Mastering the Open D9 Lap Steel Tuning

The Open D9 Lap Steel tuning is a rich and versatile setup specifically designed to unlock a wide array of harmonic possibilities on your lap steel guitar. This tuning is renowned for its ability to provide complex, jazzy voicings and smooth melodic lines with relative ease.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning immediately presents a full, vibrant sound when strummed open, echoing the classic tones of lap steel and Hawaiian music, while also providing a foundation for modern blues, jazz, and country. Its inherent construction allows for quick access to dominant 9th chords, making it a favorite for players who want to add sophisticated harmonic textures without complex bar placements. The arrangement of notes ensures that both the lower and upper registers of the instrument are harmonically rich, providing a beautiful interplay between the bass and treble.

Technical Analysis & Chordal Possibilities

The Open D9 Lap Steel tuning lays out the notes A2 D3 F#4 A3 C4 E4 from the lowest to highest string. This specific arrangement forms a compelling D9 chord when played open (D - F# - A - C - E, with the low A acting as a resonant 5th or extended bass note). This foundational chord makes it incredibly intuitive to navigate many musical contexts where a D9 is desired.

• D Major on the Bottom: The strings D3, F#4, and A3 (strings 5, 4, and 3) elegantly form a D Major triad (D-F#-A). This provides a strong, clear major chord foundation in the middle register, as described in the original tuning's intent.
• A Minor on Top: Moving to the higher strings, A3, C4, and E4 (strings 3, 2, and 1) beautifully outline an A Minor triad (A-C-E). This contrast offers melodic and harmonic possibilities, allowing for minor tonalities to be easily accessed in the upper register.
• D7 and D9 Chords: Beyond the basic triads, the full open tuning inherently offers a D7 chord (D-F#-A-C) by using strings 5 down to 2, and the complete D9 chord (D-F#-A-C-E) by using strings 5 down to 1. The lowest A2 on string 6 further reinforces the D9, adding depth and resonance to the overall voicing.
• Extended Voicings: Sliding a bar or tone bar up and down the neck will transpose these chord voicings, allowing you to easily play G9, A9, C9, etc., and explore a vast landscape of dominant 9th harmonies across the fretboard. The open string arrangement also facilitates reaching other related chords and inversions with minimal bar movement.

This tuning is exceptionally well-suited for slide playing, as the open strings provide a harmonious backdrop for expressive melodic phrasing and pedal steel-like bends. The inherent voicings lend themselves beautifully to blues, country, jazz, and Hawaiian music styles.

How to Tune Your Guitar for Open D9 Lap Steel

To achieve the Open D9 Lap Steel tuning, you will adjust your strings from a standard EADGBe tuning. Please note the significant changes for some strings; consider using a lighter or heavier gauge string set if you intend to keep this tuning long-term, especially for changes exceeding four semitones. Always tune carefully and gradually.

Here's a string-by-string guide:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 5 semitones from E2 to A2. This is a significant pitch increase; please exercise caution. A different string gauge may be advised for sustained use.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 5 semitones from A2 to D3. This is a significant pitch increase; please exercise caution. A different string gauge may be advised for sustained use.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 4 semitones from D3 to F#4. This is a notable pitch increase. While the instruction is to tune up 4 semitones, achieving F#4 from D3 typically requires an octave jump (12 semitones) in addition to the 4 semitones (total 16 semitones), implying an initial string state or gauge designed for such a high pitch. Proceed with extreme care, and consider a lighter gauge string for this position if aiming for F#4.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 2 semitones from G3 to A3.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 1 semitone from B3 to C4.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from E4 to E4.