The "Experimental Drop G" tuning transforms your guitar into a powerful sonic tool, primarily geared towards modern heavy genres and experimental soundscapes.

Verbal Analysis

As the name suggests, this is a deep "Drop G" tuning, pushing the lowest string far below standard pitch to a thunderous G1. This provides an incredibly deep, resonant foundation, perfect for earth-shaking riffs and chugging rhythms common in metal, djent, and progressive rock. The low tuning inherently creates a sludgier, more massive tone.

The most intriguing aspect, as highlighted in the tuning's description, is the inclusion of an A4# (A sharp/B flat) on the highest string, sitting directly next to an A3 (A natural) on the second highest string. This specific choice unlocks immediate access to minor second intervals, creating stark, dissonant harmonies, perfect for adding tension, industrial textures, or unique melodic voicings often found in experimental or avant-garde compositions. It encourages players to explore angular, atonal, and highly chromatic ideas.

Technical Analysis

This tuning, despite being named "6 string drop G" in its description, is presented with notes for a 7-string instrument, ranging from G1 on the lowest string (string 7) to A4# on the highest (string 1).

Compared to standard 7-string tuning (typically B1 E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4), every string in this tuning is dropped significantly. The open strings spell out the notes: G1-D2-G2-C3-E3-A3-A4#. Several interesting harmonic possibilities arise from these open notes:

• The lowest three strings (G1-D2-G2) form a powerful G5 (G Power Chord) with an octave interval. This makes heavy, open G-based riffs and palm-muted chugs incredibly accessible with just one finger on higher frets, characteristic of drop tunings.
• Looking at the notes G-D-G-C-E-A (strings 7 through 2), we have a Gsus4(add3) or G11 chord, giving a rich, complex open voicing with a strong G root, D fifth, G octave, C fourth, E major third, and A ninth/second. This offers a surprisingly full and intricate sound, moving beyond typical power chords.
• The C3-E3-A3 combination (strings 4, 3, 2) can be interpreted as an A minor 7th chord (missing the G) or an inversion of Cmaj6 (C-E-A), providing melodic options and different harmonic colors.
• The critical feature is the A3 and A4# on the two highest strings. This minor second interval (A to A#) is intensely dissonant and is clearly designed for creating clusters, microtonal inflections, or specific chromatic lines. It directly facilitates the "minor second chords" mentioned, making highly tense or even atonal sounds readily available as open voicings or with minimal fretting, ideal for experimental musical contexts.

Overall, this tuning encourages a playing style that exploits the low fundamental for immense power, while leveraging the higher string dissonance for cutting, modern, and often unsettling harmonic textures. It's a tuning for those looking to push the boundaries of conventional guitar sound.

Here are the notes for each string in this "Experimental Drop G" tuning, from the lowest (String 7) to the highest (String 1):
String 7 (Lowest String): G1
String 6: D2
String 5: G2
String 4: C3
String 3: E3
String 2: A3
String 1 (Highest String): A4#

How to Tune

To achieve the "Experimental Drop G" tuning, you will need to adjust each string from its standard 7-string tuning (typically B1 E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4) as follows. Please take care when tuning, especially with significant semitone changes, and consider using heavier gauge strings for strings with large drops to maintain tension and intonation.

• String 7 (Lowest String), usually tuned to B1: Tune down 4 semitones to reach G1. Note: A drop of 4 semitones is significant; a heavier gauge string is often recommended to maintain playability and intonation at such low tension.
• String 6, usually tuned to E2: Tune down 2 semitones to reach D2.
• String 5, usually tuned to A2: Tune down 2 semitones to reach G2.
• String 4, usually tuned to D3: Tune down 2 semitones to reach C3.
• String 3, usually tuned to G3: Tune down 3 semitones to reach E3.
• String 2, usually tuned to B3: Tune down 2 semitones to reach A3.
• String 1 (Highest String), usually tuned to E4: Tune down 6 semitones to reach A4#. Note: A drop of 6 semitones is very substantial. If starting from a standard E4, this would typically result in A#3. The target A4# suggests the player might be using a significantly higher tension string at this position or a different initial string choice to achieve this pitch. Exercise extreme caution, and consider a different gauge string to prevent breakage or poor intonation.