This captivating 'Open Am9' tuning offers a deeply resonant and harmonically rich sound. As its name suggests, when strummed open, it immediately presents an A minor (add9) chord, creating a sophisticated and melancholic foundation. Described as an 'interesting variation on Open C tuning,' it provides a familiar open-string resonance but with a unique, introspective character, making it perfect for lush fingerstyle pieces, atmospheric soundscapes, or compositions that benefit from a harmonically dense minor key. The distinct voicing encourages new melodic ideas and chord shapes, moving beyond the conventions of standard tuning.

Technical Analysis

The Open Am9 tuning is laid out as C2-A2-C3-E3-B3-E4 (from thickest to thinnest string). Played open, these notes form an A minor (add9) chord, comprising the notes A (root, on the 5th string), C (minor third, on the 6th and 4th strings), E (perfect fifth, on the 3rd and 1st strings), and B (major ninth, on the 2nd string). The open chord provides a powerful and full minor harmony with an added sophisticated extension. The duplicate C and E notes across different octaves contribute to the tuning's depth and sustain. The intervals between adjacent strings are: a Perfect 4th (C2-A2), a Minor 3rd (A2-C3), a Major 3rd (C3-E3), a Perfect 4th (E3-B3), and another Perfect 4th (B3-E4). This intervallic structure makes barré chords particularly effective, allowing for quick transposition of the open Am(add9) chord up the fretboard. Furthermore, the accessible A on the 5th string and the C and E notes provide a strong tonal anchor, facilitating the discovery of rich minor 7th, minor 9th, and even dominant 7th voicings with minimal fret-hand movement.

How to Tune

To achieve the Open Am9 tuning from standard EADGBe, carefully make the following adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones from E2 to C2. This is a significant drop. If you plan to use this tuning frequently, consider using a heavier gauge string for optimal tension and intonation, and to prevent string floppiness.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains A2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones from D3 to C3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones from G3 to E3.
• String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains B3.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains E4.

Always tune slowly and check your intonation after making any string tension changes to ensure the best playability and sound.

String 6 (Low E): Tuned to C2.

String 5 (A): Tuned to A2.

String 4 (D): Tuned to C3.

String 3 (G): Tuned to E3.

String 2 (B): Tuned to B3.

String 1 (High E): Tuned to E4.