About the D Minor 9th - US Tuning

Submitted by Pancho on 25th November 2010, this unique tuning transforms your guitar into a resonant soundscape, centered around the sophisticated D Minor 9th chord. With its open notes D-A-E-F-C-E (low to high), this tuning immediately evokes a dark, jazzy, or bluesy atmosphere, making it ideal for expressive songwriting and atmospheric compositions.

Verbal Analysis

The 'D Minor 9th - US' tuning opens up a rich harmonic palette. When strummed open, the strings beautifully articulate a D Minor 9th chord (D-F-A-C-E), providing a full and complex sound without any fretting. This inherent harmony makes it incredibly intuitive for creating moody progressions and improvising over a minor key. The presence of two 'E' notes (on the 4th and 1st strings) and the close proximity of E and F (4th and 3rd strings) create interesting sympathetic resonances and opportunities for unique voicings, adding depth and character to your playing. It’s a tuning that encourages exploration beyond standard chord shapes, leading to fresh melodic and harmonic ideas.

Technical Analysis

From low to high, the open strings are tuned to D2-A2-E3-F3-C4-E4. Analyzing these intervals from the root D (6th string):

• 6th String (D): Root
• 5th String (A): Perfect 5th above D
• 4th String (E): Major 9th (or Major 2nd) above D
• 3rd String (F): Minor 3rd above D
• 2nd String (C): Minor 7th above D
• 1st String (E): Major 9th (or Major 2nd) above D, an octave higher

The combination of D, F, A, C, and E clearly outlines a D Minor 9th chord. The specific note choices and their distribution across the fretboard offer convenient access to minor scales and arpeggios, particularly those related to D minor. The tuning requires some string tension adjustments; notably, the 4th string is tuned up a whole tone from D to E. However, all individual string changes are within 2 semitones, making this tuning generally safe for standard string gauges. As the original submitter noted, a higher gauge on the 4th string could enhance stability and tone, especially if you find the string feels too taut or causes fret rattling.

How to Tune Your Guitar to D Minor 9th - US

To achieve the D Minor 9th - US tuning, start from standard EADGBe tuning and adjust your strings as follows. The final open notes, from low to high, will be D2-A2-E3-F3-C4-E4.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 2 semitones to E3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 1 semitone to C4.
• 1st String (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at E4.

Important Note on String Gauge: Always exercise caution when tuning strings, especially when tuning up. For changes exceeding 4 semitones (either up or down), a different string gauge is typically recommended to prevent excessive tension or looseness and to ensure optimal tone and playability. For this particular tuning, all individual string adjustments are within 2 semitones, making it generally safe for standard string gauges. However, as the original submitter noted, a higher gauge string for the 4th string might be useful to minimize fret rattling and enhance tone stability, particularly if you play with a heavier hand.