This unique tuning, playfully described in French as a "lap steel accordage pour s'amuser avec cette accordage" (lap steel tuning for having fun with this tuning), truly lives up to its name. It's a vibrant and open tuning primarily designed for lap steel or slide guitar, offering a rich sonic palette that encourages intuitive melodic and chordal exploration.

Verbal Analysis

At its heart, this tuning creates a powerful and resonant C# Major chord across the majority of its open strings (C# G# C# G# C#). The brilliant addition of the D# on the highest string transforms this into a captivating C#add9 (or C# Major 9th) voicing, giving it a sophisticated, bright, and slightly bluesy or jazzy character right from the open position. It feels expansive and full, allowing for grand, sweeping gestures with a slide. The recurring pattern of roots and fifths makes for a very strong fundamental sound, perfect for driving melodies over a rich harmonic bed. Playing in this tuning is designed to be joyful and free, making it incredibly rewarding for improvisation and expressing open, resonant ideas.

Technical Analysis

The open notes of this tuning are C#3, G#3, C#4, G#4, C#5, and D#5, from the lowest (6th) string to the highest (1st) string. Analyzing the intervals reveals a distinctive structure:

• String 6 (C#3) to String 5 (G#3): Perfect 5th
• String 5 (G#3) to String 4 (C#4): Perfect 4th
• String 4 (C#4) to String 3 (G#4): Perfect 5th
• String 3 (G#4) to String 2 (C#5): Perfect 4th
• String 2 (C#5) to String 1 (D#5): Major 2nd (or Major 9th relative to the C# root)

This creates a C#add9 chord (C# E# G# B# D#) where the open strings provide the Root (C#), Fifth (G#), Root (C#), Fifth (G#), Root (C#), and Ninth (D#). The absence of a natural third (E# is enharmonically F) in the open tuning itself but the presence of the implied major key through the C# Major chord foundation means it maintains a clear major tonality. The consistent root-fifth-root pattern across most strings makes it highly versatile for slide work, as simply barring a single fret across multiple strings will instantly yield a Major 9th chord of that fret's value. For example, barring at the 1st fret will produce a Dadd9, and so on. Chords such as power chords (root-fifth) and various major chord voicings are easily accessible by using just two or three strings.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve this vibrant C#add9 Lap Steel Tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these precise string movements:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#3.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 1 semitones to G#3.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitones to C#4.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 1 semitones to G#4.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 2 semitones to C#5.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 1 semitones to D#5.

Please note: All tuning adjustments are within a safe range for standard guitar strings. For movements exceeding 4 semitones up or down, considering a different string gauge is generally advised, though not necessary for this specific tuning.

6th String: C#3

5th String: G#3

4th String: C#4

3rd String: G#4

2nd String: C#5

1st String: D#5