Seven String Tunings

[bostjan]

All major thirds tuning isn't half bad. I didn't figure anyone used it for their primary tuning, though.

The biggest problem with doing only major thirds are the chord shapes. They don't seem very natural.

 

[guitarplayerone]

my next seven will be in A, but I think ive tuned my seven to jazz ONCE to play Nile. standard tuning kicks ass

 

[ElRay]

The biggest problem with doing only major thirds are the chord shapes. They don't seem very natural.

It seems to be bigger with "jazzers", folks that like to sight read and those that want more piano-like chord voicings.

Ray

 

[metalfiend666]

Currently just standard B,E,A,D,G,B,E, but I've only got trem guitars right now. I'm going to get a fixed bridge 7 to mess around with tunings a bit more.

 

[Moloch]

Favorite tunings are F and Bb for my 7.
For a 6 drop c ftw.

 

[distressed_romeo]

All major thirds tuning isn't half bad. I didn't figure anyone used it for their primary tuning, though.

The biggest problem with doing only major thirds are the chord shapes. They don't seem very natural.

The other problem I had with thirds, although it's a good idea in principle, is that it makes chords sound pretty nasty to my ears. Think how 'out' the major third between the 2nd and 3rd strings on a regular guitar is, and now imagine that problem with all 7 strings.

Anyone who's intrigued by the idea, do a search for Ralph Platt, as he was the first guy to use that tuning as standard as far as I know.

 

[Durero]

The other problem I had with thirds, although it's a good idea in principle, is that it makes chords sound pretty nasty to my ears. Think how 'out' the major third between the 2nd and 3rd strings on a regular guitar is, and now imagine that problem with all 7 strings.

I think we've talked about this issue a while back, but I still don't buy that idea that the tuning is the issue here DR.

Certainly the major 3rd between the G & B strings is a major pain in the ass intonation-wise on most guitars. But I think the cause is the difficulty of intonating the G-string. It's the thickest plain string and the most pitch/tension sensitive and therefore the most vulnerable to going sharp when fretted close to the nut (first 3 or 4 frets.)

So I think the problem is the G string itself regardless of the tuning of the strings around it.

 

[Redman 2007]

Mostly I just stick to standard tuning with the 7-string string. B E A D G B E. sometimes I tune down a whole step to play along with Divine Heresy, or Fear Factory, or Nile. B sounds low enough to me, usually I tune down just to jam to albums. Like the new Deftone's albums for fun. I haven't every thought of tuning the guitar to just 3rds or 5ths, hmm... I'll try that out sometime. Sometimes trying to write songs, tuned down to A D G C F A D, sounds too low to me.

I mean don't get me wrong tuning down is fun, but for my ears, A, and anything lower like G or G# is really just too low for me to work with when composing. I'm like the 7-string tuned to standard when composing.

 

[OzzyC]

Right now, my Strat is tuned F# Db Ab Eb G B D
So that would be: 5-5-5-M3-M3-m3

Why?

sounded cool and works well with the strings I have...
And it sounds cool.

 

[distressed_romeo]

I think we've talked about this issue a while back, but I still don't buy that idea that the tuning is the issue here DR.

Certainly the major 3rd between the G & B strings is a major pain in the ass intonation-wise on most guitars. But I think the cause is the difficulty of intonating the G-string. It's the thickest plain string and the most pitch/tension sensitive and therefore the most vulnerable to going sharp when fretted close to the nut (first 3 or 4 frets.)

So I think the problem is the G string itself regardless of the tuning of the strings around it.

It could just be a personal gripe, as thirds on the guitar often grate on me a bit, no matter how precisely the thing is tuned and set up. That's the main reason I wanted a fretless guitar, to bring those intervals closer to their true temprement like violinists are able to. I really need to get the Buzz Feiten system or something similar installed on my guitars.

 

[The Dark Wolf]

It could just be a personal gripe, as thirds on the guitar often grate on me a bit, no matter how precisely the thing is tuned and set up. That's the main reason I wanted a fretless guitar, to bring those intervals closer to their true temprement like violinists are able to. I really need to get the Buzz Feiten system or something similar installed on my guitars.

!00% DR. It's almost maddening, sometimes.

 

[distressed_romeo]

!00% DR. It's almost maddening, sometimes.

I know! One of the things I liked about tuning in fifths is that it greatly improves that aspect of the guitar; even simple triads sound ten times nicer than on a standard-tuned guitar.

 

[loktide]

i tune both my 7's to standard tuning (and eventually detune my fixed bridge hellraiser to drop)

my only 6 is tuned to D-standard.

 

[Durero]

I really need to get the Buzz Feiten system or something similar installed on my guitars.

I recently had this system installed on a classical and a 6-string strat-like electric and I must say I'm quite blown away at how much better simple triad chords sound.

I'd highly recommend this mod to anyone.

 

[bostjan]

I was thinking of getting a guitar built with Werckmeister tuning, but I was too unsure of the cost to interestingness ratio. It'd be really cool to check out, though...I'll check around on it someday.

 

[LuxFero]

A E A D G C F at the moment but I'm thinking about tuning it down a step

 

[Durero]

^ very cool!
4ths with a 5th on the bottom
I think that would be especially good on an 8-string with a high A (or Bb)

 

[Zepp88]

I use Standard B tuning most of the time. Though I write in drop A sometimes also.

I also really like tuning a whole step down

 

[GTR0B]

How about G# D# G# C# F# A# D# ?

Standard BEADGBE, tuned down half a step with the Low B dropped to G#

 

[telecaster90]

Down a step