Open Dsus13: A Rich and Evocative Soundscape

The 'Open Dsus13' tuning is a captivating and unique approach to the guitar, designed to evoke a complex interplay of emotions and sonic textures. As its creator noted, it excels at creating a "juxtaposition between the minor feel and the sus feel," making it a potent tool for songwriting and atmospheric exploration.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning doesn't conform to a simple open major or minor chord, instead offering a rich, suspended quality with intriguing extensions. When strummed open (D-A-C-A-B-G), it immediately presents a full-bodied, slightly pensive, and resonant sound. The low D provides a deep, grounding bass, while the recurring A strings offer a natural drone. The inclusion of the C (minor 7th) against the D root adds a bluesy or dominant flavour, pulling the sound into a more sophisticated territory than a simple suspended chord. This is beautifully complemented by the G (suspended 4th) and B (13th), which introduce harmonic tension and a bright, ethereal shimmer. The result is a tuning that can sound melancholic and hopeful simultaneously, perfect for creating dynamic sonic landscapes, intricate fingerpicking patterns, and expressive melodies. It's particularly well-suited for genres like folk, ambient, progressive rock, or even jazz-fusion where harmonic complexity and emotional depth are paramount.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes are configured as:

• 6th String: D2 (Root)
• 5th String: A2 (Perfect 5th)
• 4th String: C3 (Minor 7th)
• 3rd String: A3 (Perfect 5th, an octave higher)
• 2nd String: B3 (Major 6th / 13th)
• 1st String: G4 (Perfect 4th / Suspended 4th)

Analyzed from the root (D), the intervals are D (Root), A (5th), C (m7), A (5th), B (13th), G (sus4). This effectively creates a D minor 7 suspended 4th chord with an added 13th (Dm7sus4add13). The 'Dsus13' name is a concise way to capture this complex harmonic structure, highlighting the suspended quality and the extended harmony. The repeated A notes create a natural resonance, while the D-A-C-G-B cluster offers a rich palette for chord voicings. The low D provides excellent bass foundation, and the high G allows for sparkling treble lines.

Chords within Reach

This tuning inherently provides a rich, complex open chord. Due to its unique intervallic structure:

• Open Chord: A full Dm7sus4add13, perfect for intros, drones, or a main vamp.
• Barre Chords: Moving a single finger across all strings will transpose this rich chord shape, allowing you to easily access complex suspended/extended chords in other keys. For example, a barre at the 2nd fret would yield an Em7sus4add13.
• Minor Chords: The presence of the D (root), A (5th), and C (minor 7th) makes minor chord shapes, particularly D minor, very accessible and natural-sounding. Muting or slightly altering the G and B strings can simplify the open chord to a Dm7.
• Suspended Chords: The G (sus4) is readily available, making Dsus4 chords easily achievable by focusing on specific string groups.
• Extended Harmonies: The B (13th) and G (sus4) are integral to the tuning, encouraging the exploration of melodic lines and arpeggios that highlight these extensions, leading to modern and sophisticated sounds.

The tuning encourages creative exploration beyond standard chord shapes, opening doors to unique melodic and harmonic possibilities.

How to Tune Your Guitar to Open Dsus13

To achieve the 'Open Dsus13' tuning, you will adjust your strings from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-e) as follows. Please exercise caution, especially when tuning strings up significantly.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune to D2. Tune down 2 semitones from standard E.
• String 5 (A): Tune to A2. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from standard A.
• String 4 (D): Tune to C3. Tune down 2 semitones from standard D.
• String 3 (G): Tune to A3. Tune up 2 semitones from standard G.
• String 2 (B): Tune to B3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from standard B.
• String 1 (High E): Tune to G4. Tune up 3 semitones from standard E.

Important Note: While none of the individual string adjustments in this tuning exceed four semitones up or down, generally tuning up 3 or 4 semitones (as with your first string) requires care. Always tune slowly and check string tension. For tunings requiring movements of more than four semitones up or down, a different string gauge is usually recommended for optimal playability and to prevent string breakage or damage to your instrument.