Tuning Overview: Open G 9th

This unique Guitar tuning, aptly named Open G 9th, offers a rich and expansive sonic palette. As described by its inventor, it was developed through experimentation with a Gmaj7 tuning, resulting in a voicing particularly suited for genres like Skrams – suggesting a percussive, textured, and perhaps atmospheric approach.

Technically, the open strings (B1-G2-D3-F#4-A3-B3) resonate together to form a full G Major 9 chord (G-B-D-F#-A), with the lowest and highest strings both tuned to B. This means the open tuning effectively creates a Gmaj9/B chord, providing a rich, low-end foundation with bright, shimmering higher harmonics. The presence of the Major 7th (F#) and the 9th (A) adds a sophisticated, jazz-influenced flavour, moving beyond simple major tonality.

This open voicing makes it incredibly versatile for creating wide, resonant soundscapes and complex arpeggios. A single finger barre across any fret will instantly yield a transposed Gmaj9/B chord, allowing for easy exploration of different keys while retaining the core harmonic texture. For example, a barre at the 5th fret would produce a Cmaj9/E. The open strings themselves present a beautiful canvas for ambient music, fingerstyle compositions, or aggressive, rhythmic strumming techniques characteristic of its described genre. The broad range from the low B1 to the high B3 creates a spacious, full sound, allowing for both deep bass notes and bright melodic lines.

How to Tune

To achieve the Open G 9th tuning, you will adjust your strings from standard E-A-D-G-B-e. Please refer to the specific movements below for each string:

• 6th String (Low E) to B1: Tune down 5 semitones. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant drop. For optimal string tension and tone, especially if you plan to keep this tuning for extended periods, a heavier gauge string is advised.
• 5th String (A) to G2: Tune down 2 semitones.
• 4th String (D) to D3: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 3rd String (G) to F#4: Tune down 1 semitone.
• 2nd String (B) to A3: Tune down 2 semitones.
• 1st String (High e) to B3: Tune down 5 semitones. Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant drop. For optimal string tension and tone, especially if you plan to keep this tuning for extended periods, a heavier gauge string is advised.

Open String Notes

The Open G 9th tuning sets your guitar strings to the following notes:

• 6th String: B1
• 5th String: G2
• 4th String: D3
• 3rd String: F#4
• 2nd String: A3
• 1st String: B3