Open A#m9 Tuning: Moody Drone

Verbal Analysis:

The 'Open A#m9' tuning, as its description suggests, is designed for a "Moody Drone" and "interesting Tapping" rather than conventional open chord strumming. It offers a dark, atmospheric, and somewhat dissonant soundscape. The combination of A#, G#, C, F, C, C# creates rich textures and a sense of tension that can be highly expressive for modern, ambient, or experimental genres. Its open strings don't form a straightforward A#m9 chord, but rather provide a tonal center with added harmonic complexity and opportunities for evocative melodic lines and percussive tapping.

Technical Analysis:

This tuning consists of the notes A#2, G#3, C3, F3, C4, C5#. Let's break down the intervals relative to the lowest A# (root):

• A# (Root): Provides the fundamental, low-end anchor.
• G# (Minor 7th): Creates a strong minor seventh quality, adding depth and a bluesy/jazzy feel.
• C (Major 2nd / b3 variant): This note is a crucial element of the tuning's unique character. Relative to A#, C is a Major 2nd. However, in an A# minor context, the minor 3rd would be C#. The presence of both C natural (on strings 4 and 2) and C# (on string 1) creates a half-step dissonance, contributing significantly to the "moody drone" effect.
• F (Augmented 4th / Diminished 5th from A#, or P4 from C): The F adds further harmonic color. When played with the C, it forms a perfect 4th. From the A#, it’s a tritone (A# to F), which is inherently dissonant and adds to the tuning's tension and intrigue.

The open strings present an interesting stack: A#2-G#3-C3-F3-C4-C5#. This is not a simple triad or 7th chord. The two C notes (C3 and C4) resonate strongly, and their interplay with the C5# (a minor third from A#) highlights the tuning's unique harmonic palette. This allows for rich, sustained sounds, particularly when exploiting natural harmonics or employing percussive tapping techniques across the strings.

Open Chords & Accessible Voicings:

• A# Minor Feel: While not a pure A#m9, the root (A#), minor third (C#), and minor seventh (G#) are present. By subtly muting or avoiding the 'C natural' strings (4th and 2nd), you can lean into an A# minor or A#m7 sound, especially when paired with the drone qualities.
• Drone and Arpeggios: The tuning excels in creating sustained, resonant drones. Playing arpeggios across the open strings will highlight the interesting intervallic relationships, especially the C-C#-F tensions, offering a complex, shimmering quality.
• Tapping Opportunities: The high density of notes, particularly the C's and C#'s, makes this tuning highly suitable for two-hand tapping, allowing for complex melodic and harmonic patterns to be easily constructed across the fretboard.
• Suspended Qualities: The F in the tuning can lend itself to suspended or ambiguous chord voicings, offering a dreamy or unresolved character.

This is a highly experimental and expressive tuning, encouraging players to explore its unique harmonic landscape rather than relying on standard chord shapes.

Here are the notes for each string, from lowest (6th) to highest (1st):

• String 6: A2#
• String 5: G3#
• String 4: C3
• String 3: F3
• String 2: C4
• String 1: C5#

How to Tune:

To achieve the 'Open A#m9' tuning, start from standard EADGBe tuning and adjust each string as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 6 semitones to A2#. (Note: Tuning down 6 semitones is a significant change; consider using a heavier gauge string for optimal tension and tone.)
• String 5 (A): Tune down 1 semitones to G3#.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 1 semitones to C4.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 3 semitones to C5#.