Tuning Analysis: Dmadd9 Lap Steel

This Dmadd9 Lap Steel tuning provides a rich, melancholic, yet sophisticated open sound, ideal for a wide range of genres including blues, Hawaiian, country, and jazz. Designed to resonate with a full D minor nine chord voicing across its open strings, it offers immediate harmonic depth and allows for expressive chordal work with minimal effort.

Technically, the open string notes are A2-D3-F3-A3-D4-E4. This configuration prominently features a D minor triad (D-F-A) within the middle strings (5-4-3). The top strings (3-2-1: A-D-E) form an A sus4 chord, while the middle strings (4-3: F-A) create an F major dyad. When played together, the overall voicing of A-D-F-A-D-E creates a Dmadd9 chord (D-F-A with an added 9th, E), lending itself to full-bodied harmony. This open tuning allows for easy exploration of parallel chords and arpeggios by simply sliding a bar across the frets, making complex harmonies readily accessible. The layered structure, as described by the tuning's creator, offers a D minor on the bottom, an F major dyad in the middle, and an A sus4 on top, ensuring versatile harmonic possibilities across the fretboard.

How to Tune

To achieve the Dmadd9 Lap Steel tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these precise adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E equivalent): Tune up 5 semitones from E2 to A2. Note: Tuning up by 5 semitones is a significant adjustment; for string movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, considering a lighter gauge string is advised to prevent excessive tension or breakage.
• String 5 (A equivalent): Tune up 5 semitones from A2 to D3. Note: Tuning up by 5 semitones is a significant adjustment; for string movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, considering a lighter gauge string is advised to prevent excessive tension or breakage.
• String 4 (D equivalent): Tune up 3 semitones from D3 to F3.
• String 3 (G equivalent): Tune up 2 semitones from G3 to A3.
• String 2 (B equivalent): Tune up 3 semitones from B3 to D4.
• String 1 (High E equivalent): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from E4 to E4.

String 6: A2 (A in the second octave)

String 5: D3 (D in the third octave)

String 4: F3 (F in the third octave)

String 3: A3 (A in the third octave)

String 2: D4 (D in the fourth octave)

String 1: E4 (E in the fourth octave)