C#F#BFG#D#GA#C Guitar Tuner

C#F#BFG#D#GA#C | D♭G♭BFA♭E♭GB♭C FG#D#AGA#C - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - FG#D#AGA#C

nice open Fm11 tuning. Pretty folksy sounding and easy chord shapes.

About the Fm11 Folksy Drone Tuning

This unique 9-string guitar tuning, the Fm11 Folksy Drone Tuning, is described as a "nice open Fm11 tuning" with a "pretty folksy sounding" character and "easy chord shapes." It's designed to offer a rich, resonant soundscape, perfect for creating deep, atmospheric textures and melodic lines, often found in folk, ambient, and cinematic styles.

Technical Analysis

The tuning spans a remarkable range across nine strings, from the low B1 to the high A#4. The specific open notes are: B1, C#2, F2, F#2, G3, G#3, C4, D#4, A#4 (listed from lowest to highest pitch). While the array of notes initially appears eclectic, a closer look reveals the core components of an Fm11 chord (F - G# (Ab) - C - D# (Eb) - G - A# (Bb)) are all present, allowing for a resonant open Fm11 voicing. The additional notes—B, C#, and F#—serve to add harmonic depth, creating rich drones, suspensions, and unique melodic possibilities over the implied F minor harmony.

The wide intervallic spread and presence of non-chord tones (B, C#, F#) suggest this tuning lends itself well to open, ringing voicings and experimental chord constructions. Its "folksy" quality likely comes from the interplay of stable minor harmonies with these dissonant or modal-specific extensions. Players can expect to find accessible chord shapes that leverage the open strings, making complex-sounding harmonies surprisingly simple to achieve.

Open chords, beyond the inherent Fm11, can be easily formed by fretting adjacent strings at the same fret, or by utilizing common shapes that emphasize the available minor and dominant seventh intervals. The presence of F and C, along with G# (Ab) and D# (Eb), opens the door to various F minor-related voicings, including F minor, Fm7, and Fm9, with the added extensions giving it an 11th flavor. The other notes provide opportunities for sustained drones or suspensions, adding to its unique sonic palette.

Tuning Details & How to Tune

This tuning is designed for a 9-string guitar. Below are the target notes for each string and instructions on how to achieve them from a standard tuning, along with any relevant advice on string gauge.

Target Notes:

String 9 (Lowest): C#2
String 8: F#2
String 7: B1
String 6: F2
String 5: G#3
String 4: D#4
String 3: G3
String 2: A#4
String 1 (Highest): C4

How to Tune:

String 9 (C#2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
String 8 (F#2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
String 7 (B1): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
String 6 (F2): Tune up 1 semitone. (Original note likely E2)
String 5 (G#3): Tune down 1 semitone. (Original note likely A3)
String 4 (D#4): Tune up 1 semitone. (Original note likely D4)
String 3 (G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
String 2 (A#4): Tune down 1 semitone. (Original note likely B4)
String 1 (C4): Tune down 4 semitones. (Original note likely E4)

Note: For significant tuning changes (exceeding 4 semitones up or down), it is generally recommended to consider using a different string gauge to ensure optimal tension and playability. In this tuning, all string movements fall within a range that should typically be manageable with standard gauges for a 9-string instrument, though individual string tension preferences may vary.