A#add9/D Tuning: A Rich Harmonic Landscape

This unique tuning, which we'll call "Open A#add9/D," offers a deep and resonant sound, perfect for those looking to explore new harmonic territories beyond standard tunings. While the named chord is A#add9, the lowest string (6th string) being tuned to D provides a strong bass foundation, giving it an implied A#add9/D voicing.

Verbal Analysis:

Imagine a full, almost orchestral strum with a low, driving bass. The open strings resonate to form a rich chord, making it an excellent choice for fingerstyle arrangements where drone notes can shine, or for powerful, open strumming. The mixture of higher and lower octaves for D and F notes creates a shimmering, sustained quality, lending itself well to atmospheric compositions or bluesy slide work where a specific chordal backdrop is desired without complex fretting. The overall feel is one of lush harmony, with a somewhat melancholic or introspective character due to the inclusion of the major ninth (C) alongside the A# major triad.

Technical Analysis:

The open notes of this tuning are D2 - A#3 - D3 - F3 - C4 - F4. These notes, when analyzed, primarily outline an A#add9 chord (A#, D, F, C) with a D in the bass, giving us an A#add9/D voicing.

• The 6th string (D2) and 4th string (D3) provide octave-doubled roots for a D chord, or a strong bass for the overall harmony.
• The 5th string (A#3) acts as the root of the A#add9 chord.
• The 4th string (D3) is the major third of A#.
• The 3rd string (F3) is the perfect fifth of A#.
• The 2nd string (C4) provides the major ninth (or major second) of A#.
• The 1st string (F4) offers another perfect fifth, an octave higher than the 3rd string, enriching the upper harmonics.

This arrangement creates a dense, chordal sound when strummed open. The repetition of D and F at different octaves provides a robust framework and natural resonance.

Open Chords and Possibilities:

• Open Strum: Strumming all open strings yields the full A#add9/D chord, rich and ready for immediate use.
• Barre Chords: A simple barre across any fret will transpose the open A#add9/D voicing up the neck, allowing for easy access to a full range of parallel chord shapes (e.g., barre at the 1st fret gives an Eadd9/Eb).
• Drone & Pedal Tones: The low D2 and high D3, along with the F3 and F4, make it easy to create sustained drone notes, particularly effective in blues, folk, or ambient music.
• Harmonic Reach: The open intervals make it easier to reach complex voicings and create interesting harmonies with minimal fretting, especially for chords based around the D, A#, F, and C notes. Experiment with partial chords by muting specific strings or focusing on the lower or higher groups of strings.

Open String Notes:

• 6th String (Low E): D2
• 5th String (A): A#3
• 4th String (D): D3
• 3rd String (G): F3
• 2nd String (B): C4
• 1st String (High E): F4

How to Tune:

To achieve the "Open A#add9/D" tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning, follow these specific string adjustments:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to reach D2. This is a moderate drop, generally safe for standard string gauges.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 1 semitone to reach A#3. Please note: While the instruction is to tune up 1 semitone, the target note A#3 is an octave higher than what a standard A string (A2) would typically reach with just a single semitone adjustment (A#2). Achieving A#3 from a standard A2 string (which is A2) represents a significant increase in pitch (13 semitones). We advise extreme caution if attempting this on a standard string, as it is highly prone to snapping. A lighter gauge string specifically designed for higher tension or a dedicated banjo string might be advisable if you wish to maintain this high pitch for the 5th string.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from its standard D3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 2 semitones to reach F3. This is a moderate drop, generally safe for standard string gauges.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 1 semitone to reach C4. This is a small increase, generally safe for standard string gauges.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 1 semitone to reach F4. This is a small increase, generally safe for standard string gauges.

General Gauge Advice: Adjustments involving tuning down or up more than 4 semitones (either negative or positive) often benefit from, or outright require, a different string gauge to maintain proper tension, intonation, and string integrity. For this particular tuning, only String 5 potentially exceeds this range if considered from its standard octave, necessitating extra care.