Welcome to The Moody Minor 13th, a captivating and richly harmonized guitar tuning that originally goes by the name "Open Fm7(b13)". This tuning is designed to instantly transport your playing into a world of sophisticated, emotive, and complex soundscapes, perfect for exploring genres from jazz and blues to progressive rock and ambient music.

Verbal Analysis

True to its original description, this tuning indeed feels "like a moody m7 chord, but with that b13 for extra tension." When strummed open, the guitar produces a full and sonorous Fm7(b13) chord, creating an immediate sense of depth and atmospheric richness. This makes it incredibly intuitive for creating powerful rhythmic foundations or delicate harmonic textures with minimal effort. The broad range, anchored by a deep C2 on the lowest string, provides a solid, resonant base, while the minor third, seventh, and flat thirteenth intervals contribute to a distinctly melancholic yet intriguing character. It's particularly expressive for slide guitar, where glissandos over the open chord will naturally follow the implied harmony.

Technical Analysis

This 6-string guitar tuning sets your open strings to the following notes, from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st) string:

• String 6: C2
• String 5: F2
• String 4: D#3 (Eb3)
• String 3: G#3 (Ab3)
• String 2: C4
• String 1: C#4 (Db4)

These notes perfectly align to form an F Minor 7 Flat 13 (Fm7b13) chord, providing all its essential components directly on the open strings:

• Root (F): Present on String 5 (F2).
• Minor 3rd (Ab): Present on String 3 (G#3).
• Perfect 5th (C): Present on String 6 (C2) and String 2 (C4), reinforcing the harmonic center.
• Minor 7th (Eb): Present on String 4 (D#3).
• Flat 13th (Db/C#): Present on String 1 (C#4), adding the characteristic tension and color.

With this tuning, entire chord voicings become available with just one finger barred across a fret, allowing for seamless shifts through related minor 7b13 chords. Beyond the open chord, the intervals facilitate easy access to other related chords; for example, a simple barre at the 5th fret would yield a Bbm7(b13) chord, demonstrating the portability of the open chord structure. The presence of two 'C' notes (C2 and C4) and the closely spaced C4 and C#4 (Db4) on the high strings also invites interesting melodic and arpeggiated patterns, offering both stability and chromatic possibilities.

How to Tune to The Moody Minor 13th

To set your guitar to 'The Moody Minor 13th' tuning from standard EADGBe (E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4) tuning, carefully follow these string adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones from E2 to C2. (Note: This is a significant drop. For optimal string tension and tone, consider using a heavier gauge string for your low E, or proceed with care to avoid string floppiness.)
• String 5 (A): Tune down 4 semitones from A2 to F2. (Note: Similar to String 6, a 4-semitone drop is substantial. A heavier gauge string may be beneficial here to maintain good tension and intonation.)
• String 4 (D): Tune up 1 semitone from D3 to D#3 (Eb3).
• String 3 (G): Tune up 1 semitone from G3 to G#3 (Ab3).
• String 2 (B): Tune up 1 semitone from B3 to C4.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 3 semitones from E4 to C#4 (Db4).

Always use a precise tuner and adjust your strings slowly and incrementally to reach the target notes accurately. Enjoy exploring the deep and expressive harmonies of 'The Moody Minor 13th'!