"Open Cm(maj7)": "Pull up to the midwest emo show with this tuning and everyone will be shocked you know music theory."

Verbal Analysis:

This intriguing tuning, aptly named Open Cm(maj7), immediately conjures a sophisticated yet melancholic sound when strummed open. It provides the full harmonic richness of a C minor major seventh chord without fretting a single note. This gives it a unique, often dramatic or jazzy feel, distinct from more common open tunings. It's excellent for creating ambient textures, complex arpeggios, and can lend itself well to genres like jazz, neo-soul, or the very "midwest emo" vibe suggested by its description. The ability to instantly access such a complex chord opens up creative possibilities for songwriting and improvisation.

Technical Analysis:

This is a 7-string guitar tuning, with the open strings tuned to G1, C2, D3#, B2, D4#, G3, B3 from lowest (7th) to highest (1st) string. When analyzed, these notes collectively form a C minor major seventh chord (Cm(maj7)).

• The root (C) is present on the 6th string (C2).
• The minor third (D# / Eb) is found on the 5th string (D3#) and 3rd string (D4#).
• The perfect fifth (G) is on the 7th string (G1) and 2nd string (G3).
• The major seventh (B) is on the 4th string (B2) and 1st string (B3).

The chord voicing is spread across the seven strings, providing a rich, full sound with a wide intervallic range. Strumming all open strings yields the full Cm(maj7) chord. Due to the inherent chord, barre chords become very easy to form; simply barring across any fret will produce the corresponding minor major seventh chord (e.g., barring the 1st fret yields C#m(maj7), 3rd fret yields Em(maj7), etc.). This makes transposition straightforward and offers a solid harmonic foundation for lead lines and chord melodies.

Tuning Notes:

• String 7 (Lowest): G1
• String 6: C2
• String 5: D3#
• String 4: B2
• String 3: D4#
• String 2: G3
• String 1 (Highest): B3

How to Tune:

To achieve the Open Cm(maj7) tuning, follow these string adjustments. Please note that significant changes (more than 4 semitones up or down) may require a different string gauge to maintain optimal tension and prevent string breakage or intonation issues.

• String 7: Tune down 4 semitones.
• String 6: Tune down 4 semitones.
• String 5: Tune down 6 semitones. A different gauge string is advised for this significant drop.
• String 4: Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 3: Tune down 4 semitones.
• String 2: Tune down 4 semitones.
• String 1: Tune down 5 semitones. A different gauge string is advised for this significant drop.