Tuning Analysis: DAEFAC Minor 9

This unique guitar tuning, labeled as DAEFAC, is a specialized setup that likely serves a specific musical purpose, as indicated by its origin in a YouTube tutorial for a particular song. It transforms the guitar into an instrument capable of producing rich, complex harmonies with an inherent melancholic or expansive feel.

Verbal Analysis

The DAEFAC tuning immediately conjures a dark, introspective, and full sound. With an open D minor 9th chord ringing out across the strings, it lends itself perfectly to atmospheric soundscapes, cinematic scores, or deeply emotional folk and rock compositions. The deep D on the 6th string provides a strong foundation, while the interplay of F, A, C, and E creates a lush, sophisticated minor nine voicing. This tuning would be particularly inspiring for fingerstyle players exploring intricate arpeggios, or for strummers looking for an exceptionally rich harmonic texture without complex fretboard shapes. Its unique interval structure invites fresh melodic ideas and can make familiar chord shapes sound entirely new.

Technical Analysis

• Root Note: The lowest string is tuned to D1, establishing D as the clear tonic of this tuning.
• Open Chord: When strummed open, the strings D1-A2-E3-F3-A3-C4 form a D minor 9 (Dm9) chord (D-F-A-C-E). This is a highly resonant and complex harmony.
• Intervals (relative to D): The tuning presents the root (D), perfect 5th (A), major 9th (E), minor 3rd (F), perfect 5th (A, octave higher), and minor 7th (C). This clear Dm9 structure makes it incredibly versatile for playing in the key of D minor, offering both the minor quality and the extended harmony of the 9th.
• Harmonic Potential: Beyond the open Dm9, the consistent D minor tonal center allows for easy exploration of related chords. Sliding a barre up the neck would instantly transpose the Dm9 to Em9, Fm9, etc., maintaining the powerful chordal voicing. The proximity of E and F on strings 4 and 3 (E3 and F3) also suggests interesting voicings and suspensions that can be achieved with minimal fretboard movement.

How to Tune (Starting from Standard EADGBE)

Please be aware that the 6th string instruction appears to be an anomaly in the provided data, as tuning E up 1 semitone results in F, not D. We recommend tuning your 6th string directly to D1. For the other strings, proceed as follows:

• 6th String (Low E to D1): Tune up 1 semitones. (Note: To reach D1 from a standard E2, you would typically tune down 14 semitones. The instruction "Tune up 1 semitones" suggests an intended starting point of D#1/Eb1 or a unique context. For practical purposes, tune your 6th string directly to D1.)
• 5th String (A to A2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 4th String (D to E3): Tune up 2 semitones.
• 3rd String (G to F3): Tune down 2 semitones.
• 2nd String (B to A3): Tune down 2 semitones.
• 1st String (High E to C4): Tune down 4 semitones.

Important String Gauge Advisory: Tuning your 1st string down by 4 semitones (from E to C) is a significant change. When string movements exceed negative 4 or positive 4 semitones, it is generally advised to consider using a different gauge string to maintain optimal tension and tone, and to prevent potential damage to your instrument or strings.