Verbal Analysis

The "EGC Harmonic Pattern" tuning for a 7-string guitar offers a rich and unique sonic landscape. Deviating from standard tunings, it presents a compelling blend of major, minor, and perfect fourth intervals. This creates an open, resonant quality, perfect for intricate arpeggios, ambient soundscapes, and drone-based music. The repeating E-G-C pattern across the strings encourages new approaches to chord voicings and melodic phrasing, moving away from conventional scale shapes.

Its description as "Similar to Major thirds but with G# dropped" implies a darker, more melancholic, yet still harmonically rich foundation compared to a pure major thirds tuning. This makes it suitable for progressive rock, jazz fusion, and experimental genres where conventional harmony is often subverted. Players will find its open character particularly inspiring for creating expansive sonic textures and exploring unconventional chord voicings.

Technical Analysis

This 7-string tuning is configured with the open strings set to E2-G2-C3-E3-G3-C4-E4. The intervallic structure between consecutive strings is highly distinctive:

• String 7 (E2) to String 6 (G2): minor third (3 semitones)
• String 6 (G2) to String 5 (C3): perfect fourth (5 semitones)
• String 5 (C3) to String 4 (E3): major third (4 semitones)
• String 4 (E3) to String 3 (G3): minor third (3 semitones)
• String 3 (G3) to String 2 (C4): perfect fourth (5 semitones)
• String 2 (C4) to String 1 (E4): major third (4 semitones)

This repeating intervallic sequence (minor third, perfect fourth, major third) forms a unique harmonic foundation. Striking all open strings (E-G-C-E-G-C-E) immediately yields a strong C major triad (C-E-G) with an E in the bass (C/E chord). This also contains an E minor dyad (E-G). The prevalence of C, E, and G across the strings makes these harmonies easily accessible and resonant.

Potential Open Chords:

• A full C Major triad (C-E-G) is readily available by strumming strings 5, 4, 3 (C3-E3-G3), or strings 2, 1 (C4-E4) along with string 6 (G2).
• An E Minor dyad (E-G) is fundamental, present in E2-G2, E3-G3, and the overall open tuning. While a full E minor triad (E-G-B) requires fretting, the strong E and G presence allows for easy construction.
• The repeating E-G-C pattern will allow for interesting bar chord voicings that are essentially inversions or extensions of C major/E minor chords, providing a consistent harmonic texture across the fretboard.

How to Tune

To achieve the EGC Harmonic Pattern tuning, carefully adjust each string as follows:

• String 7 (Low E): Tune up 5 semitones to reach E2. Note: Tuning up 5 semitones is a significant change. If moving from a standard lower tuning (e.g., B1 or A1), a different gauge string is strongly advised to prevent breakage and ensure optimal tone and tension.
• String 6 (G): Tune up 3 semitones to reach G2.
• String 5 (C): Tune up 3 semitones to reach C3.
• String 4 (E): Tune up 2 semitones to reach E3.
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones), remains at G3.
• String 2 (C): Tune up 1 semitone to reach C4.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones), remains at E4.