DABF#AE Guitar Tuner
DABF#AE | DABG♭AE D6/9 - Guitar tuning, chords & scales
The tuning you've provided for the Guitar, aptly named D6/9, presents a unique and somewhat enigmatic landscape for players. The original tuning description playfully suggests it's an "All fifths" tuning and challenges the player to find a melody within it. Our technical analysis, however, reveals a fascinating and highly unconventional structure that deviates significantly from a pure all-fifths arrangement. This tuning is anything but ordinary, creating a rich, open chord that invites experimental approaches rather than traditional melodic lines.
Technical Breakdown:
- Open Notes: The open strings are tuned to D2, A2, B2, F4#, A3, E4 (from low to high E string).
- Non-Monotonic Pitch: A critical and highly unusual feature of this tuning is its non-monotonic pitch progression. Specifically, the 3rd string (F4#) is tuned significantly higher than both the 2nd string (A3) and the 1st string (E4). This inversion of expected string order will drastically alter muscle memory and conventional playing techniques.
- Intervals Between Adjacent Strings: Far from being "All fifths," the intervals are varied:
- String 6 (D2) to String 5 (A2): Perfect 5th (P5)
- String 5 (A2) to String 4 (B2): Major 2nd (M2)
- String 4 (B2) to String 3 (F4#): This is a huge leap of an Augmented 4th plus an octave (or 18 semitones up, considering B2 to B3 is an octave, then B3 to F#4 is a P5, so B2 to F#4 is a P5 + octave).
- String 3 (F4#) to String 2 (A3): A sharp drop of 9 semitones (F#4 is higher than A3).
- String 2 (A3) to String 1 (E4): A Perfect 5th (P5)
Open Chord and Harmonic Possibilities:
When strummed open, the D6/9 tuning yields a beautiful and resonant Dmaj13 chord. The notes D, E, F#, A, B are all present across the open strings (D2, A2, B2, F4#, A3, E4 contains D, A, B, F#, A, E). This chord consists of the Root (D), Major 2nd/9th (E), Major 3rd (F#), Perfect 5th (A), and Major 6th (B), creating a very full, open, and slightly jazzy sound. This makes it ideal for ambient textures, arpeggiated figures that highlight the rich harmonies, or as a drone-like foundation for melodic improvisation. The presence of all notes from the D major pentatonic scale (D E F# A B) across the strings, albeit in a non-standard order, suggests a bright and open tonality.
Playing Implications:
The `tuning_description`'s challenge to find a melody is well-founded, not because of an all-fifths structure, but due to the non-monotonic string order. Standard scales, arpeggios, and chord shapes will be completely redefined and require significant re-learning. This tuning seems less suited for traditional melodic lead lines and more for creating unique harmonic beds, experimenting with open string voicings, or exploring novel textural soundscapes. It's a tuning that encourages a departure from conventional guitar playing, rewarding creativity and exploration.
Open String Notes:
String 6 (Low E): D2
String 5 (A): A2
String 4 (D): B2
String 3 (G): F4#
String 2 (B): A3
String 1 (High E): E4
How to Tune Your Guitar:
To achieve the D6/9 tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these precise steps:
- String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
- String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2.
- String 4 (D): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
- String 3 (G): Tune down 1 semitone to F4#.
- String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
- String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at E4.
All string adjustments for this tuning are within typical limits (not exceeding 4 semitones up or down) for standard gauge guitar strings. Therefore, a change in string gauge is not strictly necessary, though always exercise care when adjusting string tension and ensure your instrument can handle the changes.
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Tuning Map
- Fret
- S6
- S5
- S4
- S3
- S2
- S1
- -13
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F#
- A#
- D#
- -12
- E
- A
- D
- G
- B
- E
- -11
- F
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C
- F
- -10
- F#
- B
- E
- A
- C#
- F#
- -9
- G
- C
- F
- A#
- D
- G
- -8
- G#
- C#
- F#
- B
- D#
- G#
- -7
- A
- D
- G
- C
- E
- A
- -6
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F
- A#
- -5
- B
- E
- A
- D
- F#
- B
- -4
- C
- F
- A#
- D#
- G
- C
- -3
- C#
- F#
- B
- E
- G#
- C#
- -2
- D
- G
- C
- F
- A
- D
- -1
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F#
- A#
- D#
- 0
- E
- A
- D
- G
- B
- E
- 1
- F
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C
- F
- 2
- F#
- B
- E
- A
- C#
- F#
- 3
- G
- C
- F
- A#
- D
- G
- 4
- G#
- C#
- F#
- B
- D#
- G#
- 5
- A
- D
- G
- C
- E
- A
- 6
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F
- A#
- 7
- B
- E
- A
- D
- F#
- B
- -2
- 0
- -3
- -1
- -2
- 0