This unique guitar tuning, which we've named Open D MinMaj9 Twinkle, is designed for a distinctive and atmospheric sound. As the original description suggests, it's perfect for "emo twinkly guitar" styles, offering a blend of rich harmony and evocative dissonance. This tuning creates a lush sonic landscape, ideal for arpeggiated figures, ambient textures, and emotionally resonant melodies.

Technical Analysis: Open String Voicing

The open strings are tuned to D2, A2, E3, F3, C#5, and E4 (from low to high). When played together, these notes form a complex and intriguing chord. Considering D as the root, the intervals present are:

• D (Root)
• A (Perfect 5th)
• E (Major 2nd / 9th)
• F (Minor 3rd)
• C# (Major 7th)
• E (Octave above the Major 2nd / 9th)

This collection of notes results in what can be technically described as a D minor-major 7th chord with an added 9th (DmM7add9), featuring a suspended quality from the open E string. The simultaneous presence of a minor third (F) and a major seventh (C#) creates a bittersweet and unresolved tension, characteristic of genres that favour expressive dissonance. The inclusion of the 9th (E) further expands the harmonic palette, leading to a full and resonant open voicing that rings beautifully.

Chordal Possibilities and Fingerboard Shapes

Due to the open string voicing, strumming all six strings open yields a rich, complex DmM7add9 chord. This serves as an excellent drone or a starting point for arpeggios. The strategic arrangement of notes also opens up several interesting chord shapes and melodic opportunities:

• Open D Minor-Major 7th Add 9: Simply strumming all open strings provides this full, resonant chord, perfect for atmospheric intros or sustained passages.
• Accessible Power Chords: The low D and A strings remain a perfect fifth apart, making standard power chords on the lower strings easily accessible and robust. For example, barring across the 5th fret on strings 6, 5, and 4 (G, D, A) would create a G5.
• Unique Open Voicings: Experiment with partial barres or two-finger chords. For instance, fretting the low D string (6th string) at the 2nd fret (E) and leaving other strings open creates an interesting E-based voicing (E-A-E-F-C#-E), highlighting the F and C# dissonance.
• Arpeggiated Harmonies: The wide intervals and dissonances make this tuning particularly well-suited for arpeggiated figures, allowing each note to ring out and contribute to the "twinkly" effect.
• Melodic Potential: The open E and F strings (4th and 3rd) provide a semitone interval, which can be exploited for bluesy or melancholic lead lines, especially against the D root.

Exploration of the fretboard will reveal many unexpected and beautiful voicings that are unique to this setup, moving beyond standard chord shapes and encouraging creative improvisation.

How to Tune Your Guitar:

To achieve the Open D MinMaj9 Twinkle tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), follow these steps carefully:

• Low E String (6th String): Tune down 2 semitones from E2 to D2. (Keep as is; no change (0 semitones))
• A String (5th String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2. (Keep as is; no change (0 semitones))
• D String (4th String): Tune up 2 semitones from D3 to E3. (Tune up 2 semitones)
• G String (3rd String): Tune down 2 semitones from G3 to F3. (Tune down 2 semitones)
• B String (2nd String): Tune up 2 semitones from B3 to C#5. (Tune up 2 semitones)
• High E String (1st String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at E4. (Keep as is; no change (0 semitones))

Always re-check all strings after initial tuning, as changes in one string's tension can affect others. For tunings involving movements greater than 4 semitones (up or down), a different string gauge might be advisable to maintain optimal string tension and prevent premature string wear or breakage. All movements in this tuning are within generally safe limits, but always tune slowly and carefully.

Here are the notes for each string in this tuning, from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st):

• 6th String: D2 (Low D)
• 5th String: A2 (A)
• 4th String: E3 (E)
• 3rd String: F3 (F)
• 2nd String: C#5 (High C#)
• 1st String: E4 (High E)