The "7 String G6/Em7" tuning, credited to Papa Dafoe, provides a rich and expressive tonal foundation, ideally suited for 7-string lap steel or Dobro instruments. This setup elegantly builds upon a standard 6-string Dobro tuning, crucially incorporating an E2 on the lowest string (string 7) to unlock a broad spectrum of minor chords and minor seventh voicings. The result is a wonderfully full and resonant sound, perfect for genres like blues, country, Hawaiian, and various roots music styles where rich harmonic textures and melodic versatility are paramount.

Technical Analysis

This tuning inherently creates an open Em7 chord (E-G-B-D) when all strings are strummed without fretting, clearly evident from the notes E2-G2-B2-D3-G3-B3-D4 from lowest to highest. Concurrently, the arrangement also presents a G6 chord (G-B-D-E), as reflected in its name. The G major triad (G-B-D) is readily available on strings 6, 5, and 4, with the E on string 7 providing the sixth interval for a G6, or serving as the root for Em7. This structure makes it exceptionally convenient to transition into compelling minor and dominant seventh harmonies. The open strings offer a vibrant canvas, simplifying the exploration of various chord inversions and melodic phrases with minimal effort. Chords such as Cmaj7 (C-E-G-B) or Am7 (A-C-E-G) become highly accessible, directly leveraging the resonant qualities of the open Em7 structure.

How to Tune: Adjusting from a Standard 7-String (B-E-A-D-G-B-E)

To achieve the "7 String G6/Em7" tuning, you will adjust your strings as follows, assuming a standard 7-string guitar tuning of B-E-A-D-G-B-E (from lowest to highest string):

• String 7 (B1): Tune up 5 semitones to E2. Caution: This is a significant increase in string tension (+5 semitones). It is highly recommended to use a lighter gauge string for this position to avoid breakage and ensure optimal playability.
• String 6 (E2): Tune up 3 semitones to G2.
• String 5 (A2): Tune up 2 semitones to B2.
• String 4 (D3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) remaining at D3.
• String 3 (G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) remaining at G3.
• String 2 (B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) remaining at B3.
• String 1 (E4): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.

String 7: E2
String 6: G2
String 5: B2
String 4: D3
String 3: G3
String 2: B3
String 1: D4