Welcome to the world of the Open Bm9 tuning, designed for a 7-string guitar. As its original description suggests, this tuning is well-suited for music ranging from melancholic and introspective to the emotionally charged soundscapes of emo genres. It provides a rich, complex minor nine chord when played open, offering a deep foundation for expressive playing.

Technical Analysis

This specific tuning for a 7-string Guitar lays out a B minor 9th chord across its open strings. Let's break down the notes:

• Root (B): Present on the 7th string (B1) and 4th string (B2).
• Minor Third (D): Found on the 6th string (D2).
• Perfect Fifth (F#): Located on the 5th string (F#3) and 3rd string (F#4).
• Minor Seventh (A): On the 2nd string (A3).
• Minor Ninth (C#): The highest note on the 1st string (C#5).

The open strings resonate as B1 – D2 – F#3 – B2 – F#4 – A3 – C#5. This arrangement provides a full, harmonically rich Bm9 chord, with octaves of B and F# adding depth and sustain. The close voicings and lower register access due to the 7th string allow for a massive sound even with minimal effort.

Open Chords and Voicings

With the Open Bm9 tuning, an entire B minor 9th chord rings out simply by strumming the open strings. This immediately grants a sophisticated, melancholic, or jazzy feel. Moving beyond the full Bm9, you can easily isolate:

• B Minor Triad (Bm): By muting the 2nd and 1st strings, or focusing on the lower strings (B, D, F#).
• B Minor 7th (Bm7): By muting the 1st string (B, D, F#, A).
• Power Chords: The repeated B and F# notes make strong B5 power chords effortlessly accessible across different octaves.

The open tuning encourages droning strings and allows for melodic lines to be played over the resonant open chord. This creates an ethereal and full sound, making complex harmonies more intuitive to achieve and explore.

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the Open Bm9 tuning for your 7-string Guitar, follow these precise adjustments for each string, starting from the thickest (7th string) to the thinnest (1st string). Please note that negative values indicate tuning down, and positive values indicate tuning up. Extreme changes (exceeding 4 semitones in either direction) might suggest considering a different string gauge for optimal tension and playability.

• 7th String (B1): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 6th String (D2): To achieve D2, tune down 2 semitones.
• 5th String (F#3): To achieve F#3, tune down 3 semitones.
• 4th String (B2): To achieve B2, tune down 3 semitones.
• 3rd String (F#4): To achieve F#4, tune down 1 semitone.
• 2nd String (A3): To achieve A3, tune down 2 semitones.
• 1st String (C#5): To achieve C#5, tune down 3 semitones.

All strings except the 7th are tuned down. While none exceed 4 semitones, these are significant drops, particularly for the 5th, 4th, and 1st strings at 3 semitones. Ensure your guitar's neck relief is checked after tuning to maintain optimal playability and prevent any potential issues due to altered string tension.