Tuning Description: Open B 6add9

The Open B 6add9 tuning is, as described in the provided information, a rather folky tuning that sounds particularly grand on an acoustic guitar. It offers a rich, resonant sound suitable for a wide range of musical styles, from intricate fingerpicking to full-bodied strumming, providing a harmonically complex foundation.

Technical Analysis:

This tuning results in the following open string notes from low to high: C#3, G#3, B2, F#4, B3, D#5. When strummed open, these notes form a beautiful and complex B Major 6th Add 9th chord. Let's break down its components:

• Root (B): Provided strongly by the 4th string (B2) and 2nd string (B3). This dual presence of the root clearly establishes the B tonality for the open chord.
• Major 3rd (D#): Present on the 1st string (D#5), giving the chord its characteristic bright, major quality.
• Perfect 5th (F#): Found on the 3rd string (F#4), providing essential harmonic stability to the core B major triad.
• Major 6th (G#): Available on the 5th string (G#3), adding a sophisticated, often wistful or 'folky' extension to the major chord, contributing to its lush sound.
• Major 9th (C#): The lowest string (6th string, C#3) provides this extension. The C# functions as the 9th (or 2nd) of B, creating a broad, open, and slightly jazzy feel. Its low position adds a deep resonance, thickening the overall voicing.

The combination of these intervals creates a full, wide-ranging voicing across the guitar's register, from the deep C#3 to the high D#5, making every open strum feel complete and harmonically rich.

Playability and Chords:

The beauty of Open B 6add9 lies in its immediate sonic gratification. Strumming the open strings immediately yields a rich, harmonically complex chord, making it an excellent tuning for songwriting and improvisation. Due to its open, extended chord nature:

• Instant Barre Chords: Moving a single-finger barre up and down the fretboard allows you to easily transpose the B6add9 chord into any key (e.g., barre at the 1st fret gives a C6add9, 2nd fret gives a C#6add9, and so on), making chord progressions intuitive and fluid.
• Drones and Pedals: The open B strings (String 4 and 2) can be used effectively as drone notes, providing a constant harmonic foundation over which melodies and other chord shapes can be played. The low C# on String 6 also offers interesting pedal tone possibilities against the B root.
• Harmonic Textures: The widespread notes and rich extensions (6th, 9th) lend themselves well to creating expansive harmonic textures, perfect for ambient, folk, singer-songwriter, or even modern classical guitar pieces.
• Fingering Simplicity: Basic fingerings often result in complex-sounding chords due to the inherent harmonic richness of the open strings. This makes it accessible for players of varying skill levels to achieve impressive and professional sounds with minimal effort.

How to Tune:

To achieve the Open B 6add9 tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps. All string movements specified are within a range that generally does not require a different string gauge, but always tune carefully and gradually.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune this string down 3 semitones from E to a C#3.
• String 5 (A): Tune this string down 1 semitone from A to a G#3.
• String 4 (D): Tune this string down 3 semitones from D to a B2.
• String 3 (G): Tune this string down 1 semitone from G to a F#4.
• String 2 (B): Keep this string as is; no change (0 semitones). It should remain a B3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune this string down 1 semitone from E to a D#5.

Open String Notes:

• String 6: C#3
• String 5: G#3
• String 4: B2
• String 3: F#4
• String 2: B3
• String 1: D#5