F Major Tuning: A 9-String Sonic Depth Charge

As described by its creator, this 9-string tuning, aptly named F Major Tuning, was designed with the intention of creating an open F major chord with an incredibly low and resonant foundation. The result is a truly massive and deep sound that goes far beyond typical guitar registers.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning delivers an overwhelmingly powerful and expansive F major sound. When strummed open, the instrument immediately produces a colossal F major chord, spanning an incredible four octaves from F0 on String 8 all the way up to F3 on String 1. The strategic placement of multiple C notes (C0, C1, C2, C3) throughout the lower register provides a dense, almost sub-harmonic bass foundation, reinforcing the F major tonality with immense depth.

The extreme low register, with C0 as the lowest note, plunges into territories usually reserved for extended range basses or synthesizers, making it perfect for genres requiring immense weight and atmosphere, such as djent, doom metal, or experimental ambient music. The design prioritizes the F major chord, making it highly intuitive to play in this key. Simple strumming of open strings yields a rich, full chord, and easily accessible barre chords or power chords will naturally extend the F major harmony across the fretboard.

Due to the strong F-C-A chord tones present, finding power chords, octaves, and even full F major shapes up and down the neck becomes quite natural, despite the unconventional string intervals. The repeated F and C notes across different octaves also make it easy to create powerful, harmonically resonant riffs with minimal hand movement.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes for this 9-string guitar are:
C0 - F0 - C1 - F1 - C2 - F2 - A2 - C3 - F3 (from lowest String 9 to highest String 1).

These notes collectively form an F major chord (F-A-C) with a strong emphasis on the root (F) and fifth (C), providing immense harmonic density and a deep, foundational C bass note.

• Root (F): Present on String 8 (F0), String 6 (F1), String 4 (F2), and String 1 (F3).
• Major Third (A): Present on String 3 (A2).
• Perfect Fifth (C): Present on String 9 (C0), String 7 (C1), String 5 (C2), and String 2 (C3).

The lowest note, C0, is exceptionally deep, making this one of the lowest practical guitar tunings. This necessitates very heavy gauge strings to achieve proper tension and intonation.

Intervals Between Adjacent Strings (from low to high):

• String 9 (C0) to String 8 (F0): Perfect 4th
• String 8 (F0) to String 7 (C1): Perfect 5th
• String 7 (C1) to String 6 (F1): Perfect 4th
• String 6 (F1) to String 5 (C2): Perfect 5th
• String 5 (C2) to String 4 (F2): Perfect 4th
• String 4 (F2) to String 3 (A2): Major 3rd
• String 3 (A2) to String 2 (C3): Minor 3rd
• String 2 (C3) to String 1 (F3): Perfect 4th

The prevalence of Perfect 4ths and Perfect 5ths (which are inversions of 4ths) creates a powerful, open, and harmonically consistent sound across much of the tuning. The specific Major 3rd (F2 to A2) and Minor 3rd (A2 to C3) intervals precisely define the F major triad within the mid-range of the tuning, ensuring a clear chord voicing.

Important Note on String Gauge:

Given that all strings in this tuning are significantly dropped in pitch, with movements ranging from 9 to 13 semitones (nearly a whole octave and beyond for some strings), it is absolutely critical to use much heavier gauge strings than typically used for standard tuning. Using standard gauge strings with such a drastic drop in pitch will result in extreme floppiness, poor tone, intonation issues, and potential damage to your guitar's setup. Professional setup with appropriate string gauges is highly recommended for optimal playability and sound quality with this extreme low tuning.

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the 'F Major Tuning' on your 9-string guitar, follow these instructions for each string:

• String 9 (Lowest String): To achieve C0, tune down 13 semitones.
• String 8: To achieve F0, tune down 13 semitones.
• String 7: To achieve C1, tune down 11 semitones.
• String 6: To achieve F1, tune down 11 semitones.
• String 5: To achieve C2, tune down 9 semitones.
• String 4: To achieve F2, tune down 9 semitones.
• String 3: To achieve A2, tune down 10 semitones.
• String 2: To achieve C3, tune down 11 semitones.
• String 1 (Highest String): To achieve F3, tune down 11 semitones.

Important Note on String Gauge: As all strings are tuned down significantly (between 9 and 13 semitones), using much heavier gauge strings is essential for proper tension, intonation, and playability. Using standard gauge strings will lead to extreme floppiness and poor tone.

Open String Notes Overview

Here is a breakdown of each open string's note and its role in this tuning:

• String 9 (Lowest): C0 - This is an extraordinarily deep note, providing the absolute sub-bass foundation for the F major chord. It adds an immense, rumbling quality to the overall sound.
• String 8: F0 - The lowest root of the F major chord. This note delivers profound depth and power, anchoring the entire tuning.
• String 7: C1 - Another powerful perfect fifth, reinforcing the harmonic foundation of F major in a slightly higher, yet still very deep, octave.
• String 6: F1 - The root note again, now in a mid-low register, contributing body and presence to the F major harmony.
• String 5: C2 - A strong perfect fifth, balancing the F notes and preparing the harmonic landscape for the higher registers.
• String 4: F2 - The F root, now in a more traditional (though still low) guitar range, providing clarity and projection for the core chord.
• String 3: A2 - The crucial major third of the F major chord. This note defines the major tonality and provides essential harmonic color.
• String 2: C3 - The perfect fifth of the F major chord, completing the main triad in the higher register and adding brightness.
• String 1 (Highest): F3 - The highest root note, capping off the F major chord and extending its full, expansive range across all nine strings.