This is a deep and highly specialized 7-string guitar tuning, internally referred to as "Drop Ab" and described as suitable "For some Eskimo Callboy bois." This clearly signals its intention for modern, heavy genres such as metalcore, djent, or progressive metal, where low-end aggression, intricate riffing, and unique sonic textures are paramount.

Verbal Analysis

The 7-String Drop Ab tuning delivers an incredibly low and guttural sonic foundation, perfect for crushing breakdowns and extended range riffing. It's designed for players who crave a dense, powerful sound that sits firmly in the sub-bass frequencies, characteristic of modern heavy music. The tuning's unconventional intervals, particularly the re-entrant third string, encourage creative exploration beyond traditional chord shapes, fostering unique dissonances and complex voicings that can sound both unsettling and immensely powerful. It's an excellent choice for achieving a distinctive, heavy voice that stands out in a crowded mix.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this 7-string guitar tuning, from thickest to thinnest string, are:

• String 7: G#2 (Ab2)
• String 6: D#3 (Eb3)
• String 5: G#3 (Ab3)
• String 4: C#4 (Db4)
• String 3: F3
• String 2: A#4 (Bb4)
• String 1: D#5 (Eb5)

This tuning is built around a G# (Ab) root, with the lowest two strings (G#2 and D#3) forming a perfect fifth, which is the hallmark of 'Drop' tunings. This arrangement allows for easy one-finger power chords on the lowest strings, a crucial element for heavy rhythm guitar. The interval between String 7 (G#2) and String 6 (D#3) is a Perfect 5th. String 6 (D#3) to String 5 (G#3) is a Perfect 4th, creating an octave with the lowest string. String 5 (G#3) to String 4 (C#4) is also a Perfect 4th.

A distinctive and critical feature of this tuning is its re-entrant nature: String 3 (F3) is tuned lower in pitch than String 4 (C#4). Specifically, C#4 down to F3 is a descending Perfect 5th. This non-linear string order fundamentally alters how chords are voiced and how scales are navigated, diverging significantly from standard guitar conventions. Following this, the interval from String 3 (F3) to String 2 (A#4) is a wide Augmented 4th (tritone) plus an octave, providing a very open and somewhat dissonant jump. Finally, String 2 (A#4) to String 1 (D#5) is a Perfect 4th.

Open Chords and Voicings

While not designed for conventional open major or minor chords, the tuning offers significant advantages for specific voicings. The lowest three strings (G#2, D#3, G#3) naturally form a robust G#5 power chord, providing a solid foundation for heavy riffs. Adding String 4 (C#4) creates a G#sus4-like quality (G#, D#, G#, C#). However, the inclusion of F3 on String 3 creates a complex, potentially dissonant cluster (G#, D#, G#, C#, F) when all open strings are strummed, which can be harnessed for unique, angular chord voicings rather than traditional harmonies.

The re-entrant String 3 necessitates a rethinking of common fingerings. Players will find themselves constructing new chord shapes and exploring intervallic patterns across the strings, rather than relying on familiar movable shapes. This encourages a more experimental approach, allowing for the creation of rich, dense textures and unconventional harmonic landscapes suitable for modern music that pushes boundaries.

How to Tune Your 7-String Guitar to 7-String Drop Ab

To achieve this unique and heavy tuning, adjust each string on your 7-string guitar as follows. Please pay close attention to the number of semitones each string needs to be tuned up or down to reach its target note.

• String 7 (Lowest Pitch): Tune to G#2 (Ab2). Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 6: Tune to D#3 (Eb3). Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 5: Tune to G#3 (Ab3). Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 4: Tune to C#4 (Db4). Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 3: Tune to F3. Tune down 2 semitones.
• String 2: Tune to A#4 (Bb4). Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 1 (Highest Pitch): Tune to D#5 (Eb5). Tune down 1 semitone.

String Gauge Recommendation

For this 7-String Drop Ab tuning, all string adjustments are within the range of tuning down 3 semitones or less. Since no string is tuned down or up by 4 or more semitones, a different string gauge beyond your current standard set for a 7-string guitar is generally not required to safely achieve this tuning. However, always ensure your strings are in good condition, and consider lighter gauges for easier playability with lower tension if desired, or heavier gauges if you prefer very high tension or play very aggressively.