Verbal & Technical Analysis: Jacob Collier's Dadd9

The 'Jacob Collier Dadd9' tuning, as its name suggests, is a vibrant and harmonically rich configuration that centers around the Dadd9 chord. Starting from standard EADGBe, this tuning transforms your guitar into an instrument capable of producing a lush, resonant Dadd9 chord with just open strings. It's a tuning that invites exploration, particularly for those interested in modern harmony, fingerstyle, and creating deep, sustained sonic landscapes.

Technically, the open strings are tuned to D2-A2-E3-A3-A3-D4. This arrangement provides a powerful root (D) on both the lowest and highest strings, reinforcing the fundamental pitch. The most prominent interval is the perfect fifth (A), which appears three times across the 5th, 3rd, and 2nd strings, with the latter two being in unison (A3). This creates an exceptionally strong and resonant fifth that can serve as a drone or a core harmonic element. The E3 on the 4th string provides the crucial major ninth (or major second) that gives the tuning its 'add9' characteristic. The overall effect is a full, complex, and highly resonant chord that rings out beautifully, making it easy to achieve a sophisticated sound with minimal effort.

Chords & Playability

The most immediate and obvious chord is the open Dadd9, which resonates with a wonderful fullness. This makes it incredibly accessible for strumming, allowing players to instantly sound professional. Due to the consistent Dadd9 structure, barring across any fret will naturally transpose this chord, yielding other add9 chords (e.g., barring at the 2nd fret produces an Eadd9, 3rd fret for Fadd9, etc.). The unison A3 on strings 3 and 2 is a standout feature, enabling interesting drone textures and making it easy to incorporate melodic lines over a sustained fifth. The spread of D notes across octaves also facilitates powerful bass lines and bright treble melodies. This tuning is particularly well-suited for ambient music, folk, and contemporary pop/jazz styles where rich, open voicings are desired.

How to Tune

To set up your guitar for the 'Jacob Collier Dadd9' tuning, follow these specific adjustments from standard EADGBe:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones from E2 to D2.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from A2 to A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 2 semitones from D3 to E3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 2 semitones from G3 to A3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 2 semitones from B3 to A3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones from E4 to D4.

Important Note: All string movements are within a range of +/- 2 semitones, which is generally safe for standard string gauges. However, always tune slowly and carefully, especially when tuning strings up, to prevent breakage and protect your instrument.

String 6: D2

String 5: A2

String 4: E3

String 3: A3

String 2: A3

String 1: D4