The "A#madd9" tuning is a profound and dark open tuning, reflecting its stated inspiration from "Ghost Reveries" — a musical landscape known for its progressive and heavy sound. This tuning transforms the guitar into a deeply resonant instrument, ideal for atmospheric, heavy, or experimental music.

Verbal Analysis

Imagine a massive, slightly dissonant, yet undeniably rich chord ringing out with just a single strum. This tuning delivers precisely that. The name "A#madd9" is perfectly descriptive, as strumming all open strings yields an A# minor chord with an added 9th, voiced across multiple octaves. The lowest notes are incredibly deep, providing a formidable sonic foundation that is both guttural and articulate. This creates a haunting, powerful ambience suitable for slow, heavy riffs or complex, harmonically dense passages. Its depth can evoke a sense of grandeur and melancholy, making it a compelling choice for genres like progressive metal, doom metal, or even cinematic soundscapes.

Technical Analysis

• Open Tuning Notes: A#2 F2 A#3 C#4 F3 C4 (from thickest to thinnest string).
• Chordal Structure: The open strings form an A# minor add 9 chord (A#, C, C#, F) with rich voicings:
  • Root: A# (on strings 6 and 4)
  • Minor 3rd: C# (on string 3)
  • Perfect 5th: F (on strings 5 and 2)
  • Major 2nd/9th: C (on string 1)
• Intervals and Voicing: The scattered octaves and intervals (e.g., the F2 on string 5 beneath the A#2 on string 6, and the F3 on string 2 beneath the C4 on string 1) create a wide, expansive sound. The perfect 5ths (F-C) and minor 3rds (A#-C#) are prominently featured, contributing to its minor tonality. The substantial drops from standard tuning across all strings mean this tuning sits in a very low register, giving it immense weight and sustain.

Chords & Playability

The immediate benefit of this tuning is the powerful A#madd9 chord available by simply strumming the open strings. This makes it an excellent drone or foundational chord. Its structure also facilitates:

• Power Chords: Barring the lower strings (e.g., 6, 5, 4) at any fret will yield robust power chords, ideal for heavy riffing. For example, barring at the 1st fret on strings 6, 5, 4 creates a B5 (B-F#-B) power chord.
• Minor Add 9 Chords: By barring all strings at any fret, you can easily transpose the open A#madd9 chord, giving you a movable minor add 9 shape up and down the neck.
• Drones and Melodies: The repeated notes (A# and F) across different strings make it easy to create sustained drones while playing melodies on the higher strings.
• Heavy Riffs: The low register and the inherent minor tonality are perfectly suited for crushing, low-tuned riffs, especially with palm-muting techniques.

Open String Notes

String 6 (Lowest): A2#
String 5: F2
String 4: A3#
String 3: C4#
String 2: F3
String 1 (Highest): C4

How to Tune

This tuning involves significant drops for all strings from standard EADGBe tuning. Due to the substantial changes, a heavier gauge string set is highly recommended to maintain proper string tension, intonation, and tone, especially for movements greater than 4 semitones.

• String 6 (Low E to A2#): Tune to A2#, tuning down 6 semitones. (Original E2, Target A2#) Warning: Significant drop, consider heavier gauge.
• String 5 (A to F2): Tune to F2, tuning down 4 semitones. (Original A2, Target F2) Warning: Significant drop, consider heavier gauge.
• String 4 (D to A3#): Tune to A3#, tuning down 4 semitones. (Original D3, Target A3#) Warning: Significant drop, consider heavier gauge.
• String 3 (G to C4#): Tune to C4#, tuning down 6 semitones. (Original G3, Target C4#) Warning: Significant drop, consider heavier gauge.
• String 2 (B to F3): Tune to F3, tuning down 6 semitones. (Original B3, Target F3) Warning: Significant drop, consider heavier gauge.
• String 1 (High E to C4): Tune to C4, tuning down 4 semitones. (Original E4, Target C4) Warning: Significant drop, consider heavier gauge.