Tuning Analysis: Open Emaj7 Resonance

This unique guitar tuning, which we've named Open Emaj7 Resonance, transforms your standard six-string guitar into a harmonic landscape rich with a bright and sophisticated E Major 7 chord. It's an excellent choice for players looking to explore ambient textures, jazz voicings, or create a lush sonic foundation for songwriting across various genres.

Verbal Analysis

The Open Emaj7 Resonance tuning immediately conjures a sense of open space and harmonic richness. The prominent Major 7th (D#) and the doubled Major 3rd (G#) throughout the tuning create a bright, shimmering, and somewhat ethereal quality. When strummed open, the full E Major 7 chord rings out with impressive sustain and clarity, making it a natural drone or a perfect starting point for melodic exploration. The interesting voicing, where the B string (Perfect 5th) is tuned lower in pitch than the D# (Major 7th) and G# (Major 3rd) on the adjacent strings, offers unconventional chord shapes and arpeggio patterns that break away from standard tuning.

This tuning can inspire a variety of musical ideas, from serene, contemplative pieces to more complex, modern jazz compositions. Its inherent consonant nature, while still having the tension of a major 7th, allows for both simple and intricate musical expressions.

Technical Analysis

The open tuning itself spells out an E Major 7 chord: E2 G3# D4# G4# B3 D5#. Let's break down the intervals relative to the low E (E2):

• String 6 (E2): Root
• String 5 (G3#): Major 3rd
• String 4 (D4#): Major 7th
• String 3 (G4#): Major 3rd (an octave higher than String 5)
• String 2 (B3): Perfect 5th
• String 1 (D5#): Major 7th (an octave higher than String 4)

The generous use of the Major 3rd and Major 7th intervals across multiple octaves creates a full, vibrant harmonic texture. The open strings form a complete Emaj7 chord, meaning that simply barring across any fret will yield another Major 7th chord. For instance, barring at the 1st fret produces an Fmaj7, the 2nd fret an F#maj7, and so on.

Beyond simple barring, the unique arrangement of notes encourages exploration of new chord voicings. The proximity of the B3 to the higher G#4 and D#4 allows for interesting dissonances and re-voicings by simply shifting a single finger. Arpeggios across these strings will reveal fresh melodic pathways not typically found in standard tuning.

How to Tune

To achieve the Open Emaj7 Resonance tuning, follow these precise adjustments from standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning. All string movements are minor, so your current string gauge should be perfectly suitable.

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The note remains E2.
• String 5 (A string): Tune down 1 semitone from A to G3#.
• String 4 (D string): Tune up 1 semitone from D to D4#.
• String 3 (G string): Tune up 1 semitone from G to G4#.
• String 2 (B string): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The note remains B3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 1 semitone from E to D5#.

Note on string gauge: Since all string movements are within 1 semitone up or down, your current guitar strings should handle this tuning comfortably without any issues. No special string gauges are advised, as movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down (e.g., -12, 12) would typically warrant such a consideration.

Here is a detailed breakdown of each string's tuning:

• String 6: Tuned to E2. This is your foundational bass note, providing the root of the E Major 7 chord.
• String 5: Tuned to G3#. This note provides the major third of the E Major 7 chord, adding brightness to the lower register.
• String 4: Tuned to D4#. This is the major seventh of the E Major 7 chord, crucial for its sophisticated harmonic character.
• String 3: Tuned to G4#. An octave higher than String 5, this reinforces the major third, adding richness and depth to the chord.
• String 2: Tuned to B3. This provides the perfect fifth of the E Major 7 chord, offering stability and a full sound.
• String 1: Tuned to D5#. An octave higher than String 4, this high major seventh adds a shimmering top end to the overall chord voicing.