The "Ab Major Open with Suspended Fourth" tuning for 7-string guitar is a truly distinctive and harmonically rich setup, designed to evoke the complex and often dissonant soundscapes hinted at by its original "djenty midwest emo?" description. It combines a powerful, low-end foundation with intricate, tense upper voicings, creating an open chord that is both compelling and challenging.

Technical Analysis

This 7-string tuning sets the open notes to: G#2 - C#3 - G#3 - D#4 - G#4 - C4 - D#5 (from lowest to highest string). Analyzing these intervals relative to the lowest G# (or Ab):

• String 7 (Low G#2): The foundational root.
• String 6 (C#3): A Perfect Fourth above the root (Ab-Db).
• String 5 (G#3): An octave above the root, reinforcing the fundamental.
• String 4 (D#4): A Perfect Fifth above the root (Ab-Eb), forming a solid power chord foundation with the lower strings.
• String 3 (G#4): Another octave, providing sustain and resonance.
• String 2 (C4): A Major Third above G# (interpreted as Ab). This string introduces a critical harmonic element, creating a half-step dissonance with the C# on String 6 when played simultaneously.
• String 1 (High D#5): A higher Perfect Fifth, completing the upper harmonic structure.

The open strings form a complex chord that can be interpreted as an Ab Major 7sus4 voicing, featuring both the major third (C natural) and the suspended fourth (C# or Db) simultaneously. This tension between the C# and C natural is central to the tuning's unique character, offering a sound palette that is rich in both consonance (power chords) and striking dissonance.

Verbal & Playability Analysis

For players venturing into the realms of djent and midwest emo, this tuning offers an exceptional toolkit. The deeply resonant G# C# G# D# in the lower registers provides an ideal base for heavy, chugging riffs and extended range power chords, characteristic of modern metal. The close proximity of the C# and C notes higher up the neck encourages experimental chord voicings, arpeggios, and melodic lines that can convey profound emotional depth and intricate textures, hallmarks of midwest emo's progressive side.

While standard chord shapes will require complete re-learning, the open strings themselves provide a powerful, ready-made chord. Players will find open string power chords incredibly easy to achieve across the lower strings (e.g., G#5 by barring the lowest three strings on the same fret). The unique intervallic relationships, particularly the C# and C, invite creative fingerings that exploit these dissonances for impactful melodic and harmonic statements. This tuning is perfect for exploring extended harmonies and delivering a sound that is both heavy and emotionally resonant.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Ab Major Open with Suspended Fourth" tuning, adjust your 7-string guitar strings to the following notes. Use a reliable tuner and tune carefully:

• 7th String (Lowest): Tune to G#2. This involves tuning down 3 semitones.
• 6th String: Tune to C#3. This involves tuning down 3 semitones.
• 5th String: Tune to G#3. This involves tuning down 1 semitone.
• 4th String: Tune to D#4. This involves tuning up 1 semitone.
• 3rd String: Tune to G#4. This involves tuning up 1 semitone.
• 2nd String: Tune to C4. This involves tuning up 1 semitone.
• 1st String (Highest): Tune to D#5. This involves tuning down 1 semitone.

Note on String Gauges: For optimal performance and string longevity, it is generally recommended to consider a different string gauge if tuning up or down by 4 or more semitones. In this specific tuning, all string movements are within 3 semitones, meaning a standard or slightly heavier gauge 7-string set should accommodate these changes without issue, though always monitor string tension.

The open strings for this 7-string guitar tuning are set as follows (from lowest to highest pitch):

7th String: G#2

6th String: C#3

5th String: G#3

4th String: D#4

3rd String: G#4

2nd String: C4

1st String: D#5