GBDGBDGD Guitar Tuner

GBDGBDGD Open G Major 8 String - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Open G Major 8 String

Open G major tuning on an eight string guitar.

Tuning Analysis: Grand G Major 8-String

This majestic 8-string tuning, which we've named "Grand G Major 8-String", transforms your instrument into a deeply resonant, expansive soundscape based entirely around the G major chord. It's essentially an Open G tuning extended downwards and upwards, providing a massive tonal range perfect for a variety of musical styles that benefit from a full, harmonically rich open sound.

Verbal Analysis

Imagine a guitar that rings out a complete, powerful G Major chord with a single strum, spanning several octaves from the sub-bass of G1 to the shimmering clarity of D4. This tuning offers an incredibly full and resonant voice, making it ideal for slide guitar, where its inherent major tonality shines. It's also fantastic for drone-based music, ambient soundscapes, or heavy, extended-range riffs where a deep, foundational G major chord is desired. Fingerstyle players will find new voicings and an effortless harmonic base, while those exploring progressive or metal genres can leverage its immense depth for powerful, open chugging and atmospheric textures. The sheer breadth of this tuning encourages exploration of spacious arrangements and rich, sustained chords.

Technical Analysis

The Grand G Major 8-String tuning creates a G major chord (G-B-D) across all eight open strings. From the lowest to the highest string, the notes are: G1, B1, D2, G2, B2, D3, G3, D4. This arrangement provides multiple octaves of the root (G), major third (B), and perfect fifth (D), creating a rich, stacked harmonic structure. The intervallic relationships are as follows:

String 8 (G1): Root
String 7 (B1): Major 3rd
String 6 (D2): Perfect 5th
String 5 (G2): Octave Root
String 4 (B2): Octave Major 3rd
String 3 (D3): Octave Perfect 5th
String 2 (G3): Octave Root
String 1 (D4): Octave Perfect 5th

This consistent G-B-D pattern means that barring across any single fret will produce another major chord. For example, barring at the 1st fret yields a G# Major chord, at the 2nd fret an A Major, and so on. This simplifies chord changes for many major and minor voicings, often requiring just a single finger or a bar. The wide interval between G1 and D4 (a perfect 11th) offers an enormous harmonic palette and allows for incredibly deep bass lines combined with bright, articulate melodies.

Chords and Voicings

Beyond the open G Major, this tuning makes several chords easily accessible:

Major Chords: All major chords are readily available by simply barring across the fretboard. For instance, a C Major chord is achieved by barring the 5th fret.
Minor Chords: Minor chords can be formed by altering the major third. For a G minor, you would need to fret a Bb on string 7 (1st fret) and string 4 (1st fret), while keeping the other G and D notes open or barred. This often means simple two-finger shapes or partial barring combined with open strings.
Power Chords: Power chords are extremely easy to form. Simply fret any two adjacent strings (especially 8th & 7th, 7th & 6th, etc.) at the same fret, or bar across the lower strings for a massive low-end power chord.
Open String Drones: The consistent G major chord provides an excellent basis for using open strings as drones while fretting melodic or harmonic ideas on other strings, particularly effective for blues, folk, or world music influences.

How to Tune

Carefully adjust each string as follows to reach the Grand G Major 8-String tuning. Pay close attention to the number of semitones and the direction of tuning. For significant changes, consider a different string gauge to maintain optimal tension and prevent string breakage.

String 8 (Low G): Tune up 1 semitone to G1.
String 7 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B1.
String 6 (D): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
String 5 (G): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
String 4 (B): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
String 3 (D): Tune down 5 semitones to D3. Caution: This is a significant change, tuning down 5 semitones (a perfect fourth). A lighter gauge string may be advisable for optimal tension and intonation.
String 2 (G): Tune down 4 semitones to G3. Caution: This is a significant change, tuning down 4 semitones (a major third). A lighter gauge string may be advisable for optimal tension and intonation.
String 1 (High D): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.