in E, providing a deep, fundamental tone.
• B (Perfect 5th): A perfect fifth above the root, adding harmonic stability and richness.
• D# (Major 7th): This note provides the distinctive Major 7th character to the tuning, creating a bright and sometimes ethereal quality.
• E (Octave Root): An octave higher than the low E, reinforcing the root and adding clarity to the chord.
• B (Octave Perfect 5th): An octave higher than the B on the 5th string, further enhancing the open fifth harmony and adding sparkle.
• E (Double Octave Root): The highest string provides another octave of the root, completing a full and shimmering sound.

The open strings collectively form an E Major 7th chord (E, B, D#, E, B, E). While a complete Emaj7 chord typically includes a G# (major third), this tuning presents an implied Emaj7, where the strong root-fifth relationship and the prominent D# effectively define its character. This specific voicing, without the G#, can lend an even more open or slightly suspended quality to the chord. A significant advantage of this tuning is the ease with which full Major 7th chords can be played by simply barring across any fret (e.g., barring at the 1st fret yields Fmaj7, at the 2nd fret F#maj7, and so on), making it very intuitive for both melodic and chordal exploration across the fretboard.

How to Tune

To achieve the Open E Major 7th tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these specific string adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The note remains E2.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 2 semitones. Raise the A2 string to B2.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 1 semitone. Raise the D3 string to D#3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones. Lower the G3 string to E3.
• 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.

All specified string movements are within a safe range for standard gauge guitar strings. Always tune carefully and check pitch frequently to ensure optimal string health and sound.