Tuning Analysis: Double Drop F# (Stacked) 7-string

This is an exceptionally low and heavy tuning designed for a 7-string guitar, primarily geared towards modern metal genres that demand a profound, resonant bottom end. As its name suggests, "Double Drop F# (Stacked)" implies a significant downward shift and a repeating intervallic structure across the lower strings.

Verbal Description

Imagine a wall of sound: deep, sludgy, and immensely powerful. This tuning delivers a crushing low end, perfect for generating thick, drone-like riffs and chugging rhythms. It's built for music where extreme low frequencies are paramount, providing a foundational rumble that can shake the room. The "stacked" nature of the tuning means that despite its depth, there's a certain clarity and harmonic richness, allowing for intricate low-register voicings alongside sheer brute force. The higher strings, as described in the original tuning's design, maintain a familiar relationship, offering a natural feel for leads and melodic work above the abyss of the bass strings.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this 7-string tuning, from the lowest (7th) to highest (1st) string, are: F#2 C#3 F#3 C#4 F#4 B3 E4.

• The most striking feature is the pattern on the lowest five strings: F#2, C#3, F#3, C#4, F#4. This arrangement creates an open F#5 power chord (F# and C# repeating across octaves). This allows for instant, multi-octave power chords with a single finger barre across these strings, making rhythm playing incredibly efficient and impactful.
• The 7th string, tuned to F#2, sits an astonishing 5 semitones below the traditional 7-string low B, making it one of the lowest commercially viable tunings without extreme string gauge modifications.
• The relationship between the 6th string (C#3) and 7th string (F#2) is a perfect 5th, further reinforcing the F# tonality.
• The 1st and 2nd strings are tuned to E4 and B3 respectively. The interval between them is a perfect 4th, which mirrors the highest strings of a standard 6-string guitar (e.g., G-B-E, where B-E is a perfect 4th). This allows for familiar melodic phrasing and chord shapes in the upper register, providing a strong contrast to the profoundly low base.
• The overall structure suggests a dominant F# root, making it highly effective for compositions centered around F# minor or F# major tonalities, or simply as a powerful drone.

Open Chords and Reachable Shapes

• Open F# Power Chord: By simply strumming the bottom five strings (F#2 C#3 F#3 C#4 F#4), you get a colossal F#5 power chord. This is the core of the "stacked" nature and provides an immediate, heavy foundation.
• Single-Finger Power Chords: Moving this F#5 shape up the fretboard with a single-finger barre is effortless, yielding powerful G5, G#5, A5, etc., chords across the lowest five strings.
• Familiar High-Register Voicings: The B3 and E4 on the 2nd and 1st strings mean that many common chord shapes and scales from standard tuning (particularly those involving the highest strings) remain accessible and sound as expected.
• Drop Voicings: The drops on the lower strings make for easy single-finger power chords and extended voicings across the lower register, ideal for heavy riffing.

How to Tune: Double Drop F# (Stacked) 7-string

To achieve the "Double Drop F# (Stacked) 7-string" tuning, adjust each string from its current state according to the specific semitone movements detailed below. The movements are designed to bring each string to its final target note. Please pay close attention to the significant downward tunings, as these may necessitate a change in string gauge for optimal playability and intonation.

• 7th String (Lowest): Tune down 5 semitones to F#2.
  Important: Tuning down by 5 semitones is a significant drop. We highly recommend using a heavier gauge string for the 7th string to maintain proper tension and intonation.
• 6th String: Tune down 3 semitones to C#3.
• 5th String: Tune down 3 semitones to F#3.
• 4th String: Tune down 1 semitone to C#4.
• 3rd String: Tune down 1 semitone to F#4.
• 2nd String: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
• 1st String (Highest): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E4.

For any tuning adjustments exceeding 4 semitones up or down, it is generally advisable to consider a different string gauge to ensure optimal playability and prevent potential damage to the instrument or strings. The significant drop on the 7th string falls into this category.