Tuning Idea

[distressed_romeo]

I just thought of this tuning last night, and was wondering if anyone's ever tried it...

C F Bflat Eflat G C F

Just C Standard with a high F on the top...use an eight or a nine gauge string for the high F and I don't see any reason why it shouldn't work!
I know the 'extra high string' idea's been around for a while; didn't Wes Borland use unison C#s on the top of his seven? Of course, the infamous Maestro Alex Gregory apparently mananaged to make a High A seven string, but I doubt that's going to be practical on a normal guitar (his had some sort of special arrangement on the headstock to stop the high A being put under too much tension...I also heard he used a 6 gauge string on top!).
Anyone else thought about this concept?

 

[eleven59]

I've used that tuning (CFBbEbGCF), works nicely if you don't have extremely thick strings (i.e. works nice with a 60 or lower for me, but don't want to try with my 65).

 

[forelander]

if string tension/snapping is a problem, why not tune the other strings down and use a capo?

 

[distressed_romeo]

I've used the capo idea before...for C or D tuning on a six string I often just slap a capo on my baritone guitar (tuned to B flat most of the time). The problem with that idea is that I've never found a capo that fits a seven, and you lose all the high notes...

 

[chronicinsomnia]

Most 12 string capo's fit a 7 string guitar. I have a Kyser version that is 1/2 an inch longer than the regular 6 string version. Works nicely on a 7.

 

[Laren]

my normal run of a mill capo fits on the 12th fret of my rg7260

 

[Leon]

my Kyser capo fits my RG7621 beautifully, as if it were made for it!

 

[tongueofcolicab]

wes borland tuned his seven strings to C# F# B E G# C# C#...i personally love the tuning. yeah if you're gonna go with the high F, i'd get thicker strings than a 65.

 

[Karl Hungus]

Yeah, I believe that Doctor J has his LTD 7 String tuned that way, don't think he had any problems.

 

[bostjan]

i have a samick seven string that i keep tuned standard plus high g (e. a. d g b e' g') using an .008" g.

this tuning facilitates some more piano-like voicing on the treble side of things, while leaving familiar ground everywhere else.

but if you want to tune down, i wouldn't expect any snappage tuning to f.

keep in mind that a steel guitar has a longer scale length and uses an .011" for a g#.

 

[eleven59]

When I tuned it like that (the C tuning with high-F) I was using 10-52s with a 60 for the low string.

 

[Metal Ken]

well, yeah, you're really only tuning the high stirng a 1/2 step sharp, so a 9 or 10 would be fine.

 

[Digital Black]

I've been toying with the idea of having a high A. I'm going to have to find the lightest gauge of stings to try this though..

 

[distressed_romeo]

I heard D'Addario still make a 0.007 gauge string that you can order. Not sure if that's true as I couldn't find any mention of it on the website.

 

[dpm]

I use a high F because I tune all fourths (BEADGCF), as does Gojira. A .009 at F feels similar to a .010 at E. Hope that helps!

 

[Oscar Stern]

However I drop that Tuning down a Half step to BEADF#BE like Ben Eller Did & it's actually the same tuning as a Baritone Renaissance Lute in E or like a Baritone Viol in E (basically a D Bass Viol tuned up a Step). This tuning allows me to play songs by Bands that tune to B Standard & w/ a Capo on the 7th Fret, my favorite one is "here comes the sun" by the beatles.

 

[Mboogie7]

Fucking hell. A 19 year necro bump has to be the record.

 

[Crungy]

 

[Oscar Stern]

Here's that tuning I'm talking about: & it allowed me to transpose songs to a Key that's more comfortable for me to sing in.

 

[ElRay]

WTF? A DR Alt-tuning thread thatI haven't commented on?