The Open Dm11 tuning, as its creator notes, was born from an exploration into unique and expressive sounds. This deep, rich tuning truly delivers on that promise, offering a distinct harmonic landscape that is both moody and complex, yet surprisingly accessible for certain voicings.

Verbal Analysis

Upon strumming the open strings, you are immediately immersed in a dark, atmospheric, and resonant sound. The prevalence of minor intervals and the prominent eleventh (G) gives it a sophisticated, almost jazzy quality, while retaining a powerful, almost orchestral depth from the low D and F. It's a tuning that invites exploration, perfect for introspective pieces, film scoring, or for adding a rich harmonic foundation to rock and blues.

Technical Analysis

This tuning transforms your guitar into a giant Dm11 chord when played open. Let's break down the intervals relative to the lowest D string:

• 6th String (D2): Root
• 5th String (F2): Minor Third
• 4th String (C3): Minor Seventh
• 3rd String (F3): Octave of the Minor Third
• 2nd String (G3): Perfect Fourth / Eleventh
• 1st String (D4): Octave of the Root

The resulting open chord is a powerful D minor eleventh (Dm11 - D-F-C-G). This tuning makes playing Dm11 voicings incredibly simple and resonant. Barre chords across various frets can easily yield different minor 11th chords or related extensions. For example, a simple barre across the 2nd fret would give you an Em11, and the 3rd fret an Fm11. Experimenting with just one or two fingers above a barre can unlock a wealth of complex, yet harmonically pleasing, minor and dominant shapes.

How to Tune

To achieve the Open Dm11 tuning from standard EADGBe, you will need to significantly detune most of your strings. Please proceed with care, especially for the strings requiring larger drops. When tuning down 4 or more semitones, or up 4 or more semitones, it is generally advised to consider a different gauge string set to maintain optimal tension and intonation.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2. (Standard E2 → D2)
• 5th String (A): Tune down 4 semitones to F2. (Standard A2 → F2) - A heavier gauge string is advised for this significant drop.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3. (Standard D3 → C3)
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3. (Standard G3 → F3)
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 4 semitones to G3. (Standard B3 → G3) - A heavier gauge string is advised for this significant drop.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones to D4. (Standard E4 → D4)

6th String: D2

5th String: F2

4th String: C3

3rd String: F3

2nd String: G3

1st String: D4