Tuning Overview: Someone Like You A7sus4

This intriguing open tuning, famously associated with the first chord of Rod Stewart's "Someone Like You," transforms your standard guitar into a resonant soundscape. It's named "A7sus4" because the open strings collectively voice a powerful A7sus4 chord, creating a rich harmonic foundation ready for melodic exploration.

Verbal Analysis:

Imagine strumming your guitar and instantly hearing the lush, suspended quality of an A7sus4 chord ringing out. This tuning delivers just that, making it effortless to achieve that signature sound. The arrangement of notes (G-D-G-D-E-A) creates a wide, open texture, with the low G providing a deep foundation. It feels expansive and lends itself well to both strumming and fingerstyle, offering a unique sonic palette where the A7sus4 chord is always at your fingertips. Players will find that many common chord shapes are re-contextualized, opening up new possibilities for voicings and progressions, especially those centered around A or G. Barre chords across the fretboard will also yield interesting voicings and variations on the open chord structure.

Technical Analysis:

Technically, this is an Open G-centric tuning (G2-D3-G3-D4) with the higher strings altered to E4 and A4. The complete set of open notes is G2 - D3 - G3 - D4 - E4 - A4. When viewed as an A7sus4 chord (A - D - E - G), the tuning brilliantly lays out these notes across the fretboard:

• String 6 (G2): Functions as the b7 of A.
• String 5 (D3): The suspended 4th of A.
• String 4 (G3): Another b7 of A.
• String 3 (D4): Another suspended 4th of A.
• String 2 (E4): The 5th of A.
• String 1 (A4): The root of A.

How to Tune Your Guitar to Someone Like You A7sus4

This tuning requires significant adjustments from standard EADGBe, with most strings tuned considerably higher. Please exercise caution and consider using lighter gauge strings to prevent damage to your guitar. Tuning up more than 3 or 4 semitones can put excessive stress on your instrument and potentially lead to string breakage or neck issues.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 3 semitones from E2 to G2. (Care recommended as this is a noticeable tension increase.)
• String 5 (A): Tune up 5 semitones from A2 to D3. (Warning: This is a significant upward adjustment; a lighter gauge string is strongly advised to prevent string breakage or neck damage.)
• String 4 (D): Tune up 5 semitones from D3 to G3. (Warning: This is a significant upward adjustment; a lighter gauge string is strongly advised to prevent string breakage or neck damage.)
• String 3 (G): Tune up 7 semitones from G3 to D4. (Extreme Warning: This is a very substantial upward adjustment; a lighter gauge string is absolutely essential. Proceed with extreme caution or consult a luthier if unsure.)
• String 2 (B): Tune up 5 semitones from B3 to E4. (Warning: This is a significant upward adjustment; a lighter gauge string is strongly advised to prevent string breakage or neck damage.)
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 5 semitones from E4 to A4. (Warning: This is a significant upward adjustment; a lighter gauge string is strongly advised to prevent string breakage or neck damage.)