Verbal Description

Step into a world of sophisticated harmony with the Open Cminor11 tuning. This rich and evocative tuning immediately conjures a deep, dark, and complex sound when strummed open, reminiscent of jazz, blues, or even film scores. It offers a powerful blend of consonance and subtle dissonance, creating a lush soundscape that invites exploration. The inherent minor 7th and 11th intervals provide a foundation for introspective melodies and compelling chord progressions, allowing for a wide range of emotional expression.

Technical Analysis

This tuning is built upon the notes C2-G2-D3-D#4-A#4-F4, which when combined, form a full C minor 11th chord (C-Eb-G-Bb-D-F). The specific voicing of the open strings creates an intriguing arrangement of intervals across the fretboard:

• String 6 (C2) to String 5 (G2): Perfect 5th
• String 5 (G2) to String 4 (D3): Perfect 5th
• String 4 (D3) to String 3 (D#4): Compound minor 2nd (D to Eb, an octave higher)
• String 3 (D#4) to String 2 (A#4): Perfect 5th
• String 2 (A#4) to String 1 (F4): Perfect 5th

The presence of the D# (enharmonically Eb) and A# (enharmonically Bb) explicitly outlines the minor third and minor seventh of the C minor chord, while the D and F provide the essential 9th and 11th extensions. The tight compound minor second interval between strings 4 and 3 (D3 to D#4) is particularly noteworthy, introducing a characteristic tension that contributes significantly to the tuning's complex harmonic profile. This tuning is, as described, essentially a full half-step higher variation of an Open Bminor11 tuning, shifting the entire harmonic center upwards.

Open Chords and Possibilities

• Strumming all open strings immediately yields a rich C minor 11th chord, perfect for ambient textures or as a sophisticated base for songwriting.
• By simply barring all strings at any fret, you can effortlessly transpose the full minor 11th chord up the neck (e.g., 1st fret for C#m11, 2nd fret for Dm11, etc.), maintaining the complex voicing.
• The numerous perfect fifth intervals (String 6-5, String 5-4, String 3-2, String 2-1) make it easy to play powerful open fifths or power chords by barring adjacent pairs of strings. This provides a solid harmonic drive that contrasts with the tuning's inherent complexity.
• The low C-G-D on strings 6, 5, and 4 can be used to create a solid root and 9th base over which higher melodies can be played, or to form partial chords such as a C power chord with an added 9th.
• The high D#-A#-F (Eb-Bb-F) on strings 3, 2, and 1 forms an Eb major triad. This offers a strong contrast and a natural pathway for harmonic movement, as Eb is the relative major of C minor.
• The distinct D3 and D#4 (Eb) on adjacent strings 4 and 3 create a unique 'cluster' that can be used melodically or harmonically to add tension and color. Fret both notes simultaneously with one finger for interesting moving intervals that parallel up the neck.

Tuning Notes

• String 6 (Low E): C2
• String 5 (A): G2
• String 4 (D): D3
• String 3 (G): D#4
• String 2 (B): A#4
• String 1 (High E): F4

How to Tune Your Guitar

Follow these instructions carefully to achieve the Open Cminor11 tuning from standard E Standard tuning. Always tune slowly and carefully to avoid string breakage.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones from E to C2. Note: Tuning down 4 semitones (two whole steps) is a significant change. If your strings are a very light gauge, you might experience excessive looseness or intonation issues. For optimal performance and tension, consider using a heavier gauge string for this position.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones from A to G2. This is a common and generally safe adjustment, lowering the string by a whole step.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from D to D3. No adjustment is needed for this string from standard tuning.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 4 semitones from G to D#4. Note: Similar to String 6, tuning down 4 semitones (two whole steps) can cause significant string tension reduction. Be mindful of your string gauge and consider a heavier gauge string if you find it too loose.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 1 semitone from B to A#4. This is a common and generally safe adjustment, lowering the string by a half step.
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 1 semitone from E to F4. This is a common and generally safe adjustment, raising the string by a half step. Tuning up by a single semitone is usually fine for standard gauge strings.