The "F Maj7 tuning" is an evocative and rich open tuning for the guitar, specifically designed to resonate with the notes of an F Major 7th chord. This innovative tuning immediately presents a full, shimmering sound when played open, offering a unique sonic landscape for exploration.

Verbal Analysis:

At its heart, this tuning creates an Fmaj7(add9) chord in its open state. The low F provides a strong root, while the C and the doubled F on the 4th string reinforce the core of the chord. The G on the 3rd string introduces a natural 9th, adding a sophisticated, slightly jazzy extension to the Fmaj7. The most striking feature might be the unison E4 on the top two strings. This doubling of the major 7th creates a bright, sustained quality, perfect for ringing arpeggios, melodic lines that can harmonise with the open strings, or drone-like textures.

Verbally, this tuning feels expansive and luminous. It's less about traditional chord shapes and more about finding new voicings and melodic possibilities that naturally emerge from the open string relationships. It could be particularly inspiring for fingerstyle players, ambient music, or compositions that lean into open string resonance.

Technical Analysis:

The open string notes are configured as: F2-C3-F3-G3-E4-E4 (from low E to high E string). Breaking this down:

• Root (F): Present on the 6th (F2) and 4th (F3) strings, providing a solid foundation.
• Fifth (C): Found on the 5th string (C3), establishing the perfect fifth.
• Major Seventh (E): Doubled on the 2nd (E4) and 1st (E4) strings, creating a bright, resonant quality.
• Ninth (G): The 3rd string (G3) provides the natural 9th, adding harmonic complexity.

This arrangement directly yields an Fmaj7(add9) chord when strummed open. Due to the inherent intervals, many inversions and extensions of Fmaj7 are readily accessible with minimal finger movement. The unison E's on the high strings open up interesting drone possibilities and ease of playing melodic phrases in harmony with the open 7th.

Chord shapes that are "within reach" include various inversions of Fmaj7, Fadd9, C major (as the fifth of F, it's a strong secondary harmony), and even G-based chords that incorporate the open G string. Simple one-finger barres across certain frets will produce rich, complex chords that would be difficult or impossible in standard tuning.

How to Tune:

To achieve the "F Maj7 tuning" from standard E Standard tuning, you'll need to adjust several strings. Please exercise caution, especially with significant upward tuning, as it increases string tension. Generally, tuning up 3 or 4 semitones requires care. When exceeding positive 4 semitones or negative 4 semitones, a different gauge string is advised.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone from E2 to F2.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 3 semitones from A2 to C3. Tune carefully, as this is a noticeable increase in tension.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 3 semitones from D3 to F3. Similar to the 5th string, proceed with care.
• 3rd String (G): Keep as is; no change to G3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 5 semitones from B3 to E4. Please note: Tuning up 5 semitones is a significant change. It is strongly advised to consider using a lighter gauge string for this particular string to prevent breakage and avoid excessive stress on your guitar neck.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change to E4.

Always tune slowly and check your intonation after significant changes.

Here are the notes for each string in this tuning:

• 6th String (Low E): F2
• 5th String (A): C3
• 4th String (D): F3
• 3rd String (G): G3
• 2nd String (B): E4
• 1st String (High E): E4