Dadd9 Lap Steel Tuning Analysis

The Dadd9 Lap Steel tuning, as its name suggests, is tailored for lap steel guitars, offering a rich and harmonically complex sound. This tuning immediately evokes a sense of openness and warmth, making it particularly well-suited for genres like blues, country, folk, and ambient music, where its lush voicings and easy access to glissandos can shine. The 'add9' interval gives it a modern, sophisticated edge, moving beyond simple major or minor triads to create a more expansive harmonic palette.

Technical Breakdown

The open strings for this tuning are A2, D3, F#4, A3, D4, E4 (from low 6th string to high 1st string). Let's break down the harmonic structure:

• Overall Chord: The open strings primarily form a Dadd9 chord (D-F#-A-E), with doubled roots (D3, D4) and fifths (A2, A3), providing a full and resonant sound. The E4 on the first string delivers the characteristic 'add9' or major 2nd interval, adding sparkle and tension.
• Sectional Harmonies:
  • The bottom strings (A2, D3, F#4) contribute to a D major feel, although presented as a second inversion of D major (A-D-F#).
  • The middle strings (F#4, A3) create an F# minor dyad, hinting at secondary harmonies and opportunities for melodic counterpoint.
  • The top strings (A3, D4, E4) form an A sus4 chord (A-D-E), adding further harmonic color and versatility, especially for leading tones and resolutions.

Chordal and Melodic Opportunities

This tuning simplifies playing complex chords and melodic lines on a lap steel:

• Open Chord Voicings: The open strings themselves form a rich Dadd9. By simply barring across any fret, you can effortlessly transpose this Dadd9 voicing across the fretboard. For instance, barring at the 5th fret will yield a Gadd9 chord.
• Accessible Chords: Beyond simple barring, the judicious placement of the E4 (9th) and the doubled notes allows for easy manipulation into other chord types. Removing the E4 or altering the F#4 can lead to D major or D minor voicings with minimal hand movement. The sus4 on the upper strings also provides a natural pathway to suspended chords and resolutions.
• Melodic Play: The inherent harmonic structure provides a strong foundation for single-note melody lines and expressive slides. The intervals between strings are conducive to lyrical phrasing, making it ideal for the characteristic vocal-like qualities of lap steel.

How to Tune Your Guitar to Dadd9 Lap Steel

To achieve this tuning, start with your guitar in standard EADGBe tuning (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4). Please be mindful of string tension. As a general guideline, tuning strings up or down by more than 4 semitones can put significant stress on them, potentially leading to breakage or intonation issues, and may warrant considering a different string gauge.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 5 semitones from E2 to A2. (Caution advised for this significant upward tuning; consider a lighter gauge if necessary.)
• 5th String (A): Tune up 5 semitones from A2 to D3. (Caution advised for this significant upward tuning; consider a lighter gauge if necessary.)
• 4th String (D): Tune up 4 semitones from D3 to F#3. (Note: The provided tuning notes specify F#4 for this string, which is an octave higher than the calculated F#3 resulting from tuning a standard D3 string up 4 semitones. Please verify your intended target note and ensure your string gauge can safely reach F#4 if that is your goal.)
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 2 semitones from G3 to A3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 3 semitones from B3 to D4.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at E4.

The open strings for this tuning are as follows (from 6th to 1st string):

• 6th String: A2
• 5th String: D3
• 4th String: F#4
• 3rd String: A3
• 2nd String: D4
• 1st String: E4