This is an exhilarating Open E Minor tuning specifically designed for an 8-string guitar, offering a deep and resonant soundscape. It's perfectly suited for genres demanding expansive and powerful chords, such as djent, progressive metal, or even ambient sound design where a full, dark foundation is desired.

All open strings collectively form an E minor chord (E-G-B), making it incredibly easy to achieve rich, harmonically complete minor chords with a simple strum. This inherent minor tonality provides a melancholic yet powerful voice to your playing. Barring across any fret will instantly yield another minor chord, simplifying complex chord progressions in minor keys. For instance, barring at the first fret yields an F minor, the third fret a G minor, and so on. The lowest E1 and B1 notes provide an exceptionally deep and authoritative bottom end, while the recurring E-B-E pattern across octaves creates a thick, harmonically dense drone that can underpin heavy riffs or serve as a foundation for intricate melodic lines.

How to Tune

• String 8 (E1): Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 7 (B1): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 6 (E2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 5 (B2): Tune up 2 semitones.
• String 4 (E3): Tune up 2 semitones.
• String 3 (G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2 (B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (E4): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Important Note: This tuning involves relatively minor string movements. No string requires a change of more than 4 semitones up or down, meaning a change of string gauge is not strictly necessary but always consider your guitar's setup and string tension preferences for optimal playability.

Here are the notes for each string, from lowest (String 8) to highest (String 1):

• String 8: E1
• String 7: B1
• String 6: E2
• String 5: B2
• String 4: E3
• String 3: G3
• String 2: B3
• String 1: E4