Tuning Name: Stellar

Overall Feel: The tuning is described as "really wispy," suggesting an ethereal, light, and airy quality. This open tuning creates a rich, resonant sound that is well-suited for ambient soundscapes, jazz voicings, or contemporary music where complex harmonic textures are desired.

Technical Analysis

This is an open E Major 7th (Emaj7) tuning. The open strings collectively form an Emaj7 chord, with the notes E, G#, B, and D# distributed across the guitar neck. The specific voicing is E2-G3#-B2-G4#-B3-D5#. This arrangement provides a full, harmonically complete major seventh chord with a wide range, spanning from a low E to a high D#.

Chordal Implications

• Open Chords: The most immediate benefit is the ability to play a full Emaj7 chord by simply strumming all open strings. This creates a lush, sophisticated sound without any fretting.
• Barre Chords: By barring all strings at any fret, you can easily produce other major 7th chords. For example, barring at the 1st fret yields an Fmaj7, at the 2nd fret an F#maj7, and so on. This makes navigating major seventh chord progressions exceptionally fluid.
• Harmonic Reach: The inherent Major 7th quality makes it easy to explore related chords. Slight modifications can lead to Emaj9, Emaj#11, or even some dominant 7th shapes with a little adjustment. The repetition of G# and B notes across different octaves (G3#, G4# and B2, B3) contributes to a dense, shimmering resonance, making arpeggios and fingerstyle playing particularly rewarding.
• Melodic Opportunities: The distinct intervals between strings (e.g., the major third between the 6th and 5th strings, and the 7th between the 2nd and 1st strings) offer unique melodic pathways and drone possibilities that are not present in standard tuning.

How to Tune

To achieve the Stellar tuning, start from standard EADGBe tuning and adjust each string as follows:

• 6th String (Low E to E2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 5th String (A to G3#): Tune down 1 semitones.
• 4th String (D to B2): Tune down 3 semitones.
• 3rd String (G to G4#): Tune up 1 semitones.
• 2nd String (B to B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 1st String (High E to D5#): Tune down 1 semitones.

Note on String Tension: Most string adjustments are minor. The 4th string (D) requires tuning down 3 semitones to B, which is within a safe range for standard string gauges. Always exercise caution when tuning, especially when making significant tension changes. Tuning up or down more than 4 semitones from standard often requires a different string gauge to maintain optimal playability and string integrity.

The open strings for the Stellar tuning are:

• 6th String (Low E): E2
• 5th String: G3#
• 4th String: B2
• 3rd String: G4#
• 2nd String: B3
• 1st String (High E): D5#