Tuning Description: Open Cm7/11

This unique tuning, known as "Open Cm7/11," was crafted by the creator during an exploration of John Martyn's distinctive guitar work, aiming for a rich, complex harmonic landscape.

Technical Analysis:

The open strings are tuned to C2 - G2 - D#4 - G3 - A#4 - F4 (low to high). These notes collectively form a robust C minor 11th (Cm11) chord. Specifically, we have:

• C (Root): On the 6th string (C2).
• G (Perfect 5th): On the 5th string (G2) and 3rd string (G3).
• D# (Eb, Minor 3rd): On the 4th string (D#4).
• A# (Bb, Minor 7th): On the 2nd string (A#4).
• F (Perfect 11th): On the 1st string (F4).

This arrangement provides a dense, open voicing of Cm11, offering a deep and melancholic character perfect for a variety of genres.

Musical Applications and Chordal Opportunities:

The inherent Cm11 chord on open strings makes this tuning exceptionally suitable for:

• Blues and Jazz: Provides a natural foundation for improvising and composing in a C minor blues or jazz context.
• Modal Playing: Excellent for exploring C Phrygian or C Aeolian modes, offering immediate harmonic support.
• Fingerstyle and Ambient Music: The rich, full sound of the open strings lends itself well to intricate fingerpicking patterns and expansive, atmospheric soundscapes.
• Drone and Sustained Textures: The low C and G, coupled with the resonant open intervals, create a powerful drone capability.

Sliding common chord shapes up and down the neck will easily transpose the Cm11 voicing. Due to the repeated G notes and the inherent minor tonality, accessible chords include various inversions of Cm7, Cm9, and Cm11 by simply fretting a few notes. Additionally, related chords like G minor (Gm) or F minor (Fm) can be easily found with minimal finger movement, leveraging the existing harmonic structure. The wide interval between the 5th (G2) and 4th (D#4) strings, for example, creates unique sonic possibilities for melodic lines and chord voicings not typically found in standard tuning.

How to Tune Your Guitar to Open Cm7/11

To achieve the Open Cm7/11 tuning, you will adjust your standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning as follows. Please exercise caution, especially with significant pitch changes. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down (i.e., less than -4 or greater than 4), considering a different gauge string set is highly recommended to prevent string breakage, intonation issues, or damage to your instrument.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 4 semitones to C2. (This is a significant drop; proceed with care, and consider string gauge.)
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 1 semitone to D#4.
• 3rd String (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones), remains G3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 1 semitone to A#4.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 1 semitone to F4.