The B Minor 9th tuning, famously utilized by Erik Mongrain for his track 'Pandora's Box' from his 2008 album Equilibrium, offers a truly distinct and harmonically rich experience for guitarists. As the tuning's name suggests, the open strings themselves form a beautiful B Minor 9th chord, providing immediate access to complex, jazzy voicings often associated with piano. This setup is perfect for those seeking to break away from conventional tunings and explore a broader spectrum of sonic colors and sophisticated harmonies, including fluid passing chords. If you're bored with the standard tuning and are looking for more colorful sounding chords then this tuning is highly recommended!

Technical Analysis

The open string notes for this tuning are B1 - F#3 - D3 - F#4 - A3 - C#5 (low to high). This arrangement creates a striking and open B minor 9th chord (B-D-F#-A-C#), with the F# note doubled across the 5th and 3rd strings for added resonance and harmonic stability. The extreme low B string (B1) provides a profound bass foundation, while the high C#5 adds a sparkling, extended upper register, resulting in an exceptionally wide sonic landscape that contributes to its 'piano-like' character.

The intervals between adjacent strings are quite unique and non-linear, creating specific challenges and opportunities for chord voicings:

• 6th string (B1) to 5th string (F#3): An expansive interval of a Perfect 5th, two octaves up (+31 semitones).
• 5th string (F#3) to 4th string (D3): A Major 3rd down (-4 semitones).
• 4th string (D3) to 3rd string (F#4): A Major 3rd, one octave up (+16 semitones).
• 3rd string (F#4) to 2nd string (A3): A Major 3rd down (-4 semitones).
• 2nd string (A3) to 1st string (C#5): A Major 3rd, one octave up (+16 semitones).

This intricate interval structure means that standard chord shapes will be transformed, often yielding rich minor 7th, minor 9th, and suspended voicings with minimal finger movement. The repeating Major 3rd interval (up an octave, then down) between the inner strings (D3-F#4 and A3-C#5) offers a symmetrical quality that can facilitate interesting melodic and harmonic patterns.

How to Tune

To achieve the B Minor 9th tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-e), follow these specific string adjustments. Please note the number of semitones each string needs to be tuned down, and be mindful of string tension.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 5 semitones to B1. This is a significant drop in pitch (E to B), and for optimal playability and string tension, it is highly recommended to consider a heavier gauge string for your low E.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 3 semitones to F#3.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 1 semitone to F#4.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• 1st String (High e): Tune down 3 semitones to C#5.

Here are the open notes for each string in B Minor 9th tuning, from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st) string:

• 6th String: B1
• 5th String: F#3
• 4th String: D3
• 3rd String: F#4
• 2nd String: A3
• 1st String: C#5