D Minor Seven Eleventh Tuning Analysis

The D Minor Seven Eleventh tuning transforms your guitar into an expressive soundscape, designed to immediately evoke a deep, melancholic, yet sophisticated harmonic palette. As its name suggests, it provides a full D minor chord with the rich color of the minor seventh and the perfect eleventh (or perfect fourth), giving it a distinctive jazz, blues, or modal folk character perfect for ambient textures or complex chordal work.

Technical Breakdown:

• Instrument Type: Guitar
• Original Tuning Name: Open Dm7add11
• Open Notes: D2 - F2 - C3 - G3 - A3 - D4 (from the lowest 6th string to the highest 1st string)
• Interval Structure (relative to D): Root - minor 3rd - minor 7th - perfect 4th (11th) - perfect 5th - Octave (Root)
• Resulting Open Chord: The open strings collectively form a comprehensive Dm7add11 chord (D-F-C-G-A). This complex, ready-to-play harmony is available without any fretting, making it an excellent base for songwriting, improvisation, and creating lush soundscapes.

Musical Potential & Chords:

This tuning is particularly versatile for players interested in deep minor harmonies and modal sounds, offering both immediate gratification and extensive creative possibilities.

• Open Chord Voicings: The full Dm7add11 chord is instantly accessible. A simple strum of all open strings produces a complete, evocative sound. The wide spacing of the D roots (D2 on the 6th string, D4 on the 1st string) provides a powerful, full-bodied resonance that anchors the chord.
• Barre Chords: One of the most intuitive aspects of this tuning is its adaptability to barre chords. By barring all strings at any given fret, you can easily transpose the Dm7add11 shape. For example, barring at the first fret yields an Ebm7add11, at the second fret an Em7add11, and so on. This makes it incredibly straightforward to navigate through various minor 7th add11 chords across different keys.
• Melodic Opportunities: The presence of the minor 3rd (F), minor 7th (C), and 11th (G) provides a rich harmonic palette for improvising within the D Dorian or D minor scales. The lower C on the 4th string can be used to create interesting bass lines or pedal tones, interacting compellingly with the higher D root and other chord tones.
• Drone Potential: The low D string (D2) and high D string (D4) can effectively serve as powerful drones. When combined with the open A string, they create a strong foundational layer over which melodies and chord fragments can be played, adding depth and texture.

Overall, the D Minor Seven Eleventh tuning is an excellent choice for fingerstyle arrangements, slide guitar, or crafting dense, atmospheric soundscapes where a rich minor 7th add11 chord forms the desired tonal center.

Tuning Notes

Here are the specific notes for each string in the D Minor Seven Eleventh tuning, from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st):

String 6 (Low E): D2 - Tuned down from E2, this string provides the fundamental root of the D minor chord, offering a deep and resonant bass.

String 5 (A): F2 - Tuned down from A2, this string provides the minor third, a crucial interval that defines the minor quality of the tuning.

String 4 (D): C3 - Tuned down from D3, this string introduces the minor seventh, adding harmonic complexity and a sophisticated edge to the chord.

String 3 (G): G3 - This string remains at its standard G3 pitch, functioning as the perfect fourth or eleventh of the chord, adding a characteristic open harmony.

String 2 (B): A3 - Tuned down from B3, this string provides the perfect fifth, grounding the chord harmonically and adding stability.

String 1 (High E): D4 - Tuned down from E4, this string completes the chord with an octave root, providing clarity and brightness to the overall voicing.

How to Tune:

To achieve the D Minor Seven Eleventh tuning from standard EADGBe tuning, follow these specific adjustments for each string. Always use a reliable tuner and tune gradually to prevent string breakage or damage to your instrument.

• String 6 (Low E to D): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• String 5 (A to F): Tune down 4 semitones to F2. Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change in string tension. If you plan to use this tuning frequently, consider using a slightly heavier gauge string for the 5th string to maintain optimal tension and tone stability.
• String 4 (D to C): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• String 3 (G to G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to G3.
• String 2 (B to A): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• String 1 (High E to D): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.

For the best results, always tune your guitar in a relaxed environment and check your intonation after significant tuning changes.