Among alternative tunings for the guitar, an overtones tuning selects its open-string notes from the overtone sequence of a fundamental note. An example is the open tuning constituted by the first six overtones of the fundamental note C, namely C2-C3-G3-C4-E4-G4.
Overtone tunings that are open tunings have been used in songs by folk musician Joni Mitchell and by rock guitarist Mick Ralphs of Bad Company; these open overtones-tunings select their open notes from the first six partials of their overtone sequence on C or G. For open tunings, the open strings and the frets are each associated with a major-chord, which is played by strumming the open strings or the strings after they have been barred at one fret with one finger, greatly simplifying major-chord playing. For each such open or barred chord, the overtones reinforce the bass note, increasing the guitar's volume of sound and resonance. In an open overtones-tuning, adjacent strings that differ by a third interval can be tuned in just intonation, resulting in greater consonance than thirds in equal temperament.
Music theorist William Sethares has discussed an overtones tuning that uses six higher partials, from fourth to ninth, of the overtone sequence; his tuning is not an open tuning.
Sequence of overtones
When an open-note C-string is struck, its overtones sequence begins with the notes (C,C,G,C,E,G,B,C). The root note is associated with a sequence of intervals, beginning with the unison interval (C,C), the octave interval (C,C), the perfect fifth (C,G), the perfect fourth (G,C), and the major third (C,E); in particular, this sequence of intervals contains the thirds of the C-major chord { (C,E),(E,G)}.
There are alternate ways to name the overtones in the sequence. For instance, instead of naming the overtones in terms of their immediate predecessor, like C in (G, C) being called the perfect fourth because it is a perfect fourth from G when G is considered the tonic, the C in (G, C) could be considered the second octave up from the fundamental (also a C pitch).
Open tunings
The overtone sequence for a fundamental note is used by its open overtones-tunings.
For many open-tunings, the open-string notes constitute a major chord, often a major triad that repeats its notes in different octaves. Of course, repeating notes (or pitch classes) strengthen such notes, often the root or third of the chord. In comparison with standard tuning, each major-chord open-string tuning reinforces different "overtones and can actually make the guitar sound louder and more resonant". To explain this resonance and strengthened sound, the example of the overtones on C has been used; and C's overtones is a standard example for explaining the sequence of overtones.
The open-string notes form a C major chord, which is the triad (C,E,G) having the root note C, the major third (C,E), and the perfect fifth (C,G). When the guitar is strummed without fretting even one string, a C-major chord is sounded. By barring all of the strings for one fret (from one to eleven), one finger suffices to fret the other eleven major-chords.
Examples
Open-C tuning: C-C-G-C-E-G
C-C-G-C-E-G
This open-C tuning uses the harmonic sequence (overtones) of the note C. When an open-note C-string is struck, its harmonic sequence begins with the notes (C,C,G,C,E,G,B,C). The root note is associated with a sequence of intervals, beginning with the unison interval (C,C), the octave interval (C,C), the perfect fifth (C,G), the perfect fourth (G,C), and the major third (C,E); in particular, this sequence of intervals contains the thirds of the C-major chord { (C,E),(E,G)}.
The open-string notes form a C major chord, which is the triad (C,E,G) having the root note C, the major third (C,E), and the perfect fifth (C,G). When the guitar is strummed without fretting even one string, a C-major chord is sounded. By barring all of the strings for one fret (from one to eleven), one finger suffices to fret the other eleven major-chords.
Flattening this open tuning's open-note E to E changes the open chord from C-major to C-minor, so producing the cross-note tuning C-C-E-G-E-G
which enables one-finger minor chords. Like other cross-note tunings, it also allows major chords to be fretted with one adjacent finger.
Many of the notes from the harmonic sequence for C appear in the new standard tuning (NST), which is used in Guitar Craft (a school of guitar playing founded by King Crimson's Robert Fripp). This open-C tuning has the same range as NST, which can use extreme strings (.011 and .059 inches).