This unique guitar tuning, famously associated with the legendary Joni Mitchell and referenced as "bf#c#ef# b" from a Reverb video, offers a distinctive and rich sonic palette. It's a prime example of Mitchell's innovative approach to guitar tunings, designed to unlock fresh harmonic possibilities and facilitate complex voicings with relative ease.

Verbal Analysis

At first strum, this tuning presents a deeply resonant and somewhat melancholic sound, characteristic of many open tunings favored by folk and contemporary acoustic artists. The arrangement of notes doesn't immediately form a standard major or minor chord, but rather a suspended, open voicing. It evokes a dreamy, contemplative atmosphere, perfect for intricate fingerstyle arrangements or for creating lush, sustained chords that ring out beautifully.

The open strings themselves form a rich, complex sonority that can be perceived as a Bsus2/E chord (B-C#-E-F#). This means you have the root B, its major second C#, its perfect fourth E, and its perfect fifth F#. The presence of the B and F# on multiple strings creates a powerful, droning foundation. Barring all strings at any fret will instantly give you a new sus2/E type chord, shifted up the neck, offering an accessible way to explore different keys while maintaining the tuning's characteristic suspended feel. This makes it incredibly versatile for songwriting, allowing for both simple, sweeping chord changes and more nuanced melodic lines.

Technical Analysis

• Instrument Type: Guitar
• Tuning Reference: bf#c#ef# b (as found in the source material)
• Open Notes (Low to High): B1, F#3, C#4, E3, F#4, B3

Analyzing the intervals from the lowest B string (B1):

• String 6 (B1): Root
• String 5 (F#3): Perfect 5th (P5) above B1
• String 4 (C#4): Major 2nd (M2) above B1, Perfect 5th (P5) above F#3
• String 3 (E3): Perfect 4th (P4) above B1, Minor 3rd (m3) above C#4
• String 2 (F#4): Perfect 5th (P5) above B1, Major 2nd (M2) above E3
• String 1 (B3): Octave (P8) above B1, Perfect 4th (P4) above F#4

The open strings collectively form the notes B, C#, E, and F#. This combination creates a Bsus2 chord (B-C#-F#) with an added E, essentially a Bsus2/E voicing. This intricate voicing is a hallmark of Joni Mitchell's style, allowing for complex harmonies without requiring extensive fingering. The tuning's structure makes it conducive to playing melodic lines over sustained open strings, and the repeating F# and B notes add a harmonically rich drone effect.

How to Tune

To achieve this "Joni Mitchell's Open Bsus2/E" tuning, you will need to adjust your strings significantly. Based on the provided movements and target notes, here's how to tune each string. Please note that several strings require substantial downward tuning (5 semitones). For these, a heavier gauge string set is highly recommended to maintain optimal tension and tone, and to prevent potential string breakage or neck issues. Always proceed with caution.

• String 6 (to B1): Tune down 5 semitones. (Caution: Significant drop, heavier gauge advised.)
• String 5 (to F#3): Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 4 (to C#4): Tune down 1 semitone.
• String 3 (to E3): Tune down 3 semitones.
• String 2 (to F#4): Tune down 5 semitones. (Caution: Significant drop, heavier gauge advised.)
• String 1 (to B3): Tune down 5 semitones. (Caution: Significant drop, heavier gauge advised.)

Here's a detailed breakdown of each string's target note in this tuning:

• String 6: B1
• String 5: F#3
• String 4: C#4
• String 3: E3
• String 2: F#4
• String 1: B3