The Open E6/9 tuning transforms your 7-string guitar into a rich, complex harmonic landscape. As its name suggests, strumming all open strings yields a vibrant E major 6/9 chord. This isn't just a simple triad; it's an extended harmony that provides a sophisticated and full sound, perfect for jazz, fusion, or adding a unique flavor to rock and ambient styles.

Technical Analysis:

The open string notes are B1, C#3, G#3, E3, F#4, G#4, and C#5. This arrangement is meticulously crafted to form an E major 6/9 chord:

• E (Root): The core of the chord, prominently featured on String 4 (E3).
• G# (Major 3rd): Present on String 5 (G#3) and String 2 (G#4), providing the major tonality and adding harmonic richness.
• B (Perfect 5th): The lowest note, B1 on String 7, provides a deep, resonant foundation, reinforcing the E root.
• C# (Major 6th): Articulated on String 6 (C#3) and String 1 (C#5), giving the distinctive '6' quality to the chord.
• F# (Major 9th): Located on String 3 (F#4), providing the '9' extension for that distinct jazzy or modern texture.

The tuning offers a wide intervallic spread, from the low B1 to the high C#5, creating an expansive harmonic canvas. The presence of multiple octaves and chord tones across the strings makes this tuning exceptionally resonant and harmonically complete, ensuring a full and lush sound when strummed open.

Chordal and Melodic Possibilities:

With the Emaj6/9 as the inherent open chord, simply barring across any fret will instantly yield other major 6/9 chords (e.g., barring at the 1st fret gives an Fmaj6/9). This makes chordal exploration incredibly intuitive and allows for easy transposition. The wide voicings and multiple instances of chord tones (like G# and C#) across the fretboard allow for sustained notes and drones against fretted melodies, creating a rich texture for fingerstyle playing or ambient soundscapes. The inherent harmony lends itself well to lush arpeggios, creating complex melodic patterns that resonate with the open strings. Experiment with moving just a single finger or two to quickly access related dominant or minor chord voicings that retain the core 6/9 character, offering a fresh perspective on familiar progressions.

How to Tune (from standard 7-string B-E-A-D-G-B-E):

• String 7 (Lowest B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Target Note: B1.
• String 6 (Standard E): Tune down 3 semitones. Target Note: C3#. This is a considerable drop; ensure your strings can handle the slack without buzzing.
• String 5 (Standard A): Tune down 1 semitone. Target Note: G3#.
• String 4 (Standard D): Tune up 2 semitones. Target Note: E3. This is a noticeable increase in tension.
• String 3 (Standard G): Tune down 1 semitone. Target Note: F4#.
• String 2 (Standard B): Tune down 3 semitones. Target Note: G4#. Another significant drop in pitch.
• String 1 (Highest E): Tune down 3 semitones. Target Note: C5#. This is a substantial drop for the high E string.

Please note: Movements of -3 or +2 semitones, while generally within the acceptable range for standard gauge strings, still represent notable changes in string tension. Always tune carefully and be mindful of your instrument's setup. If you frequently use tunings with drops of 4 semitones or more, or raises of 3-4 semitones or more, considering a different string gauge is advisable for optimal playability and string longevity.

The open notes for the Open E6/9 tuning are as follows:

• String 7: B1
• String 6: C3#
• String 5: G3#
• String 4: E3
• String 3: F4#
• String 2: G4#
• String 1: C5#