Tuning Description: succession skipped wizardsof12

This tuning, named 'succession skipped wizardsof12', is designed for an experimental 7-string guitar setup, specifically one with multiple bridges, including a central one that divides by fifths. As described, it's a highly unconventional and expansive tuning, pushing the boundaries of traditional guitar voicings and playability. The term 'skipped' likely refers to the extreme, non-sequential interval jumps between strings, creating a wide and often dissonant harmonic landscape.

Verbal Analysis

The 'succession skipped wizardsof12' tuning presents a unique and challenging sonic palette. Its design explicitly caters to an experimental instrument, suggesting it's not intended for conventional musical styles. The open strings span an enormous range, from a very low F1 to a very high D5#, interspersed with notes in the mid-range. This creates a highly fractured and non-linear melodic and harmonic experience. The 'skipping' nature means there's no logical progression of pitch across adjacent strings, which would make traditional chord shapes or scales incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to play. Instead, this tuning likely encourages exploration of drones, extreme dissonances, wide arpeggios, and percussive or textural sounds. It could be particularly effective for soundscape creation, avant-garde music, or compositions where a sense of unpredictability and vastness is desired.

Technical Analysis

The tuning is set for a 7-string guitar with the following open notes:

• String 7: F1 (Lowest)
• String 6: G2
• String 5: A2
• String 4: B2
• String 3: C4#
• String 2: D5# (Highest)
• String 1: F4

Analyzing the intervals between adjacent strings:

• String 7 (F1) to String 6 (G2): Up 14 semitones (Octave + Major 2nd). This is a very large jump, creating a significant gap in the lower register.
• String 6 (G2) to String 5 (A2): Up 2 semitones (Major 2nd). A more conventional step.
• String 5 (A2) to String 4 (B2): Up 2 semitones (Major 2nd). Another conventional step.
• String 4 (B2) to String 3 (C4#): Up 14 semitones (Octave + Major 2nd). Another massive jump, effectively skipping an entire octave and more.
• String 3 (C4#) to String 2 (D5#): Up 14 semitones (Octave + Major 2nd). Continues the pattern of large octave-plus-second jumps.
• String 2 (D5#) to String 1 (F4): Down 22 semitones (Octave + Major 6th / Double Octave - Major 2nd). This is an extraordinary drop in pitch for adjacent strings, creating a dramatic and dissonant interval between the highest and second-highest open notes.

The tuning displays a highly irregular and fragmented structure, characterized by multiple octave jumps and a dramatic drop-off at the highest string. The mention of 'dividing by fifths' in the tuning description suggests that while adjacent strings don't form traditional fifths, perhaps specific non-adjacent string combinations or the instrument's unique bridge setup creates these intervals, or it's a design principle not directly reflected in the final open note sequence.

Chords and Playability

Given the extreme and irregular intervals, traditional open chords (major, minor, dominant 7ths) are highly unlikely to form or be easily playable. The tuning's characteristics suggest it's designed for:

• Drones and Textures: The widely spaced F1, G2, A2, B2, C4#, D5#, F4 could be used to create rich, dissonant, or layered drones. The massive range allows for deep, resonant lows combined with piercing highs.
• Atonal or Experimental Harmonies: Chords would likely be formed by carefully selected notes across non-adjacent strings, focusing on clusters, wide voicings, or unique dissonances rather than conventional harmony. For instance, playing String 7 (F1) and String 3 (C4#) gives a very wide F power chord voicing (F1-F4 is three octaves, plus a C#) or a complex Fsus4(#11) depending on what F chord you are trying to make. The F1 and C4# create a very wide interval, not a traditional fifth. Perhaps F1 and the implied F5 (if that's where the description's 'f5' was meant to be, if it exists) or F1 and an F on a higher string.
• Specific Voicings: Some interesting, albeit non-standard, voicings could emerge from pressing down on only certain strings. For example, the G2-A2-B2 on strings 6, 5, and 4 forms a C major triad's 5th, root, and 2nd or a G sus4, creating a small conventional cluster amidst the chaos.
• Melodic Exploration: Single-note lines would involve significant string skipping and position shifting to navigate the vast pitch differences. This encourages abstract or angular melodic phrases.

The tuning is not conducive to casual strumming or typical chord-melody playing. It demands a deliberate and exploratory approach, leveraging the instrument's unique design and the tuning's wide sonic range for highly specific musical expressions.

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the 'succession skipped wizardsof12' tuning, follow these instructions for each string, starting from your standard tuning or a reference point:

• String 7 (F1): Tune down 6 semitones.

  Caution: Tuning down by this significant amount (-6 semitones) will drastically reduce string tension. A much heavier gauge string is strongly advised to maintain proper intonation, prevent excessive floppiness, and ensure playability.

• String 6 (G2): Tune up 3 semitones.

• String 5 (A2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

• String 4 (B2): Tune down 3 semitones.

• String 3 (C4#): Tune down 6 semitones.

  Caution: Tuning down by this significant amount (-6 semitones) will drastically reduce string tension. A much heavier gauge string is strongly advised to maintain proper intonation, prevent excessive floppiness, and ensure playability.

• String 2 (D5#): Tune up 4 semitones.

  Caution: Tuning up by this significant amount (+4 semitones) places considerable extra tension on the string and potentially the instrument's neck. Exercise extreme care to avoid string breakage and possible damage. A lighter gauge string might be necessary to accommodate this increased tension safely.

• String 1 (F4): Tune up 1 semitone.

General Advice: Always tune slowly and check string tension regularly. For optimal performance and safety with such extreme tuning changes, it is highly recommended to consult a professional luthier, especially if your guitar is not designed for such altered tunings. Using string sets specifically designed for very low or very high tunings can also be beneficial.