Explore a vibrant and expansive soundscape with the D Extended Open tuning. This unique configuration pushes the boundaries of conventional guitar playing, offering a rich tapestry of deep bass notes, ringing mid-tones, and strikingly high pitches. It's an ideal choice for players seeking to create shimmering arpeggios, complex open voicings, and a resonant, full-bodied sound that inspires new melodic and harmonic ideas.

Technically, this tuning sets the guitar's open strings to D2, B2, G3, E3, F#5, A4 (from low E to high E string). This arrangement presents a diverse collection of notes from the D Major scale (D, E, F#, G, A, B), creating a consonant yet complex harmonic foundation. The significant leap to F#5 on the 2nd string provides an exceptional range, allowing for voicings that span several octaves. The open strings themselves inherently contain a D Major triad (D-F#-A) and a G Major triad (G-B-D), making it very accessible for composing in the key of D Major or G Major. Chords such as D Major, G Major, B minor, and E minor can be easily voiced and explored, leveraging the wide intervallic spread for open, resonant sounds and intriguing melodic possibilities.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

Carefully adjust each string according to the following instructions:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 2 semitones to B2.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 5 semitones to G3. (Note: Tuning up 5 semitones is a significant change. Consider a lighter gauge string if this causes excessive tension.)
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 7 semitones to F#5. (Note: Tuning up 7 semitones is a significant change. Consider a lighter gauge string if this causes excessive tension.)
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 5 semitones to A4. (Note: Tuning up 5 semitones is a significant change. Consider a lighter gauge string if this causes excessive tension.)

Important Consideration: When tuning strings up by 5 semitones or more, it is generally recommended to use a lighter gauge string to avoid excessive tension that could damage your guitar or cause strings to break. For downward tuning of 5 semitones or more, a heavier gauge string is advised for better playability and intonation.

The open strings are tuned as follows:

• String 6 (Low E String): Tuned to D2
• String 5 (A String): Tuned to B2
• String 4 (D String): Tuned to G3
• String 3 (G String): Tuned to E3
• String 2 (B String): Tuned to F#5
• String 1 (High E String): Tuned to A4