Tuning Analysis: G7 Reentrant 7-String Lap Steel

Verbal Description

This unique tuning, designed for a 7-string lap steel guitar, carries the name "G7 Reentrant", which typically implies a specific arrangement where strings do not strictly ascend in pitch from lowest to highest string number. The provided tuning_description also reinforces this by stating, "The G on string 7 is higher than the F on string 6 which is an octave above the G on string 5." Such tunings are historically significant in blues, Hawaiian, and Western Swing music, offering rich harmonic possibilities that are ideal for slide playing.

However, a close examination of the actual open string notes provided for this tuning (G1 F2 G2 D3 G3 B3 D4, from the lowest string 7 to the highest string 1) reveals a generally ascending pitch order. While this specific set of notes does not strictly follow the re-entrant characteristic as described in the tuning_description, it still forms a powerful open G7 chord (G-B-D-F) across the strings. This makes it exceptionally versatile for playing blues licks, allowing players to easily achieve dominant 7th voicings simply by strumming the open strings. Utilizing a slide up the neck allows for playing other dominant 7th chords; for instance, fretting all strings at the 3rd fret would yield a Bb7 chord, and at the 5th fret, a C7, making it a highly intuitive tuning for chordal improvisation.

Technical Analysis

The open strings for this 7-string lap steel tuning are arranged as follows (from lowest pitch string 7 to highest pitch string 1):

• String 7: G1
• String 6: F2
• String 5: G2
• String 4: D3
• String 3: G3
• String 2: B3
• String 1: D4

These notes collectively articulate a G dominant 7th chord (G-B-D-F) distributed across four octaves. The root (G) is powerfully represented in G1, G2, and G3. The perfect fifth (D) is found in D3 and D4. The major third (B) is present as B3, and the minor seventh (F) is featured as F2. This distribution of chord tones across multiple octaves creates an incredibly full, resonant, and harmonically rich sound.

The interval relationships between adjacent strings (from string 7 to string 1) are:

• String 7 (G1) to String 6 (F2): Compound Minor 7th (22 semitones)
• String 6 (F2) to String 5 (G2): Major 2nd (2 semitones)
• String 5 (G2) to String 4 (D3): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
• String 4 (D3) to String 3 (G3): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• String 3 (G3) to String 2 (B3): Major 3rd (4 semitones)
• String 2 (B3) to String 1 (D4): Minor 3rd (3 semitones)

How to Tune

To achieve the 'G7 Reentrant' tuning for your 7-string lap steel, adjust each string according to the following movements from its standard pitch:

• String 7: Tune down 4 semitones to G1.
• String 6: Tune up 1 semitone to F2.
• String 5: Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• String 4: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones), remaining at D3.
• String 3: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones), remaining at G3.
• String 2: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones), remaining at B3.
• String 1: Tune down 2 semitones to D4.

Please note that generally, tuning a string up or down by 3 or 4 semitones requires care to prevent string breakage or damage to the instrument. If a tuning change exceeds 4 semitones (either up or down), it is often advisable to consider using a different gauge string more suited to the new tension to ensure optimal performance and safety.

The final open string notes for this G7 Reentrant tuning are:

• String 7: G1
• String 6: F2
• String 5: G2
• String 4: D3
• String 3: G3
• String 2: B3
• String 1: D4